Eyeworld

Congress is not aware of. My message to all ophthalmologists, young and not so young, is that you can get involved. Your voice is import- ant and valued for our patients and our profes- sion. I was pleased that we were able to meet with the offices of each of our members of Congress, and they seemed genuinely interested in our issues as we helped to raise their aware- ness further. My hope is that the more visible we are, the more weight our opinions will have on these key issues. I can't emphasize enough that anyone can do this, and you should do this. A few days away from your practice is doable, and the payoff is having your voice heard. I know I will be corresponding with my elect- ed officials more often in the future and have already invited them to my office. Manjool Shah, MD The Fly-In offers ophthalmologists the oppor- tunity to look behind the curtain and get a sense of how decisions are influenced and made at them so they can vote responsibly on health legislation. By participating in several Fly-Ins, I have become comfortable in the offices of Sens. Dianne Feinstein and Kamala Harris and Rep. Alan Lowenthal, who represents my district in California. I have developed a relationship with both Rep. Lowenthal and his senior legislative assistant Shane Trimmer. Shane recognizes me and welcomes my presentation, which helps him advise the Congressman on how to vote on legislation. While visiting Rep. Lowenthal's office this year, I requested that he show his support for the Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act (H.R. 1963). It was at that time that Shane discovered that he had inadvertently left the Congressman's name off the cosponsor list. This was immediately corrected. Although I am toward the end of my ca- reer, I am interested in helping the next genera- tion of physicians have the option of practicing medicine as they wish and not be limited by uninformed legislative voting. Susanne Hewitt, MD I think it is important to let your members of Congress know that you are out there, on the front lines, treating patients (their constituents). We have dedicated our lives to our patients, and it's important to have our voices heard. We can speak to many of the day-to-day issues that Dr. Hewitt arrives at the office of Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA). Dr. Shah arrives at the office of Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). continued on page 18 SEPTEMBER 2019 | EYEWORLD | 17 About the doctors Susanne Hewitt, MD ASCRS Government Relations Committee member Dunwoody, Georgia Khin Kilgore, MD YES scholarship attendee Rochester, Minnesota Nick Mamalis, MD ASCRS president Salt Lake City Don Serafano, MD Los Alamitos, California Manjool Shah, MD ASCRS YES Clinical Committee member Ann Arbor, Michigan Richard Tipperman, MD ASCRS Cataract Clinical Committee member Bala Cynwyd, Pennsylvania

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