TSA Sends Largest Resident Delegation to ASA Legislative Conference

TSA sent seven residents to the ASA Legislative Confrence in Washington, DC, this May. This was the largest state resident delegation at the conference. The three residents attended from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville, Tony Owens, MD, Brigitte Messenger, MD, and Jonathan DiRuzzo, MD. Kristalynne Godwin, MD. Paul Reynolds, MD, Justin Sandall, MD, and Brooke Hobgood, MD from Vanderbilt made up the rest of the delegation.

Kristalynne Godwin also wrote a story on the ASA Legislative Conference which ran in the July  ASA  Newsletter. In her article, Dr. Brooke Hobgood explained what she learned about advocacy and being a part of the ASA PAC:  “The legislative conference highlights the importance of a strong ASA PAC. Our resident lounge has been buzzing with debate concerning political issues since I started making residents aware of what we learned. We are really getting motivated.”  Dr. Justin Sandall noted, “I am interested in writing legislation and how a bill becomes a law. As a resident, it is important to me that providers are honest and upfront concerning their credentials. I want to learn how to construct legislation that will protect my patients from those attempting to mislead them.” Dr. Drew Franklin of Vanderbilt who attended last year observed: “At the 2008 legislative conference, I talked with my House representative about the CMS Teaching Rule and how it was affecting resident education and patient care. Based on training from the conference, I was able to use specific examples from my program. Shortly after the 2008 conference, the Teaching Rule was reversed in the Medicare Bill. I saw how quickly the process can work and how it can affect me directly. I thought: ‘I can do this!’”