New Vision Students Participate in Physician Advocacy Efforts

    SARANAC LAKE – Students in the New Vision program at Adirondack Medical Center traveled to Albany to participate in the Medical Society of the State of New York’s (MSSNY) annual advocacy day.
    The day is an opportunity for doctors from across the state to stage a rally and meet with legislators on a broad range of issues.  The doctors, along with the New Vision students, stood on the steps of the Capitol on March 3 to rally around three key issues: the ability to negotiate fair contracts with insurance companies, lowering medical malpractice premiums, and the difficulties of recruiting physicians to rural areas.
    This year, nearly 1,000 physicians heard from key elected leaders including Gov. David Paterson, Health Commissioner Dr. Richard Daines, Insurance Commissioner Eric Dinallo, the chairs of both the Senate and Assembly Health committees, Senate Majority leader Malcolm Smith and others.
    Among the physicians in attendance were Dr. David Welch, Dr. Howard Novick, Dr. Edward Mazdzer, and Dr. David Merkel, long-standing members of the AMC Medical Staff.  Dr. Welch has played a role in providing an opportunity for the New Vision students to gain first-hand experience in the realm of political advocacy. 
    “It is my feeling that programs like New Vision are designed not only to help train students for future careers but also to train them to be responsible adults and this type of political action is part of that training,” said Dr. Welch, “It is hoped that they will have a greater feeling of comfort at dealing with the political process and understand that the voice of a single individual does mean something but it has even more meaning when combined with many others seeking the same goals.”
    The New Vision program is also an opportunity to address one of the key issues MSSNY brought to Albany: the challenges of recruiting physicians to rural areas. 
    This New Vision program, now in its sixth year of existence at AMC, offers high school seniors the opportunity to gain onsite hospital experience and learn about health care careers. The students meet in the New Vision classroom in the LaTour Building adjacent to AMC, and interact with staff and hospital personnel who take time to explain and teach the students about health care careers and assist them as they pursue their college educations. 


     
CAPTION:
    Students in the New Vision class at Adirondack Medical Center, along with Dr. Howard Novick and Dr. David Welch, met with state Senator Elizabeth “Betty” Little on March 3 as part of the Medical Society of the State of New York’s annual advocacy day.

Policies & Terms - Laboratory Test Collection Information - Sitemap

	AMC is accredited by the Joint Commission. Click here to view the Joint Commission Public Notice.
	AMC is accredited by the Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program.
	Adirondack Medical Center's Bariatric Program and Dr. Michael Hill have been designated as a Center of Excellence by the American Society for Bariatric Surgery.