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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) announced U.S. Rep. Anna Eshoo (D-CA-18) received the 2021 Excellence in Government award in recognition of her outstanding leadership in health care. ASA commends Rep. Eshoo’s resolute work on behalf of patients and physicians to ensure access to high-quality health care and for the knowledge and highly effective leadership she brings to Congress.
Rep. Eshoo serves on the House Committee on Energy and Commerce and was the first woman elected as chair of the Subcommittee on Health. In this role, she has crafted and advanced legislation to protect patient safety and ensure patients’ right to the physician of their choice. Rep. Eshoo is an important strategist to advancing health policy in Congress, including the “No Surprises Act,” a bill recently passed to protect patients from surprise medical bills. She also spoke at ASA’s virtual Federal Legislative Conference in 2020 and was enthusiastically received by attendees.
“Rep. Eshoo has spent the past two decades in Congress dedicated to advancing health policy and protecting patient safety,” said ASA President Beverly K. Philip, M.D., FACA, FASA. “ASA is delighted to honor her for her leadership and dedication, and we look forward to working with her to ensure continued access to high-quality, safe health care.”
“This last year placed a heavy burden on our country’s anesthesiologists, and it’s clear that the ASA’s mission has never been more vital,” said Rep. Eshoo. “I’m humbled to receive this award from such an important organization at such an important time. With ASA’s support behind me, I’ll continue advocating for our shared priorities. They include ensuring that Congress’ balanced law banning surprise medical billing truly protects our nation’s patients and that we continue to strengthen and improve the Affordable Care Act and Medicare, so that every American can access quality, affordable care.”
The Excellence in Government award is given to congressional leaders for exemplary contributions to the medical specialty of anesthesiology, its practitioners, and patients.
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 Claude Brunson, M.D., FASA, executive director of the Mississippi State Medical Association.
THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS
Founded in 1905, the American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) is an educational, research and scientific society with more than 54,000 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 ASALifeline on Twitter.
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