Pritzker News
Pritzker Students Participate in the American College of Physicians (ACP) Leadership Day
Celine Goetz, MS2 and Jami Rothe, MS4
June 5, 2009—Jami Rothe, MS4 and Celine Goetz, MS2 represented the Illinois American College of Physicians at the ACP Leadership Day 2009, held in May in Washington, DC. There, Jami and Celine met representatives at the offices of Jan Schkowsky (D- IL9th), Danny Davis (D – IL 7th), Roland Burris (D-IL), and Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D - IL 2nd) to advocate for improved access to primary care, reduced student debt, and better plans for residents to defer loans.
During ACP Leadership Day, Jami and Celine also had the opportunity to collaborate with physicians from other Illinois medical centers and represent the needs of medical students and young doctors joining thephysician work force. The recent interest from Washington to change and improve the health care system led to talks between the ACP and members of Congress about the importance of ensuring that all Americans have access to affordable health care. Jami and Celine were part of a group that conveyed the enthusiasm of the American College of Physicians for a new Medicare payment system that would re-align incentives to support effective, efficient, patient-centered coordinated care, and pushedmembers of Congress to ensure that there are enough primary care physicians for the U.S..
“It was a really exciting day, and we will be following the developments during the next couple of months closely,” remarked Celine.
Jami and Celine also attended a special health policy briefing for students and residents. Jami received a Joseph Johnson Leadership Day Award to attend; Celine has been selected as a representative to the ACP Council of Student Members.
