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President's Message

December 2024


Doug Jeffrey, MD, FACEP

How many times have I responded to someone’s simple question of “how are you?” with the single word…” busy.” If I take a minute to let that sink in….that’s kind of sad, right? Why am I so busy? Wouldn’t it be great to respond with…”chill”…or “happy”…or “relaxed?” But I lead with “busy.” I often quickly add in a “but good…good busy” right after hearing how awkward it sounds to say that I’m busy. Unfortunately, that’s how professionals like us in EM exist in the States. Culturally, professionals are busy here, with a push to always do more, achieve more, and push further whether it be at work or at home.

With this in mind, the theme of my message this month, ways to be more involved in advocacy, sounds pretty tone-deaf. But hear me out. Below are some ways to spend more of your non-existent free time to get more involved and be even busier. Sounds awesome, right? “How can I be involved in advocacy when I can barely keep up with my laundry after 3 consecutive night shifts?” It’s easy….Just show up. Almost 10 years ago I “showed up” by becoming a TCEP Leadership and Advocacy Fellow and since then doors have continued to open with new opportunities to enjoy our amazing specialty.

Just showing up to try to jump into advocacy can seem impossible with our erratic schedules, limited time, and severely limited bandwidth after yet another beatdown shift with sick and boarding patients, limited hospital resources, no place to have your uninsured or underinsured patients follow up etc. etc. etc. We tend to end up in survival mode when not working, rather than seeking more involvement.

Showing up, however, isn’t the same for everyone or every situation. I think of it almost like a harm reduction strategy…but in reverse. In the ED, oftentimes we must “meet patients where they are” to achieve better rather than optimal health outcomes. What if we all treated involvement with advocacy as a “benefit/involvement enhancement strategy?” Meet yourself where you are…busy, tired, burning out perhaps? Involvement can be a treatment for all of those but likely looks different for every individual. Don’t get frustrated, get fascinated the saying goes. The idea is to be more involved in some small way with our specialty that helps address something that interests you and fits your life.

If you set yourself up with something small and sustainable, it will continue to open doors in the future. You don’t have to hatch the entire plan out up front either. Just like when on shift when you have a million tasks and the wheels are starting to fall off, the way through is to focus on just doing the next thing and then let the momentum build.

With the Texas legislative session underway, this is a perfect time to dip you toes in the advocacy pool. Below are a few ways to get started, or continue your journey:

  • TMA First Tuesdays at the Capitol – February 4, March 4, April 1, May 6, 2025
    • Visit your Texas state representative and senator during the legislative session and advocate for our physicians and patients. The TMA provides a great primer on the current issues the morning before Capitol visits. This is great for first timers as you can observe more seasoned physician-advocates as you visit legislative offices with a team of other physicians.
  • TCEP CONNECT Annual Conference & Hill Day – April 13-15, 2025
    • Join your TCEP colleagues from across the state for engaging educational sessions, valuable networking opportunities, and an exciting day at the Texas Capitol.
  • Join the TCEP Government Relations Committee – Whether you want to testify at the capitol, discuss our EM priorities or just listen in on calls and stay up to date on current legislation the GRC is the place for you.
  • Become a TLAF! (TCEP Leadership and Advocacy Fellow) – TLAF’s spend a year working with the TCEP board, networking, and being exposed to organized medicine through TMA meetings, ACEP Council, ACEP’s Leadership and Advocacy Conference and more. Applications for the 2025-2026 year will open in March 2025.
  • ACEP’s Legislative and Advocacy Conference – April 27-29, 2025.
    • ACEP’s most impactful conference where you will network with our EM’s leaders and advocate at the US Capitol for our patients and our specialty.
  • Join the ACEP 911 Network
    • Receive emails and action alerts keeping you up to date on Federal health policy issues.

I encourage you to meet yourself where you are and take a small step towards expanding your involvement with our amazing specialty. Feel free to reach out to me, our executive director, Jill Sutton, or any of our board members with any questions.

Have a safe and happy holiday season and I’ll look forward to seeing you at TCEP CONNECT in April and hopefully around the Capitol before then.

All the Best
-Doug