HOME >> MEDICINE >> NEWS
National survey shows few physicians elected to Congress

The politically savvy may be aware that just eight of the current 535 members and four delegates of the 108th Congress are physicians. But a detailed statistical and biographical analysis of Congressional records by Johns Hopkins researchers reveals that since 1960, a total of only 25 physicians have served in either the U.S. House of Representatives or the Senate, just 1.1 percent of 2,196 members whose records were reviewed.

Historically, say the Johns Hopkins investigators, the recent lack of physicians in Congress reflects a major departure from Congressional makeup in the nation's first century, when a much higher percentage of doctors held nationally elected posts. Records show that from 1789 to 1889, 4.6 percent of Congressional seats were held by physicians. Indeed, 10.7 percent of the signers of the Declaration of Independence were medical practitioners.

"There is real irony in our findings," said senior author Thomas Suarez, M.D., director of medical education at Sinai Hospital of Baltimore. "Health care issues are increasingly at the forefront of the presidential election debate, national health care spending is at an all-time high of 14 percent of GDP, and a record 45 million Americans lack health insurance. One could argue that the need for medical leadership has never been greater, yet few physicians walk the corridors of power in Washington, D.C., where major decisions are made."

In their study of national office-holders from the last 40 years, to be published in The Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) online Nov. 2, the Hopkins team conducted a review of the Congressional records for background information on every member who served between 1960 and 2004. The base year of 1960 was chosen for its proximity to the establishment of the nation's two largest health benefit programs, Medicare and Medicaid.

Nearly half the members reviewed were lawyers (44.6 percent). Individuals from the business sect
'"/>

Contact: David March
dmarch1@jhmi.edu
410-955-1534
Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions
2-Nov-2004


Page: 1 2 3

Related medicine news :

1. National Academies advisory: May 2 Symposium on International Science Policy
2. National Academies News: William H. Foege to receive Public Welfare Medal, Academys highest honor
3. National Academies news: Academy honors 17 for major contributions to science
4. National Academies advisory: Report assesses health implications of perchlorate exposure
5. National Academies Advisory: Jan. 11 public briefing on perchlorate in drinking water
6. National Academies news: Gulf War and Health
7. Six new Roybal Centers for Applied Gerontology established by National Institute on Aging
8. UGA professor receives $3 million grant from National Cancer Institute for breast cancer research
9. National Academies advisory: Nov. 4-6 Frontiers of Science meeting in Irvine, Calif.
10. National Chemistry Week celebrates health and wellness in Washington, D.C., area
11. National Institute on Aging Neuroimaging Initiative for Alzheimers disease

Post Your Comments:
*Name:
*Comment:
*Email:
TAG: National survey shows few physicians elected Congress

(Date:6/19/2013)... Brand new Hypertrophy Max bonus just released by ... on the Hypertrophy Max program. Vince and Ben are only ... that are interested must act quickly. , What is the all ... is a free 12 month all access pass to the Live ... Davids "Live Large TV is a Monday night show where over ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... New York, NY (PRWEB) June 19, 2013 ... rising American bands in the country and folk music genre. ... Zac Brown (who is the lead vocals and guitarist), Jimmy ... Driskell Hopkins (the bass guitarist and in vocals), Coy Bowles ... Daniel de los Reyes (percussionist). The band was formed ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... June 20, 2013 A man returning from war ... used to be. In his debut book titled RED DANCER JOURNEY, ... who immerses himself back home, looking for the right place and ... Los Angeles, former marine from the Vietnam War, returns to New ... edge off his PTSD. Wings, a wealthy acquaintance from a tiny ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... 19, 2013 As warmer weather arrives ... Brookstone Lodge on some summertime packages. , “Whether guests ... looking for a fun staycation, we think that these ... and families. Asheville is so beautiful in the summertime ... several options that guests can choose from, based on ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... The benefits, NASS said, depended ... overall experience for the majority of those who enjoyed ... Mouw, whose Virgina-based company enjoys an international clientele, said: ... that the type of sauna is also important. For ... imitations which frankly, can be extremely dangerous particularly in ...
Breaking Medicine News(10 mins):Health News:New Hypertrophy Max Bonus Just Released and Only Available for 24 Hours 2Health News:Zac Brown Band Tickets for Raleigh, Columbia, Darien Center, Gilford, Minneapolis, Holmdel, Pittsburgh, Camden, Atlanta, Boston, Bethel, Toronto & Hartford Now Available 2Health News:Rafael Fragauda’s New Book Underlines Post Traumatic Stress Disorder 2Health News:Fun Depot Partners with Brookstone Lodge on Summer Packages 2Health News:Health Benefits of Saunas Only Viable with Properly Constructed Models, Warns Manufacturer 2
(Date:6/19/2013)... , June 19, 2013 DST Health Solutions, ... services to health plans, integrated delivery systems, and health ... Medical Drug Management Service (MDMS) has jumped significantly. ... and automate the pricing of medical prescription drug claims, ... by automating their medical drug claims processes. As specialty ...
(Date:6/19/2013)...  This year alone, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society ... one goal in mind: Discovering lifesaving therapies for blood ... a flagship LLS fundraising campaign and the world,s first ... landmark 25 th anniversary. To date, TNT has ... to discover and deliver breakthrough cancer treatments that are ...
(Date:6/19/2013)... June 19, 2013  Omnicell, Inc. (NASDAQ: ... and supply management solutions and analytics software for ... the number one overall pharmacy equipment vendor in ... KLAS, a leading independent healthcare research firm, compared ... in its annual rankings. Omnicell also received the ...
Breaking Medicine Technology:Demand For DST's Medical Drug Management Service On The Rise As Health Plan Costs Increase 2Demand For DST's Medical Drug Management Service On The Rise As Health Plan Costs Increase 3Celebrating 25 Years and Counting: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's "Team In Training" Goes the Distance and Beyond for Blood Cancer Patients 2Celebrating 25 Years and Counting: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's "Team In Training" Goes the Distance and Beyond for Blood Cancer Patients 3Celebrating 25 Years and Counting: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's "Team In Training" Goes the Distance and Beyond for Blood Cancer Patients 4Celebrating 25 Years and Counting: Leukemia and Lymphoma Society's "Team In Training" Goes the Distance and Beyond for Blood Cancer Patients 5Omnicell Named Top Vendor in 2013 KLAS Pharmacy Automation Equipment Rankings 2Omnicell Named Top Vendor in 2013 KLAS Pharmacy Automation Equipment Rankings 3Omnicell Named Top Vendor in 2013 KLAS Pharmacy Automation Equipment Rankings 4
Cached News: