“Emergency Care for America's Heroes”

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05/18/2025

Scrubs to Suits: Leadership & Advocacy Conference

Capt Pei-Ying Kobres, MD

While waiting in the resus room for a trauma transfer with Dr. Fontenette, we talked about our passions and how to prevent burnout. I told him about my interest in improving theupstream factors that bring people to the Emergency Department. Dr. Fontenette raved about the ICU, his goats, and talked to me about his experience as GSACEP president. As an active-duty Air Force physician, I had no idea the opportunities and vast resources that were available to me. It was as simple as Dr. Fontenette asking “Do you want to go to Washington D.C.?”

I was so nervous about going to the Nation’s Capital and speaking with lawmakers. I didn’t even know what I was going to wear. It turns out, that’s what the first two days of the conference are for. The conference brings in experts from all backgrounds - doctors, lawyers, data analysts, and Hill staffers, and gave attendees from medical students to attendings a platform to present their research. I learned so much from everyone there, including when the Health Policy fellow spent time at the GSACEP social explaining the complexities of Medicaid reform and budget neutrality.

On Capitol Hill, I visited Northern California House and Senate representative offices to talk about ED overcrowding, physician burnout, and Medicaid reform. Compared to our speakers, I didn’t feel like I was an expert on anything at first. However, the more I spoke the more I realized that as an emergency physician working in an overcrowded ED trying not to burnout so I can provide the best care for my patients, my experiences and my voice are valuable. I learned that, as medical professionals, we are qualified and if we don’t speak up, work to improve the system, and advocate for our patients to get healthcare access, our patients and our colleagues can be let down by the system.

Working in my current assignment at a civilian hospital, I am lucky to work with active-duty physicians to mentor me. But at GSACEP, my military medical community grew, and I got to meet other active-duty EM physicians from different branches working at MTFs and civilian hospitals all over the country. Aside from a great networking opportunity, I got to advocate for bipartisan causes that affect our colleagues and patients every day. This conference has been one of the greatest highlights of my residency. I strongly recommend it to anyone interested in health policy.

 

Capt Pei-Ying Kobres MD in DCGSACEP Members at LAC

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