Page 24 - SAM September 2019

BCMS MIXER

BCMS POST-SESSION

LEGISLATIVE MIXER

A HUGE SUCCESS

By Mary E. Nava, BCMS Chief Government Affairs Officer

Over 80 guests attended the BCMS 86th Session Legislative
Wrap-up Mixer held on Tuesday, Aug. 13 at Peripheral Vascular As- 1
sociates (PVA) Main Avenue Medical Plaza in downtown San An-
tonio. A special thank you to PVA President of the Board,
Demetrios Macris, MD and the PVA leadership team for partnering
with BCMS to host and sponsor the Mixer. The Mixer was done as
a post-Session thank you to all our state legislators to honor them
and thank them for their time and attention to medicine’s issues
during the recent 86th Legislative Session. Attendees enjoyed visit-
ing with several members of the Texas Legislature, along with leg-
islative and congressional staff members. Elected officials and staff 2
members in attendance were: Sen. Pete Flores, District 19; Rep.
Philip Cortez, District 117; Rep. Leo Pacheco, District 118; Rep.
Steve Allison, District 121; Cynthia Cabral, Communications Di-
rector, Office of Sen. Jose Menendez, District 26; Clarissa Ro-
driguez, Chief of Staff, Office of Rep. Cortez; JD Pedraza, Chief
of Staff, Office of Rep. Barbara Gervin-Hawkins, District 120;
James Rodriguez, Communications Director, Office of Rep. Ray
Lopez, District 125 and MaryEllen Veliz, Deputy Chief of Staff
and District Director, Office of Congressman Lloyd Doggett, TX 3
Congressional District 35.
During the event, Alex Kenton, MD, BCMS Legislative and So-
cioeconomics Committee Chair, offered remarks to attendees and
stressed the importance of working with all members of the Leg-
islature on behalf of all patients. Additionally, Dr. Kenton an-
nounced an upcoming new program, in conjunction with the
Texas Medical Association (TMA) and TMA Alliance, First Tues-
days in the District. In a similar fashion as our First Tuesdays at
the Capitol, beginning Oct. 1, we plan to rollout a series of meet-
ings and activities with each of our legislators, that will take place 4
here in San Antonio, in the districts – as a way to continue our di-
alog during the interim. Other county medical societies from
around the state will also be participating in this new initiative.
More details to follow in the coming weeks and months as meet-
ings and activities are scheduled.

For local discussion on this and other legislative advocacy
topics, consider joining the BCMS Legislative and Socioeco-
nomics Committee by contacting Mary Nava, chief govern- 5
ment affairs officer at mary.nava@bcms.org.

24 San Antonio Medicine • September 2019