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BCM Alums take D.C. FellowshipsPatrick Conway and Joshua Lumbley learn government policy-making and procedures, with an eye toward the future.by Toby Weber 
Josh Lumbley, M.D., '04, working for a congressman, has learned much about creating legislation. It is not surprising when young M.D.s, fresh from residency, focus on careers in patient care or research. Putting those careers on hold to take one-year jobs in the federal government tends to get more attention. Such is the case with two recent Baylor College of Medicine graduates, Patrick Conway, M.D., BCM '02, and Joshua Lumbley, M.D., BCM '04. Both currently hold public service-related fellowships in Washington, D.C., where, as physicians, they are asked to grapple with health care policy issues. Conway is one of 15 individuals serving as a 2007-2008 White House Fellow. Lumbley is the Lansdale Public Policy Fellow, a post sponsored by the American Society of Anesthesiologists through a program run by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. The underlying idea of both fellowship programs is the same. In order to bring about positive change in and through the public sector, one must know how to work with government as an institution. These fellowships give talented individuals in the early stages of their careers the opportunity to take strategic positions with the federal government, exposing them to the practical aspects of policy formation and bureaucratic processes. Through this experience, these individuals will develop the skills and knowledge needed to work effectively in and with the government as their careers progress. 
Patrick Conway, M.D., '02, with President George Bush, worked in a cabinet-level department. In Conway's case, this experience is gained by working in the office of Cabinet Secretary Mike Leavitt, head of the Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), as well as with the director of HHS' Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, which is the lead federal agency charged with improving the quality, safety, efficiency and effectiveness of health care in the United States. Much of his work with these offices revolves around using information technology, such as electronic medical records and personal health records, to improve patient care. He is also working on initiatives focused on measuring and rewarding the delivery of high-quality care. Lumbley works as the health care and education legislative assistant for Congressman Edward Markey of Massachusetts. He has multiple assignments in this role, including meeting with constituents and groups with stakes in health care and education issues, suggesting issues and questions for the congressman to raise during committee meetings and on the House floor, and assisting in drafting legislation. The time spent in D.C. has indeed helped both alumni gain a better understanding of how the work of government is carried out. Lumbley, working with a congressman, has learned much about constituent and interest-group interaction with government and the creation of legislation, while Conway's time with a cabinet-level department has involved the development of policies and multi-million dollar programs. "The most significant thing that I've learned," said Conway, "is how to translate the wealth of information from academic research into concrete programs that policy makers can implement relatively quickly and easily. As academic researchers, we often write and highlight the issues. This is taking that information and determining the tangible next steps to improving the health care of all Americans." Of course, the benefits of these fellowship programs run both ways. Conway said it is not unusual for him to be the only physician present in many HHS meetings, where he can offer first-hand knowledge of how policies and programs tend to impact physicians and patients. Similarly, Lumbley uses his personal experiences as a physician as a way of verifying health care data Congressman Markey's office uses. While both Lumbley and Conway are clearly benefitting from their time in D.C. and making valuable contributions to the offices and departments with which they work, the remaining unanswered question is why? Why, after years of medical school and residency, when both are poised to rise quickly as physicians, would they give up a year of their lives to take political fellowships in Washington, D.C.? For both, the answer goes back to a sense of public service. Given advances in technology and the country's changing demographics, the U.S. health care system is likely to undergo significant changes in the coming years. Physicians, with their scientific knowledge and their understanding of the realities of patient care, should play a part in deciding what changes should be made and how those changes should be implemented. "If we as physicians take an active role and learn—to use an idiom—how the game is played, then we can enact positive changes on the system to ensure the end result is something that both patients and physicians are happy with," Lumbley said. Conway agreed, "As providers," he said, "we have to be at the table if we want to make a positive difference." |
FeaturesTreatments on the Horizon: Chapter and Verse on a Brain Killer Two Brains are Better than One SpotlightCaring for Community at Home and Abroad Injecting a Little Scientist in Every Doctor Designing a Building in the Eyes of a Researcher Laser Treatments Best Left up to Doctors BriefsFalls in Elderly Indicate Illness Findings may Increase Survival after Injuries Some Like it Hot! Structure of Receptor for Chili Pepper and Pain Revealed Beware of Drinking Margaritas in the Sun Development/AlumniBCM Family Participates in Fundraising Campaign BCM Alums take D.C. Fellowships Seed Funding Leads to Breakthroughs Father, Daughter Team up for Health Care
Steps to Discovery and Innovation
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Volume 4, Issue 2, Summer 2008 |
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