Division of Advocacy and Health Policy
20 F Street, NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20001
202-337-2701
Fax: 202-337-4271
ahp@facs.org
Division Director
Christian Shalgian
202-337-2701
Fax: 202-337-4271
cshalgian@facs.org
Medical Director, Quality and Health Policy
Frank Opelka, MD, FACS
fopelka@facs.org
Medical Director, Advocacy
Patrick Bailey, MD, FACS
pvbailey@facs.org
Legislative Affairs | Regulatory Affairs | State Affairs
Staff
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Responsibilities
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D’Arcey Johnson
Office Manager
djohnson@facs.org
202-337-2701
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Serves as the Washington Office Manager, prepares budgets, assists the DAHP Director, serves as ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC Administrator, and liaises with accounting services, building facilities, IT, and vendors
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Kelly Wilkins
Staff Assistant
kwilkins@facs.org
202-337-2701
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Provides staff support and office administration
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Becky Putens
Senior Assistant to the Medical Directors
bputens@facs.org
202-672-1531
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Performs administrative support to the Medical Directors in Washington, DC, office
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Regulatory Affairs
Staff
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Responsibilities
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Vinita O. Mujumdar, JD
Regulatory Affairs Manager
vmujumdar@facs.org
202-672-1510
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Manages privacy federal regulatory matters, including Medicare, HIPAA, EMTALA, graduate medical education, OIG issues, physician self-referral issues
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Jill Sage, MPH
Quality Affairs Manager
jsage@facs.org
202-672-1507
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Represents national groups: JACHO, National Quality Forum, Leapfrog, AHA, Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), surgical groups, and industry (innovations) and manages the Surgical Quality Alliance (SQA)
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Vacant
Senior HIT and Quality Specialist
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Monitors and responds to health information technology policy and regulations; works to propose innovative technology solutions that meet federal standards; and assists in monitoring federal and private sector quality initiatives affecting the practice of surgery
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Lauren Foe, MPH
Senior Regulatory Associate
lfoe@facs.org
202-672-1524
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Interprets and develops strategic responses to regulations affecting surgeons and their patients, including policies related to federal and commercial insurance programs, coverage and reimbursement for surgical care, and utilization management, among others; assists in the publication of ACS resources addressing various issues critical to the management of a successful surgical practice; staffs the American Medical Association RVS Update Committee (AMA RUC)
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Haley Jeffcoat, MPH
Quality Affairs Associate
hjeffcoat@facs.org
202-672-1517
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Monitors and responds to topics related to quality, value-based care, and HIT from the regulatory perspective, as well helping to manage ACS digital services and registry-related projects |
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Vacant
Practice Affairs
regulatory@facs.org
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Liaises with CPT editorial panel, American Medical Association RVS Update Committee (AMA RUC), evaluation and management documentation guidelines, Assistants at Surgery (payment policies), HIPAA-transaction information, socioeconomic tips, CPT coding/practice management workshops and consultants, CPT hotline
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Celia Torres
Regulatory and Quality Affairs Assistant
ctorres@facs.org
202-672-1506 |
Provides administrative support to the Regulatory and Quality Affairs team. |
Legislative and Political Affairs
Staff
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Responsibilities
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Kristin McDonald
Manager of Legislative and Political Affairs
kmcdonald@facs.org
202-672-1512
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Develops and implements the College’s federal health policy agenda, grassroots (SurgeonsVoice), and political (SurgeonsPAC) affairs. Serves as the organization’s chief lobbyist on several issues including Medicare physician payment, medical liability reform, graduate medical education (GME) and workforce, quality improvement, and scope of practice. Also responsible for AMA House of Delegates, Surgical Caucus, and AMA young physicians.
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Matthew Coffron
Manager of Policy Development
mcoffron@facs.org
202-672-1516
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Leverages College resources, data, and expertise in partnership with other ACS departments and divisions to develop proactive health policy proposals and facilitate development of official policy statements. Manages and participates in collaborations with external organizations with similar priorities.
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Amelia Suermann
Senior Congressional Lobbyist
asuermann@facs.org
202-672-1509
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Lobbies Congress and implements the College’s health policy agenda.
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Carrie Zlatos
Senior Congressional Lobbyist
czlatos@facs.org
202-672-1508
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Lobbies Congress and implements the College’s health policy agenda.
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Emma Zimmerman
Congressional Lobbyist
ezimmerman@facs.org
202-672-1528
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Lobbies Congress and implements the College’s health policy agenda.
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Katie Oehmen
Senior Manager, Political and Grassroots Engagement
koehmen@facs.org
202-672-1503
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Serves as the primary liaison for all ACSPA-SurgeonsPAC fundraising and grassroots efforts.
All PAC-related questions can be sent to surgeonspac@facs.org. Grassroots inquiries can be sent to ahp@facs.org.
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State Affairs
Staff
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Responsibilities
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Christopher Johnson
Manager, State Affairs
cjohnson@facs.org
202-672-1502
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State-level advocacy strategy development and training/workshops, state action center, state-level trauma and cancer advocacy, chapter advocacy development, state legislation and policy, state action center, and chapter lobby days.
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Rebecca King
State Affairs Associate
rebeccaking@facs.org
202-672-1525
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State health policy/legislative tracking, state-level advocacy strategy development and training/workshops, state action center, state-level trauma and cancer advocacy, chapter advocacy development, NCSL, chapter lobby days
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Vacant
State Affairs Associate
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State health policy/legislative tracking, state-level advocacy strategy development and training/workshops, state action center, state-level trauma and cancer advocacy, chapter advocacy development, NCSL, chapter lobby days
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