Director of Health Policy

DeMario Butts, MD

Ascension Providence Hospital | Southfield, MI

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View DeMario's CV

I am running for Director of Health Policy because I have a deep passion and unwavering devotion to serving the underprivileged and underserved. Healthcare disparities exist all throughout medicine and my ultimate goal in this position is to shed light on this dilemma and eliminate the barriers to quality healthcare. In this position, I intent to build programs to educate legislative leadership on the health and financial impacts resulting from social determinants of health, develop ways to improve access to care, advocate for and empower our patients to be more involved in their healthcare.

I am committed to a strong future for our organization and I believe that together we could be the change that we wish to see. Thank you
for your support.

Kenneth Kim, MD

UCLA Ronald Reagan | Olive View Emergency | Los Angeles, CA

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View Kenneth's CV

As the EMRA Director of Health Policy, I hope to represent, serve, and educate the EMRA membership in the broader landscape of Organized Medicine and Health Policy.

In the modern era of healthcare corporatization, legislative medicine, and decreasing physician autonomy, health policy and how we fight for our patients and our specialty outside of the department grows more important by the day. At the same time, health policy can seem intimidating and low-priority for trainees just trying to learn excellent patient care. My goal as your Director of Health Policy is to make the broader health policy landscape an approachable and engaging topic for busy residents and students.

As a liaison to groups such as NEMPAC and EMAF, I hope to both bring resident voices to the table of important decisions, as well as impart the knowledge I gain from being at that table to the general EMRA membership through events like the EMRA/YPS Health Policy Primer.

As a former Health Policy Committee Vice Chair, MSC Legislative Advisor, and Health Policy Academy Fellow, I have learned and grown so much within the EMRA community and would be honored to give back to this family that has given me so much.

Jose Reyes, MD

Cook County Emergency Medicine | Chicago, IL

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View Jose's CV

From the overturning of medical freedoms to increasing difficulty in accessing care, our patients are suffering. We as emergency physicians always do more for our patients, always pushing boundaries not for ourselves but for them.
Now more than ever, we must push harder. I am running for the position of Director of Health Policy because I believe I can effectively voice our perspectives as I represent the interests and values of EM residents nationwide. As we have seen recently, broad and national change is lagging; and, therefore, a novel means of advocacy is needed. I believe national change can similarly be achieved by advocating locally and regionally with patience and perseverance. State by state, county by county, local advocacy has the power to create sweeping change. This is my philosophy on policy, which is informed by my experience. From serving as a nonprofit board member to leading a union to authoring a chapter on health policy, I have developed a foundation in leadership and advocacy that will allow me to best serve you. Prepared with these skills, I believe I can not only represent our organization but can also promote a perspective on policy adapted to our current political climate.

Director of Health Policy

In representing EMRA to many external organizations and groups including NEMPAC, Urgent Matters, EMAF, and the ACEP Federal Governmental Affairs Committee, the EMRA Director of Health Policy must have a solid grasp on many of the current legislative and regulatory issues that affect the practice of emergency medicine, and be able to clearly represent resident and medical student interests regarding these issues.

Election Even-numbered years
Term 2 years
Duties
  • Advise the Board on matters related to health policy
  • Foster resident advocacy
  • Serve as EMRA’s representative to the Emergency Medicine Action Fund, National Emergency Medicine PAC, and Urgent Matters
  • Attend meetings of the ACEP Federal Governmental Affairs Committee, NEMPAC, and EMAF
  • Coordinate development of EMRA/YPS Health Policy primer at ACEP Leadership Advocacy Conference
  • General board responsibilities (misc projects, monthly board meetings, write for EM Resident magazine, and serve as liaison to a number of EMRA Committees including EMRA’s Health Policy Committee)
  • Represent EMRA members at ACEP Council
Travel
  • Monthly EMRA Board of Directors meeting (virtual attendance)
  • ACEP Scientific Assembly (Oct)
  • EMRA Board of Directors’ Retreat (Jan)
  • Emergency Medicine Practice Management Association (EDPMA) Solutions Summit (April)
  • Leadership & Advocacy Conference (May)

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