LEADER ON HEALTH CARE QUALITY AND IMPROVEMENT JOINS FUTURE DOCTORS IN POLITICS ADVISORY COUNCIL
Boston, Mass. (November 02, 2021) — Donald M. Berwick, MD, MPP, former Administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and Co-Founder of the Institute for Healthcare Improvement is joining the Advisory Council of Future Doctors in Politics (FDIP), a national nonprofit rapidly gaining nationwide prominence as an effective mobilizer of the next generation of doctors committed to ensuring politics and policies work for patients and communities.
Dr. Berwick is a pediatrician by training and has served on the faculties of the Harvard Medical School and Harvard School of Public Health, and on the staffs of Boston's Children's Hospital Medical Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, and the Brigham and Women's Hospital. He also served as the Vice President of the US Preventive Services Task Force and Chair of the National Advisory Council of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality.
A respected authority on health care quality and improvement, Berwick co-founded and served as President and CEO of the Institute of Healthcare Improvement, a global trailblazer in advancing systems-based innovations to improve healthcare quality. He has received numerous awards for his contributions and is the author or co-author of over 200 scientific articles and six books. He currently serves as Lecturer in the Department of Health Care Policy at Harvard Medical School.
“It is a humbling privilege to have a luminary and visionary like Dr. Don Berwick serving on the Advisory Council of FDIP, an organization that coalesced for the purpose of driving structural change. We are eager to harness Dr. Berwick’s keen insight and wise counsel to motivate our work to structurally reform the systems that fail our patients and endanger the health of our communities,” said Inam Sakinah, FDIP National President.
“FDIP is an organization that is strategically building generational infrastructure to position physicians to meaningfully intervene in the moral and social determinants of health. I have long believed in the central role physicians should play in demanding and supporting societal reforms that protect and further health for all. I am impressed by the founders of FDIP, who are anchoring their work in a moral commitment to honor their oaths to heal. I look forward to partnering with them to help the organization act on its powerful theory of change.” added Berwick.
FDIP originated at Harvard Medical School and now has several chapters under development across the nation. FDIP’s mission is to equip future doctors with the mindset and skillset to be agents of political and structural change that centers the patients and communities they serve. For more information visit futuredoctorsinpolitics.org.
FORMER DEPUTY ASSISTANT SECRETARY FOR HEALTH
JOINS FUTURE DOCTORS IN POLITICS ADVISORY COUNCIL
Boston, Mass. (October 25, 2021) — Anand Parekh, MD, MPH, Chief Medical Advisor of the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) and Former Deputy Assistant Secretary of Health at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is joining the Advisory Council of Future Doctors in Politics (FDIP), a national non-profit rapidly gaining traction nationwide in its efforts to mobilize the next generation of doctors to drive structural change centering patients and communities.
Parekh dedicated a decade of service at HHS where he led national initiatives focused on prevention, wellness, and care management. During his tenure, he was instrumental in the implementation of the Recovery Act’s Prevention and Wellness Fund, the Affordable Care Act’s prevention initiatives, and HHS’ Multiple Chronic Conditions Initiative. He also oversaw the U.S. Public Health Service Corps for a period of time.
As the Chief Medical Advisor of BPC, Parekh provides clinical and public health expertise across the organization and has led efforts tackling an array of policy issues including the opioid crisis, obesity epidemic & nutrition, health & housing, emergency preparedness, social isolation, rural health, and prescription drug costs, among others.
Parekh is a board-certified internal medicine physician, a fellow of the American College of Physicians, and an adjunct assistant professor of medicine at Johns Hopkins University. He is also an adjunct professor of health management and policy at the University of Michigan School of Public Health. He speaks and writes extensively on a wide range of health topics. His recent book Prevention First: Policymaking for a Healthier America, released in December 2019, argues that prevention must be our nation’s top health policy priority.
“The breadth and depth of Dr. Parekh’s impact on the defining health issues of our time are unparalleled. His profoundly influential career is a testament to the power of the physician perspective in policymaking. We are inspired by the path he has paved as a physician public servant and look forward to his counsel shaping the trajectory of our work,” said Inam Sakinah, President of FDIP.
“FDIP’s vision to train the next generation of physicians to serve as informed and skilled advocates for patient-centric, prevention-oriented policies harbors significant promise. There is a pressing need to bring a mission-driven and problem-solving lens to this nation’s politics and policymaking and I am honored to support FDIP’s efforts to empower future doctors to lead us toward a healthier, more equitable future.”
FDIP originated at Harvard Medical School and now has 6 other medical school-based chapters and several more in development nationwide. For more information visit futuredoctorsinpolitics.org
NATIONALLY RENOWNED GUN VIOLENCE PREVENTION ADVOCATE AND TRAUMA SURGEON JOINS FUTURE DOCTORS IN POLITICS ADVISORY COUNCIL
Boston, Mass. (October 14, 2021) — Joseph Sakran, MD, MPH, MPA, FACS nationally renowned gun violence prevention advocate and public health expert is joining the Advisory Council of Future Doctors in Politics (FDIP), a national non-profit rapidly gaining traction nationwide in its efforts to mobilize the next generation of doctors to drive structural change centering patients and communities.
Dr. Sakran is a trauma surgeon and Director of Emergency General Surgery at The Johns Hopkins Hospital. He is widely renowned for building diverse coalitions in public health and policy communities. Following a 2018 comment by the National Rifle Association that doctors should “stay in their lane” with regard to gun violence prevention, Sakran launched @ThisIsOurLane, a community of medical professionals dedicated to reducing firearm injuries and deaths.
A survivor of gun violence, Dr. Sakran has devoted his career to caring for the most vulnerable, reducing health disparities, and advancing policies that address structural barriers facing low-income communities. Dr. Sakran has been recognized for his public health expertise on firearm injury prevention. He has been named a Presidential Leadership Scholar and was selected as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Health Policy Fellow through which he worked in the office of Senator Maggie Hassan on health policy. Dr. Sakran makes frequent appearances in print and on television and has testified before Congress on gun violence prevention.
Dr. Sakran is a first-generation Arab-American, has lived and worked throughout the United States, Israel, Africa, and India, and speaks Arabic and Hebrew. He is a member of the Health Equity Task Force for the Health Equity Tracker at Satcher Health Leadership Institute at Morehouse School of Medicine.
“As a survivor, surgeon, and tireless advocate, Dr. Sakran brings a lens to this cause of patient and community-centric physician advocacy unlike any other. His trailblazing legacy at the intersection of caring for patients and impacting policy is a source of inspiration. We are honored to have the benefit of his expertise and example in our mission to make our politics put health, science, and equity first,” said Inam Sakinah, President of FDIP.
“I believe physicians have a role to play beyond the bedside in the advocacy lane. Our experiences caring for patients deserve to be prioritized in policymaking. FDIP is engaged in visionary work to empower the next generation of physicians with the tools and resolve to not just make their voices heard, but to effectively drive meaningful change that saves lives. I am looking forward to joining them in their vital efforts to build a safer, healthier, and more equitable country,” added Sakran.
FDIP originated at Harvard Medical School and now has several chapters under development across the nation. FDIP’s mission is to equip future doctors with the mindset and skillset to be agents of political and structural change that centers the patients and communities they serve. For more information visit futuredoctorsinpolitics.org
FUTURE DOCTORS IN POLITICS STATEMENT ON TEXAS SENATE BILL 8
Boston, Mass. (September 3, 2021) — As medical students and as future doctors, we at Future Doctors in Politics condemn Texas Senate Bill 8 without reservation. Future Doctors in Politics stands in solidarity with those whom this law targets most closely. We recognize that this unconstitutional legislation jeopardizes the health of those who are or could become pregnant and undermines the physician-patient relationship.
As of September 1, 2021, it is illegal in the state of Texas to abort a fetus after six weeks of gestation. Equally disturbing is that the state itself will not enforce the law; SB 8, instead, relies on private citizens suing medical providers and others involved in providing abortion care for a minimum award of $10,000. The Supreme Court had the opportunity to intervene, but in a 5-4 decision elected not to take up the case and effectively ended Roe v. Wade.
The health care and information our patients receive should be dictated by their health care needs, not by politicians and their agendas. Politicians putting lives on the line for personal gain is precisely why we are mobilizing future doctors to engage in patient-centric political advocacy as a professional responsibility. We call on doctors and doctors in training across the country to raise their voices in opposition to SB 8 and any government action that threatens to endanger the health of our patients.
We demand that Congress enact federal legislation to codify the protections Roe v. Wade provided in 1973 and rectify this affront to bodily autonomy. We ask that the medical community meet this call to action and defend the constitutional right to a safe and legal abortion.
MEDICAL STUDENT-LED FUTURE DOCTORS IN POLITICS
HIRES ADDITIONAL STAFF
Boston, Mass. (August 23, 2021) — Future Doctors in Politics (fDIP), a fast-growing non-profit organization that is sparking a national movement of future doctors mobilizing themselves into a force for patient-centric, equity-oriented, science-driven change, welcomes Zoe Stein, who is joining fDIP to provide professional and development support to sustain and further the momentum of this fast-growing national movement.
“What started as an idea six months ago has quickly grown into a movement and making this hire is yet another indication our commitment to meet the urgency of this moment and build an enduring vehicle for future doctors to enact structural change,” said Inam Sakinah, President and Co-Founder of fDIP. “Zoe will work closely with me to build the development infrastructure we need to power this work long-term. Given Zoe’s organizing experience pioneering new paths to drive impact, I am looking forward to our partnership bringing us one step closer to transforming our politics to center our patients and communities.” added Sakinah.
“Our healthcare system is badly broken, and we need doctors in the fight to fix it. I am thrilled to join the team at Future Doctors in Politics to help grow the movement of politically empowered doctors fighting for empathetic patient care. I look forward to working alongside this team to create a political home for physicians who are sick and tired of the status quo and ready to create structural change,” said Zoe Stein.
Zoe has spent her career building community and fighting for structural change on national, statewide, and local campaigns. Recently, Zoe served as the Community Mobilization Program Director for Jon Ossoff’s Senate runoff campaign in 2021, where she spearheaded a first-of-its-kind paid relational turnout operation targeting low-efficacy voters. Prior to that, she worked as Field Director for Dr. Hiral Tipirneni’s congressional campaign in Arizona’s 6th congressional district in 2020, and as the Arizona Organizing Director for Nextgen America in 2018. Zoe is committed to bringing new voices into the political arena and building a healthcare system that works for all of us.
fDIP originated at Harvard Medical School and is now five chapters strong with several additional chapters under development nationwide. fDIP’s mission is to equip future doctors with the mindset and skillset to be agents of political and structural change that centers the patients and communities they serve. For more information visit futuredoctorsinpolitics.org.
TRAILBLAZING PHYSICIAN STATE SENATOR JOINS
FUTURE DOCTORS IN POLITICS NATIONAL BOARD
Boston, Mass. (July 26, 2021) — Saud Anwar (D-South Windsor, CT) is joining the National Board of Future Doctors in Politics (fDIP), a fast-growing organization that is sparking a national movement of future doctors mobilizing to drive patient-centric, equity-oriented political and policy change.
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In addition to being elected to state office, Senator Anwar, is a physician specializing in treating lung diseases and critical care medicine, occupational and environmental medicine. He currently serves as Chair of the Department of Internal Medicine at Manchester Memorial and Rockville General Hospitals. Senator Anwar also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Health from Yale University.
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Senator Anwar was first elected to public office in 2011 as a member of South Windsor’s Town Council and served two terms as Mayor of South Windsor (2013 to 2015 and 2017 to 2019). He was elected to the Connecticut Senate in 2019. In addition, Senator Anwar, has organized medical missions for disaster relief, receiving citations for doing so from former Governor Jodi Rell, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz. Senator Anwar is also a founding member of the South Windsor Hunger Action Team, Zero Waste South Windsor, and the South Windsor Alliance for Progress.
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Senator Anwar's wife Yusra Anis-Anwar is also a practicing physician and they along with their sons Taha and Taseen live in South Windsor, CT.
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“It is a true honor for fDIP to have Senator Anwar, a distinguished physician, a compassionate community servant and an outstanding political leader, join our National Board. Senator Anwar’s partnership with fDIP is an extraordinary testimony to his spirit of service and fDIP’s meteoric rise. I looking forward to his insights helping fDIP fulfill its mission of being agents of political and structural change that makes our country’s politics and policymaking work for patients and communities,” said Inam Sakinah, President of fDIP’s National Board.
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“fDIP’s mission and vision speaks to the needs and aspirations of the physician community. It is not too often, medical students, in the midst of their extraordinarily demanding schedules, commit themselves to sacrificing their time and talent to envisioning a future where our politics is evidence-driven and people-centric. I am honored to join them in this journey,” added Senator Anwar.
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fDIP originated at Harvard Medical School and now has several chapters under development across the nation. fDIP’s mission is to equip future doctors with the mindset and skillset to be agents of political and structural change that centers the patients and communities they serve. For more information visit futuredoctorsinpolitics.org.
MEDICAL STUDENT-LED FUTURE DOCTORS IN POLITICS GROWING AT UNPRECEDENTED RATE HIRES NATIONAL ORGANIZING DIRECTOR
Boston, Mass. (August 2, 2021) — Future Doctors in Politics (fDIP), a fast-growing non-profit organization that is sparking a national movement of future doctors mobilizing themselves into a force for patient-centric, equity-oriented, science-driven change, welcomes Emma Watson, who is joining fDIP in the role of National Organizing Director. The hiring of Watson as a full-time employee is another important milestone in the rapid growth of fDIP as a national movement.
“To be a student-led organization bringing aboard full-time staff a mere six months after our launch speaks volumes about the promise and potential of our movement,” said Inam Sakinah, President and Co-Founder of fDIP. “With her extensive grassroots organizing experience, Emma will be building our mobilization infrastructure and spearheading our groundbreaking initiative to deploy medical students in their white coats to connect with voters in the communities they serve. Her talent is exactly what we need to turn the voices of future doctors into the powerful organizing vehicle they should be and we are excited to see her help realize this vision,” added Sakinah.
“I am excited to join fDIP because they provide the uncommon opportunity to combine the principles of public health and organizing—which in my mind are very complementary—to create leaders in both populational health and government. I am eager to further equip emerging medical experts with the skills they need to be great doctors, civic actors, and community members,” said Emma Watson, National Organizing Director.
Emma Watson (she/her/hers) earned her Bachelors of Science in Public Health at Texas A&M University and a Master of Public Administration in Health Policy at NYU’s Wagner School. While pursuing her academic programs, she worked with organizing teams such as Beto for Texas, Deeds Not Words, and MJ for Texas to create a sustainable political infrastructure within historically excluded and marginalized communities. Through her new role, Watson will continue to advocate for policies to make healthcare more equitable, affordable and accessible by challenging upcoming medical leaders to combine their professional training with proven organizing tools to impact the world of policy and politics.
MEDICAL SCHOOL-BASED HEALTH POLICY ORGANIZATION JOINS FUTURE DOCTORS IN POLITICS TO PROPEL POLICY LITERACY EFFORTS
Boston, Mass. (July 16, 2021) — Health Policy Collaborative (HPC), a groundbreaking medical student-led policy literacy initiative, is joining Future Doctors in Politics (fDIP) to drive the organization’s efforts to improve health policy fluency among medical students nationwide.
Founded at Wake Forest School of Medicine by medical students in 2020, HPC has pioneered innovative programming models to expose medical students to the intersections of policy, advocacy, and medicine. Building strategic partnerships with other medical schools in North Carolina, HPC has successfully engaged hundreds of medical students across the state in its programing since its launch less than a year ago. HPC has effectively identified timely topics and attracted several prominent experts to explore the implications of policy on health. In January, HPC hosted Dr. Elizabeth Tilson, Chief Medical Officer of the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services, to discuss the COVID-19 vaccine rollout in the state.
“At fDIP, we believe that as medical students learn about which pills to prescribe for patients, it is imperative we understand the bills and laws that often impact them the most. HPC has built a stellar track record of demystifying the policy world for medical students and making clear why and how it matters to us as future doctors responsible for the health of our patients and communities,” said Inam Sakinah, President of fDIP. “We are thrilled to welcome the HPC team from Wake Forest and look forward to their propelling fDIP’s policy and political literacy efforts to new heights.”
HPC will bring their programming and coalition-building expertise to fDIP as the organization’s newest national team. Second-year medical students, Alex Soltany and Sudarshan (Sud) Krishnamurthy, who launched HPC at Wake Forest alongside classmate Juhi Saxena, have been tapped to co-direct the new national fDIP team.
Krishnamurthy noted, “Advocacy, a cornerstone of the medical profession, can impact not only individual patients but also massive health systems. In an effort to arm future healthcare providers with key knowledge on issues pertaining to health policy, advocacy and systems, we started the Health Policy Collaborative.”
Soltany added, “I am elated to join such an impressive group of like-minded future doctors and help educate medical students on the critical relationships between policy, advocacy, and medicine."
In addition to championing fDIP’s signature H&P: Health ↔ Policy Series, the newly inaugurated fDIP HPC team will be charged with curating new compelling, high-profile national programming models such as panels with elected officials and seminars with national experts that reach medical students across the country through fDIP’s rapidly growing chapter network.
FORMER US SENATE MAJORITY LEADER AND FORMER OREGON GOVERNOR MAKE BIPARTISAN COMMITMENT TO PATIENT-CENTRIC POLITICAL ADVOCACY
Boston, Mass. (June 3, 2021) — Former US Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist (R-TN) and former Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber (D-OR) are joining Future Doctors in Politics (fDIP) as founding members of fDIP’s Advisory Council.
fDIP is a new medical student-run national nonprofit dedicated to empowering future doctors to drive patient-centric and equity-oriented political and policy action across the country. As pioneering and influential physician policymakers who have leveraged their experiences in treating patients to inform their policy advocacy at the highest levels of government, Senator Frist and Governor Kitzhaber will support the strategic growth of this emerging movement.
“Starting medical school in the middle of a pandemic where so many were dying because our elected leaders were failing, it was clear we had a responsibility and opportunity as future physicians to center the patient voice in our nation’s politics,” says Inam Sakinah, co-founder and president of fDIP and medical student at Harvard. “As we work to build a national movement of doctors into a patient-centric, equity-oriented political force, we are eager to benefit from the counsel of two trailblazers who have led at the intersections of medicine and politics.”
fDIP’s Advisory Council will convene a diverse group of distinguished political and policy leaders who are committed to leveraging their networks and expertise to further fDIP’s cause of building the next generation of future doctors into a political force for creating patient-centric, equity-oriented change.
Sen. Frist said, “As we grapple with the reality that prejudice and structural racism still exist in our society today, we must remember that each one of us has the power to be a compelling agent for change. Physicians who see the human cost of policy failures have a responsibility to engage in the political arena to make a difference on behalf of their patients.”
Gov. Kitzhaber added, “Universal access to quality, affordable medical care is a basic measure of a just society but blindly pumping more dollars into an already broken healthcare system without demanding value undermines our ability to invest in the very things that contribute most to health. I am looking forward to partnering with the next generation of physician leaders who are organizing and mobilizing to ensure policies in all sectors are decided with the health of patients and populations in mind.”
fDIP originated at Harvard Medical School and now has several chapters under development across the nation. fDIP’s mission is to equip future doctors with the mindset and skillset to be agents of political and structural change that centers the patients and communities they serve. For more information visit futuredoctorsinpolitics.org.
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