Three Duke Pathology faculty members attended the College of American Pathologists (CAP) Leadership Summit from 13th-16th in Washington, DC, where they advocated for pathology and patient care. This year’s meeting focused on long-term Medicare physician payment solutions. Temporary cuts to this payment system have left pathology practices and patients’ access to care at risk.
Xiaoyin "Sara" Jiang, MD, FCAP, presented a session with Regional Pathology Associates’ Leilani Valdes, MD, MBA, FCAP, titled “Paths in Leadership.” In their interactive course, they covered the diverse world of pathology leadership, focusing on the leadership roles found in various practice settings, catering to professionals at different stages of their careers. They provided insights and tips for becoming successful leaders in the field and discussed tools and opportunities for effective networking, mentorship, and collaboration to help build fulfilling leadership roles.
Diana Cardona, MD, MBA, presented and moderated several sessions.
In her session titled “Toward Diagnostic Excellence: A Patient-Centered Pathology Report,” she discussed the confusion and anxiety that patients may experience when reading their cancer diagnosis for the first time. The recent enactment of the 21st Century Cures Act has made it easier and faster for them to access their results. Her session focused on the CAP’s diagnostic excellence grants from the Council of Medical Specialty Societies and Moore Foundation. Her talk paved the way for improving diagnostic excellence by sharing the data needed to create pathology reports that center on the patient while maintaining key clinical information needed by partnering clinical teams.
Cardona led a session with Todd Askew of the American Medical Association (AMA) and three other presenters titled “Medicare Physician Payment Reform,” focused on broad Medicare physician payment reform. CAP has been working with the AMA to push for a Medicare inflationary update for physicians, as well as improvements in the physician fee schedule budget neutrality requirements.
She also led a session titled “Conrad 30” with Centra Health’s Matthew R. Foster, MD, MMM, FCAP, University of New Mexico’s Andrew Mindiola Romero, MD, FCAP, and Prism Pathology’s A. Joe Saad, MD, CPE, FCAP. The Conrad 30 waiver program allows non-US international medical graduates (IMGs) to provide necessary patient care in underserved communities immediately upon finishing their training. It makes them eligible to apply for an immigrant visa or permanent residence immediately, without having to leave the United States for two years, as is required for J-1 visas. The Conrad State 30 and Physician Access Reauthorization Act would reauthorize the Conrad 30 waiver program for three years, make improvements to the program, and increase the number of waivers granted to each state.
In addition, Cardona and Jiang joined colleagues from North Carolina to meet with elected representatives to advocate on behalf of their patients, trainees, and pathologists.
Anand Lagoo, MD, PhD, chaired the NC delegation at the House of Delegates meeting. He met with colleagues to help shape key issues at the state and local levels pertaining to the field of pathology, and discussed CAP advocacy priorities and activities.
