The last few months have caused me to reflect on advocacy and being an advocate. I have spent my entire life watching politics and simply not understanding why people would want to enter that realm. However, since January I have gone to Tallahassee to talk to legislators with the Florida Chapter of the American College of Surgeons and to Washington DC to speak to legislator’s offices with the American College of Surgeons. I have also become engaged with the Florida Medical Association and am a proud graduate of the Karl Altenburger Leadership Academy in 2018.
What changed to push me into these pursuits? I think there are two reasons:
- Everyone has likely heard some version of ‘If you are not at the table, you are on the menu.’ I think this is true. If you are not providing a voice to any particular problem or issue the people in Tallahassee or Washington, DC are going to make the policy based on the information they have. Sharing our insights as professionals is invaluable in helping to shape public policy. Part of it, for me, is never wanting to feel like I did not do my part. We may not get what we want, but at least it is not because I did not attempt contribute my part.
- Almost everyone has benefited from advocacy or having an advocate at the local level. I have had people advocating for me at every step of my career. In particular when I got into practice, one of the more senior surgeons took a special interest in me as a person and helped me develop my career in the operating room, in my office, and helped guide me into leadership positions within the hospital and our medical group. This is one way I feel like I can help to pay back the people that advocated on my behalf is to help try to advocate for surgeons everywhere.
There are a lot of ways to get involved with advocacy. For surgeons, you should leverage your local chapter and the national chapter. Save the dates, March 28-31, 2020 for next year.
For physicians in Florida, consider being a part of the FMA.