Feature
Dr. Khan goes to Washington
How one IR gained a seat at the political table
I
t’s easier to impact pro-IR legislation when you have a seat at the table—which is exactly the opportunity that Arshad Khan,
MD, FSIR, received when he attended a fundraising event for the re-election of Rep. Yvette Clarke, D-NY.
Dr. Khan, an IR at Medstar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, D.C., is on the board of directors of SIRPAC. As such, Dr. Khan is often invited to meet 1–1 with elected officials to build relationships and advocate for physicians.
On March 31, Dr. Khan sat down to dinner with Rep. Clarke and talked about provider protections, fibroid awareness and residency education.
24 IRQ | SUMMER 2022
IRQ: Tell us about the dinner. How was it? Arshad Khan, MD, FSIR: The dinner was great. There was a bit of traffic getting there, and Rep. Clarke was held up because she was doing a floor vote, but it was a very fun event. I was the only physician there, and I was surprised that Rep. Clarke knew my name when she sat down. She clearly did her homework.
IRQ: Who else attended the dinner? AK: This was a unique event because it wasn’t only Rep. Clarke there. Rep. Nikema Williams, D-GA, attended as well as Assistant Speaker Rep. Katherine Clarke, D-MA. I also was able to bring a
guest, so I brought along my son, a high school senior with an interest in politics.
IRQ: What did you all talk about? AK: I believe Rep. Clarke has a very good grasp of the issues facing the medical sector. She spoke to the table and told us there is a bill she is currently supporting which will bring down the cost of insulin. Later on, I thanked her for sponsoring the Stephanie Tubbs Jones Uterine Fibroid Research and Education Act 2021. We spoke about how many women do not even know this treatment is available, and she told me she had a similar experience and didn’t know about UFE when she needed it. We also spoke about the Dr. Lorna Breen Health Care Provider Protection Act, which recently passed with Rep. Clarke’s support, and I thanked her on behalf of all the providers who have been dealing with COVID-19.
IRQ: Did she tell you about any other efforts she may support in the future? AK: No, but we spoke about the Medicare cuts which impact IR every year, and while she did not have any
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