Rutherford Fellow Seth Hardy, MD
The J. T. Rutherford Government Relations Fellowship, named in honor of the ACR's first legislative consultant, was founded in 1993 to provide radiology residents direct personal exposure to the ACR's government relations activities. This 1-week program includes an historical background on the ACR's congressional activities and exposure to the ACR's government relations initiatives and their relationship to the other activities conducted by the College. Visit the ACR Web site for more information and an application for the Rutherford Fellowship.
As a first-year resident, I became interested in the ACR with my attendance at the 2002 Annual Meeting in Miami. At that meeting, I was pleased to find leaders within radiology both friendly and approachable. I also learned a great deal more about the issues that shape our specialty. These experiences encouraged me to become more active with my chapter and to attend the 2003 and 2004 Annual Meeting and Chapter Leadership Conferences.
The experience of visiting congressional members was my first exposure to the government relations arm of the ACR. While speaking with congressional members and staff, it became clear to me that communicating our needs is an arduous process that requires a long-term commitment. At the 2004 AMCLC, my interest in government relations was piqued and I decided to apply for the J. T. Rutherford Fellowship.
My week with the government relations staff in March was not a disappointment. Attending fund-raisers with legislators was an enlightening experience. It became evident there is a hierarchy of congressional members worthy of RADPAC’s support. The committees on which you sit and the degree to which you support key issues such as tort reform or the overutilization of imaging services, determine your level of RADPAC support.
During my second day, I was shepherded by Ted Burnes, director of RADPAC, to our first fund-raiser. This luncheon was with Rep John Shimkus (R, Ill), a member of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee, one of the 2 committees with jurisdiction over health issues in the House. During the discussions of a possible Medicare bill it was important for radiology-specific concerns to be voiced among the issues raised by other medical specialists. Being heard at these discussions is critical, because if there is a Medicare bill this year, the ACR wants to be ready to add language to improve the quality and safety of PET, CT, and MRI, as MEDPAC has recommended.
We later attended fund-raisers for Rep Janice Schakowsky (D, Ill), a member of the Energy and Commerce Committee, and Rep John Carter (R, Tex), a former judge who sits on the Judiciary Committee. We finished the day at a dinner in honor of first-term Rep Charles Boustany, MD (R, La), which was also attended by Rep Tom Latham (R, Iowa), Rep John Boehner (R, Ohio), and Rep Jim McCrery (R, La). The dinner was significant because I had the chance to meet lobbyists from other interest groups. As the evening ended, I was feeling more confident and getting used to the political climate.
Another lesson I learned is the importance of RADPAC in nonelection years. Incumbents with whom we are aligned need to raise money this year to discourage any challengers in the 2006 primary elections. Thus, RADPAC and ACRa cannot afford to slow down in 2005. So, escorted by Josh Cooper, senior director of government relations, I was off to meet with Rep Nathan Deal (R, Ga), chair of the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee. At the meeting, we discussed the impact of the litigious nature of mammography on residents' career choices. We then went to a dinner with Rep Tom Reynolds (R, NY), chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC). After the meal, I received a graduate course in Beltway politics with Reynolds running through a list of incumbents who were vulnerable in the next election, including a few legislators I had met the day before. In just a short amount of time, I learned that they are always looking ahead to their next election, even if it's nearly 2 years away. Later in the evening I was able to point out that RADPAC was the only group at the table who had contributed to the NRCC at the highest level of support.
The Rutherford Fellowship offers a great exchange between residents and the Government Relations Department staff. Although everyone understands the importance of being heard, the fellowship gave me unique insight into how you actually get your message out. I was surprised to learn that only 8% of the ACR membership contributes to RADPAC. Our government relations staff is dedicated to ensuring that our specialty thrives so we may continue to serve patients in a high-quality, safe environment. In return, we owe them the tools to carry out this mission.