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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) yesterday presented Congressman Emanuel Cleaver II (MO-05) with the 2019 Excellence in Government award in recognition of his dedication to patient safety and expanding access to anesthesia care.
Congressman Cleaver, elected in 2004, has been a leader in ensuring patient access to safe, high quality anesthesia care for many years and has continued to champion this effort with the introduction of the Medicare Access to Rural Anesthesiology Act (MARA). MARA would help provide resources to physician anesthesiologists who are interested in supporting safe anesthesia in rural communities. He has also supported protecting safe, physician-led anesthesia care for our nation’s Veterans, and efforts to address dangerous drug shortages. Prior to serving in Congress, he was an ordained minister.
“Congressman Cleaver has shown a continued dedication to protecting patient safety and ensuring access to safe, high-quality care,” said ASA President Linda J. Mason, M.D., FASA. “ASA appreciates his dedication to public service and applauds his continued leadership in health care and rural access.”
“It is truly humbling to receive this award from an organization making such a positive impact on patients across the country,” said Congressman Cleaver. “I’ve always been passionate about ensuring each and every American has high-quality, accessible healthcare. With the help of the ASA, I’ll continue that effort for as long as I’m walking the halls of Congress.”
Separately, ASA honors a physician anesthesiologist each year with the Bertram W. Coffer, M.D., Excellence in Government award in recognition of his or her contributions to the specialty to advance ASA’s legislative, political and regulatory priorities. This year’s recipient is Joshua Chance, M.D., the President of the Arkansas Society of Anesthesiologists.
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS
Founded in 1905, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is an educational, research and scientific society with more than 53,000 members organized to raise and maintain the standards of the medical practice of anesthesiology. ASA is committed to ensuring physician anesthesiologists evaluate and supervise the medical care of patients before, during and after surgery to provide the highest quality and safest care every patient deserves.
For more information on the field of anesthesiology, visit the American Society of Anesthesiologists online at asahq.org. To learn more about the role physician anesthesiologists play in ensuring patient safety, visit asahq.org/WhenSecondsCount. Like ASA on Facebook, follow ASALifelineon Twitter.
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