New York, Delaware State Advocacy Days Offer Local Opportunities for Surgeons
One of the most effective strategies for collaborating with policymakers and their staff is to ensure they hear directly from ACS members during a state advocacy day sponsored by an ACS chapter.
Recently, the ACS New York Chapter and Delaware Chapter each participated in state advocacy days at their respective state capitals, providing ACS Fellows and surgical residents opportunities to engage directly with policymakers and demonstrate the impact of organized medicine.
New York State Advocacy Day
On March 9–10, members of the New York Chapter of the ACS (NY ACS), in partnership with the Medical Society of the State of New York (MSSNY) and several specialty societies, participated in Advocacy Day at the State Capitol in Albany. Fellows engaged directly with state lawmakers to discuss issues impacting patient care and the practice of medicine.
Participating NY ACS Fellows included (all MD, FACS) Chapter President Anthony J. Vine, Vice-President Art Jenkins, Immediate Past-President Jacob Moalem, Hala Al Asadi, Shani Fruchter, Konstantinos Margetis, Mark Reiner, Steven Burger, Peter Einersen, Art Cooper, Patrick Timmins, and Akshay Kumar.
Advocacy activities began Monday evening with a legislative reception, where Fellows connected with key policymakers, including Assembly Health and Insurance Committee Chairs Amy Paulin and David Weprin, and Senate Health and Insurance Committee Chairs Gustavo Rivera and Jamaal Bailey, along with Senators Michelle Hinchey and Zellnor Myrie. The reception provided an opportunity for informal, productive dialogue.
The following morning featured program remarks and policy briefings led by MSSNY and participating specialty societies. Dr. Vine addressed attendees, emphasizing the importance of a unified voice across The House of Surgery®. NY ACS advocacy efforts focused on concerns regarding Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance practices and ongoing scope of practice issues in the state. The program also included a health policy panel with legislative leaders and remarks from the New York State Commissioner of Health.
Afternoon legislative meetings were organized by district, allowing Fellows to meet directly with their elected officials. Participants met with Senators Jeremy Cooney, Liz Krueger, Shelley Mayer, Patricia Fahy, and Toby Stavisky, as well as Assembly Members Chris Burdick, Sarah Clark, Jeffrey Dinowitz, John McDonald, and Rebecca Seawright. Fellows shared clinical perspectives and policy priorities, supported by informational materials, including examples of recent legislation from other states.
Throughout the event, NY ACS Fellows reinforced the critical role of physician advocacy in protecting patient access to high-quality care, strengthening the healthcare workforce, and advancing sound health policy.
The chapter extends thanks to executive directors Robin Granger, Donna Gurnett, and Clare Hart for their leadership in coordinating the event, and to MSSNY for its partnership.
Delaware Advocacy Day
On March 26, members of the Delaware Chapter convened at the State Capitol in Dover for Advocacy Day, engaging directly with lawmakers on issues affecting patient care and medical practice.
Delaware Chapter Fellows in attendance included:
- Asanthi Ratnasekera, DO, FACS
- Christopher Manieri, DO, FACS
- Caitlyn Costanzo, MD, FACS
- Christopher Verdone, DO, FACS
- Elyssa Dalton, MD, FACS
- Joseph Piatt, MD, FACS
- Matthew Rubino, MD, FACS
Surgical residents Masoom Chainani, MD, Gabriel Nielsen, DO, and Rebecca Schmehl, DO, also participated, alongside Cimone Sylver, PhD, MPA, state government affairs and advocacy manager at ChristianaCare.
The day began with a briefing led by Dr. Ratnasekera and Dr. Costanzo, followed by discussions with key legislative leaders, including Senator Marie Pinkney and House Speaker Melissa Minor-Brown, both of whom have strong healthcare backgrounds.
Surgeons broke into groups to meet with their legislators to advocate on several priority issues, including:
- Opposition to SB 1: Reimbursement shifts to primary care
- Support for SB 104: Stop the Bleed® kits in high-occupancy public buildings (Sponsored by Senator Pinkney)
- Support for HB 191: Prohibiting licensure of non-human entities, including AI, as healthcare providers (Sponsored by Representative Minor-Brown)
Surgeons also raised broader policy priorities, including expanding Medicaid to protect seniors, families, and rural and community providers; expanding graduate medical education funding, emphasizing that physicians are more likely to practice in the state where they complete residency; and supporting the inclusion of folic acid in cornmeal products as a low-cost, high-impact public health strategy to prevent birth defects in populations where fortified wheat products are not part of traditional diets.
Participants met with multiple legislators, including Representatives Claire Snyder-Hall and Nnamdi Chukwuocha and Senators Spiros Mantzavinos and Russell Huxtable, and received special recognition on the House Floor from Speaker Minor-Brown and on the Senate Floor by Senator Pinkney.
The 2026 Delaware Surgery Advocacy Day provided Fellows and residents with an opportunity to engage policymakers and elevate the voice of surgery in Dover.
The chapter extends thanks to Dr. Sylver for coordinating legislative meetings and recognition events.
