First Oncologist Elected to Lead the American Medical Association !!!
“ There is nothing more important to me as a physician than your cancer treatment . I ’ ve been in practice for nearly two decades and have had the privilege of telling many patients that there is life beyond cancer . As president of The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders , I want to lead by example , practicing a firm belief that all patients should receive the finest medical care available , with the same concern and compassion as a cherished member of the family .”
Ray Page , D . O ., Ph . D . President and Medical Oncologist The Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders
The last 3 weeks I have been through the “ Ironman Triathlon ” of medical meetings and I am exhausted . I participated extensively for a six day ‘ marathon ’ at the American Society of Clinical Oncology ( ASCO ) annual meeting , followed by a five day “ bike up the side of a volcano ” serving as a Delegate of the American Medical Association ( AMA ), and then spent a couple of days in D . C . “ swimming in the surf with the sharks ” with Government Relations on Capitol Hill .
At the ASCO meeting I was recognized at the Board meeting for serving as a mentor in our Healthcare Policy Fellowship program . I became the Chairelect of the Clinical Practice Committee , and was elected to the Nominating Committee . I spoke in an Education Session on the Business of Oncology , and had a couple on scientific presentations on financial conflicts of interest , and the impact of new FDA drug approvals on bundled payment models . A very busy meeting it was .
Most importantly , the House of Delegates of the AMA , which I serve to protect the interests of cancer patients and the delivery of cancer care across the country , elected an oncologist to President-elect of the AMA !!! My longtime friend and colleague , Barbara McAneny , M . D ., will be the next President of the AMA and is the first oncologist in this role in their 170 year history . She leads an independent cancer center in New Mexico that is very similar to our cancer I lead locally in the Fort Worth region . For the last 15 + years Barbara and I , along with several other likeminded practices across the country , have worked on numerous projects to protect community oncology practices from all the detrimental changes of healthcare laws and policy .
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As part of the ASCO delegation , our team worked tirelessly over the last year on her campaign . It was highly political , not unlike our presidential election process . We campaigned to dozens of caucuses . With tremendous anticipation , when they announced on the floor that Dr . McAneny won I felt a huge wave of relief and tearful joy that I have not felt in many years ( perhaps similar to the birth of my 5th child )!!! |
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I cannot stress enough the importance of Dr . McAneny being at the helm of the AMA and being the most influential physician in the world for a time . The AMA ultimately represents the interests of over 900,000 physicians , but more so the health interests of hundreds of millions of Americans . |
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What makes Dr . McAneny unique ? The AMA has a tendency to follow the lead of seasoned academic , corporate , hospital-owned , and institutionalized physicians . Dr . McAneny understands that there are many environments to deliver healthcare . However , I know from working with her personally for many years as a doctor owning a private practice that she is fully engaged in having physicians take back control of the patient-physician relationship . We have proven we can provide better and more cost effective patient-centered care through independent physicians if we will allow them to thrive and not be crushed with policy . |
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In Dr . McAneny ’ s presidential debate , when asked about physician burnout and wellness , which the AMA and other institutions have rolled out ineffective “ feel good ” programs with no real solutions , she stated :
“ I don ’ t want to learn how to feel good about a lousy system . I want to change the system !”– Barbara McAneny , M . D .
This was the “ drop the mic ” moment as she got a rousing ovation from the delegation and this may have sealed her election .
To learn more about cancer care issues or to consult with a physician about a cancer diagnosis , contact us at 817.596.0637 .
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JULY 2017 PARKER COUNTY TODAY |
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