LEBANON, Oregon – About 30 student-doctors were part of a recent Health Care Policy
Town Hall at COMP-Northwest, sponsored by the Osteopathic Physicians & Surgeons of Oregon. The informal presentation provided an overview of the legislative process in the state, health care policies, and tips on how the future physicians can engage in the process as medical students.
Oregon State Representative Sherrie Sprenger (R-Scio) and State Senator Fred Girod (R-Stayton) answered questions from the audience during the town hall on Thursday, November 5, and stayed after to speak with students one-on-one.
Students shared their concerns with the legislators regarding loan repayments and interest rates. The town hall also touched on legislation that might come back up in 2016, such as mandatory vaccines and nurse practitioner pay parity.
Both representatives asked the crowd to consider working in rural areas after their residencies.
“I have a vested interest, and I will put my bias on the table right now,” Sprenger said. “I would love for you all to go to a rural community and be primary care physicians. I lived in
John Day for a while. There was access to a lot of specialists two and a half hours away, but there was a hardly a doctor there.”
Girod, a retired dentist from Lyons, Ore., echoed Sprenger’s sentiment.
“I grew up, and I had a milepost number,” he said. “I gave up a lot of income by practicing rural, but I live on the North Santiam River. I have the prettiest area in the world, and you can’t beat that.”
Students asked the legislators for advice on how to engage in the health care policy process.
“One of the best things you can do is be informed,” Girod said. When a bill is introduced that could affect the students or their future careers, students can come to Salem and testify in front of a committee. “Live bodies make a difference,” he added.
Sprenger encouraged students to spend time at the Capitol building. “Show up in your white coats. Show up and talk about things. I have lots of COMP-Northwest people who come through my office, and that’s great. You have my support. But go visit some of the others, too.”
About Western University of Health Sciences
Western University of Health Sciences (http://www.westernu.edu/), located in Pomona, Calif. and Lebanon, Ore., is an independent nonprofit health professions university, conferring degrees in biomedical sciences, dental medicine, health sciences, medical sciences, nursing, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, physical therapy, physician assistant studies, podiatric medicine and veterinary medicine. WesternU is home to the Patient Care Center, where the best in collaborative health care services is offered. The Chronicle of Higher Education named WesternU a Great College to Work For in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
