Donald E. Girard, MD, Associate Dean for Graduate Medical Education and Continuing Medical Education, has been invited to serve as an expert advisor to the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) - a prominent Washington, DC think tank. Dr. Girard will lend his expertise to the BPC’s Health Professional Workforce Initiative (HPWI) Expert Advisory Panel.
 
The BPC was established in 2007 by former Senate Majority leaders Howard Baker, Tom Daschle, Bob Dole and George Mitchell to develop and promote solutions that can attract public support and political momentum. It acts as an incubator for a variety of policy efforts that engage multiple key audiences in the art of principled compromise.

The BPC’s Health Project was launched in 2011 and is chaired by Sen. Daschle and Sen. William Frist, MD. The Health Project is dedicated to promoting substantive collaboration in support of creating a more sustainable, accountable and efficient health care system within the climate of health care reform. One of its first four areas of focus are issues confronting the health professional workforce and how best to respond to these challenges.

As expert advisor to the Workforce Initiative, Dr. Girard will review appropriate white papers and participate in BPC events and activities related to the Initiative.

“I am tremendously honored to be able to serve in this role,” said Dr. Girard. “The health professional workforce is central to the health care delivery system; and, therefore to any reform efforts to increase access to quality, affordable health care. The HPWI also recognizes the significant regional differences in work force issues and how health care is delivered. I look forward to being part of this team, and to providing input on the unique nature of our communities, state and region.”