ASH News Daily 2017 - Issue 3 - C-26

ASH News Daily

Page C-26

Monday, December 11, 2017

Fellowship

"Many of the clinicians
were frustrated with barriers in patient care, from
prohibitively expensive
medicines to patients not
coming in until their illness had gotten to a crisis
stage due to insufficient
or no insurance."

«« From Page C-1

How will you work to help advance
hematology on Capitol Hill?
CZ: Just being here and being at
the table helps advance hematology. The way scientists are trained
to think about problems and come
up with solutions is an important
skill to bring to legislation. We apply
policy and facts to problems. Many
of the staffers in Congress are fresh
out of college or have law degrees.
When people know you have the
knowledge they will come to you
for your opinion, and that will influence early decisions. I accepted

a placement within the minority
House Committee on Energy and
Commerce; there I help with oversight of the Toxic Substances Control Act and the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency, to keep coverage
of chemicals like 1-bromopropane,

which among other dangers, leads
to anemia or low hematocrit, and
trichloroethylene, which can cause
lymphomas and leukemias. Right
now, I'm working on a hearing that
our committee hopes will block legislation that would increase the incidence of methemoglobinemia (also
known as blue baby syndrome). Another thing we've been very focused
on is oversight for the response to
the recent hurricanes. We are working hard to get power returned to
Puerto Rico because without it, you
don't have clean water, or in many
cases, any water at all. There is no
way to refrigerate medication, and it
is impossible to provide proper care

We've crossed
the line.
All too often, barriers - like where and how
people live - separate patients from the
world-class cancer care they need. Our mission?
To tear those barriers down.
Here's how we're doing it:
With our unique hybrid academic
and community care model, we're
pioneering world-class medicine,
then bringing it directly to patients
at more than 25 locations across
the Carolinas.

Selected as part of the elite Bone
and Marrow Transplant Clinical
Trials Network, we're offering
patients unprecedented access to
cutting-edge clinical trials for
blood cancers.

Supported by two grants totaling
$14.1 million, we're leading a team
to improve access to high quality,
evidence-based care for sickle
cell patients in the Southeast.

As the world's first cancer network
to earn Planetree designation,
the highest distinction recognizing
patient-centered care, we never
stop putting patients first.

without these resources. Additionally, Puerto Rico makes many medical
supplies, from saline bags to rivaroxaban, so we continue to work to
get the lights back on.
What are some highlights of your experience so far.
CZ: It's been a wonderful challenge. I am learning to speak a whole
new language - there is an acronym
for everything! I will be much more
aware of my own jargon from here
on out. I have a new appreciation
for lawyers because understanding
legislation is a learned skill. I have
had to read a great deal on issues I
had taken for granted before. The
fellowship training is done through
the American Association for the
Advancement of Science (AAAS),
and it allows you to be a part of a
great community. Before I got here, I
was told I would be making friends
for life, and they weren't wrong. The
network and support are extraordinary. As far as the work I am doing
on the committee, I draft and research memorandums, hearing and
briefing materials, and oversight letters. I write questions for democratic
committee members in preparation
for full and subcommittee hearings,
and I work closely with the members' personal staffs. I spend a great
deal of my time doing background
research on pending and previous
legislation, rules, and other pressing issues to better understand their
complexities. Although I am part of
the environmental subcommittee, I
get to work with the Oversight and
Investigations, Health, and Digital
Commerce and Consumer Protection subcommittees, too.
What would you like potential participants to know when applying to the
program?
CZ: That they won't regret it. It is
a life-changing experience, and it's
an honor to be part of two remarkably renowned organizations. You
will learn so much. I have a bachelor's degree in political science,
and I learned more about our government in two weeks of orientation
than I did in obtaining my degree.
They should also know that if they
don't get the position on the first try
and they are truly passionate about
policy and advocacy, they shouldn't
give up. Many of the fellows I've met
in the AAAS program had to apply
several times before they received an
offer. In the meantime, participate in
the Advocacy Leadership Institute
next year and stay up to date with
the Grassroots Network.
To learn more about this program and
how to apply for the 2018 application
cycle, which is open now through January 31, 2018, visit www.hematology.
org/advocacy/6872.aspx.

http://www.hematology.org/advocacy/6872.aspx http://www.hematology.org/advocacy/6872.aspx

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of ASH News Daily 2017 - Issue 3