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ANESTHESIOLOGY RESIDENCY
ADVOCACY

One of the goals of our training program is to produce well-rounded anesthesiologists who understand not only the
clinical practice of anesthesiology but the need to raise the profile of anesthesiology within the highly
competitive environment of congressional politics. Each year residents and faculty attend the American Society of
Anesthesiologists Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C. as well as serve as delegates to the American
Society of Anesthesiologists House of Delegates at the Annual Meeting.

Pictured (L to R): Senator Lamar Alexander, Patrick Pictured (L to R): Joshua Ragan, MD, Eric Cox, MD and
McFarland, MD and Senator Bob Corker Patrick McFarland, MD
The Department of Anesthesiology at the University of Tennessee was the first department to have 100% contribution to the
ASA Political Action Committee by both faculty and residents, and continues this advocacy every year. Since our
department achieved this feat, only two other departments have ever met this milestone. Patrick McConville, MD is President-
elect for the Tennessee Society of Anesthesiologists (TSA). In addition, the past president of the (TSA) is Daniel Bustamante,
MD, Assistant Professor of Anesthesiology, and he currently serves as Secretary and on the Board of Trustees for the Knoxville
Academy of Medicine as well as delegate to the Tennessee Medical Association. Faculty member, W. Eric Cox, MD, is also a
past president of the Tennessee Society of Anesthesiologists and curr serves as the Treasurer of the TSA and the
Tennessee Alternate Director to the ASA Board of Directors. TSA District 4 Director is Adam Roth, MD and Brigítte
Messenger, MD previously served in that role.

The American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) sponsors a prestigious Policy Research Rotation in Political Affairs and our own

Dr. Patrick McFarland was selected to participate during the 2017-2018 academic year. During his four week rotation, he
achieved a comprehensive understanding of health care politics and policy, gained first-hand experience of a political

environment, assisted in day-to-day activities in the ASA's Advocacy Division, attended lobby events sponsored by ASA, created
a research project and explored and reported on new law and policy changes affecting the profession of anesthesiology.

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