Capitol Hill Project

October 25, 2008

Dear Program Director:

I am writing on behalf of the New York State Society of Medical Oncologists and Hematologists (NYSSMOH), the regional organization representing Heme/Onc specialists in downstate New York. As you may be aware, NYSSMOH extends complementary membership to all Program Directors in our area. A number of Program Directors serve or have served on NYSSMOH's Board of Directors. Complementary associate membership is also extended to second and third year Heme/Onc Fellows in the NYSSMOH area.

The Board of Directors believes that all hematologists/oncologists and their professional societies have an important responsibility to act as advocates for their patients, and to support government funding for Heme/Onc research. We are also exploring strategies to involve younger Heme/Onc physicians in the advocacy and political process. Ideally, such involvement should start during the Fellowship years.

Every March, the American Society of Hematology (ASH) sponsors a Capitol Hill Day. Hematologists/Oncologists come from around the country to meet together in Washington, DC and also to meet with their Senators and Representatives. Their purpose is to lobby for increased Federal funding for Heme/Onc research. They also aim to publicize ASH's commitment to patient care.

NYSSMOH has voted to support and fund a pilot program offering a travel grant to Heme/Onc Fellows in their second or third year to attend ASH's annual Capitol Hill Day as an observer and participant. Travel, lodging and meal expenses would be defrayed for the overnight trip. For 2009, travel grants for 2 Fellows would be provided. NYSSMOH members would also attend and seek appointments with appropriate Senators and Representatives from New York. If the pilot program is successful, NYSSMOH would probably establish it as an annual program for Heme/Onc Fellows. The program might also catch the attention of other state Heme/Onc societies, leading to involvement of their Fellows and members.

The pilot program has been approved by the ASH Committee on Government Affairs. NYSSMOH proposes to offer the opportunity to attend Capitol Hill Day in March, 2009 to all second and third year Fellows in our area by simultaneous email. As per the criteria of ASH's Government Affairs Committee, preference will be given to Fellows who plan to attend the 2008 ASH meeting in San Francisco. There, they will attend the meeting of the Government Affairs Committee and learn about the ASH advocacy goals for 2009. Associate membership in ASH is also expected of the 2 chosen Fellows.

We hope that all Program Directors will support this NYSSMOH project for their Fellows. As soon as possible, PLEASE EMAIL ME louis.reed@nbhn.net the names and email addresses of your second and third year Fellows, so that NYSSMOH may circulate this opportunity to them. Many thanks for your time, interest and support.

Sincerely,

Louis Juden Reed, MDClinical Associate Professor of MedicineAlbert Einstein College of Medicinelouis.reed@nbhn.net

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