I attended the ACS Leadership & Advocacy Summit this year for several reasons. First, I enjoy being a leader among my peers. Second, I want to better understand what skills and traits are needed for effective leadership. Finally, I feel strongly about being an advocate for my field. The health care environment continues to change and it is becoming ever more evident that when physicians stick together, our voice is stronger.
I’ll be honest, I’m not quite sure what I expected to take away from the Summit, but I was eager to immerse myself completely. I found the entire event to be extraordinarily well organized and highly detailed. The Leadership portion of the Summit offered a wide breadth of material about the components of effective leadership and why it is important for physicians to get involved and take on leadership positions. It is critical that lawmakers and administrators consider our viewpoints as they work to improve the quality and value of this country’s health care system.
Admittedly, I am working to become more politically aware. I find the process of governing fascinating. I found the Summit’s opening event, a welcome reception and dinner with Chuck Todd from MSNBC’s Meet the Press, to be a real treat. Mr. Todd’s remarks and the Q&A that followed were very insightful. Monday’s sessions with members from the ACS Division of Advocacy & Health Policy, Georgetown professors, congressional staffers, and some members of Congress themselves were also a special opportunity. However, discussing legislation designed to directly impact surgeons and our patients with members of Congress and their staff on Tuesday was my favorite event. I was nervous at first, but the staffers put me right at ease and were very interested in learning our perspective. Meeting Sen. Tim Scott (R-SC) was also one of the highlights of my visit. That experience along with many others will continue to resonate with me in the future.
I thoroughly enjoyed this experience. Leadership requires attention to detail and a willingness to make your team better, while not necessarily being the person in the front. As physicians, our advocacy and our involvement in deciding the future of healthcare in this country is of the utmost importance.
