Advocate in Action: Fatima Elahi, DO, MHA, Discusses the Importance of RAN AND RADPAC Advocacy
Fatima Elahi, DO, is a fourth-year diagnostic radiology resident who was awarded the RADPAC® Achievement Award this year. Dr. Elahi serves as the Vice Chair/Chair-elect for the American College of Radiology® (ACR®) Resident and Fellow Section (ACR RFS), and as a board member on RADPAC, the College’s nonpartisan political action committee, and American College of Radiology Association® (ACRA®) Radiology Advocacy Network (RAN). After Dr. Elahi completes her residency, she intends to pursue additional training in breast imaging and continue her work in the educational, advocacy and equity aspects of radiology. She aims to promote patient and professional advocacy.
Dr. Elahi recently spoke with ACR about RAN and RADPAC.
How did you become involved with ACR, ACRA and RADPAC?
I became involved with ACR, ACRA, and RADPAC through a unique opportunity as a Resident Advocacy Representative, representing my residency program. This initial involvement sparked my interest in radiology advocacy. As I continued to explore this passion, I was elected to serve on the ACR Resident and Fellow Section's executive council as the advocacy liaison. This role allowed me to be part of the inaugural board of the Radiology Advocacy Network, led by Amy Patel, MD, where I delved deeper into understanding our mission and how I could aim to contribute to it. I was ultimately invited to join the RADPAC board as one of two trainees. Each day, I am learning more about our organization's impact and how I can work with our team to contribute to serving our patients and profession.
What is your biggest success story with RADPAC?
Our collective effort in reaching out to residents, fellows and medical students about RADPAC's mission, achievements and even our challenges is a success worth mentioning. By emphasizing the importance of advocacy to radiologists-in-training, we can promote early exposure to shaping healthcare policy and legislation. One of the factors that highlights the importance of trainee involvement in RADPAC is the limited representation of healthcare backgrounds among members of Congress. RADPAC works to help fill this educational gap by its extensive participation in events on Capitol Hill annually (over 500 this year) and organizing site visits — inviting lawmakers to visit radiology practices (over 15 to date). Site visits provide lawmakers with a firsthand experience of radiology's vital contributions to patient care, further reinforcing the significance of advocating for the field.
What do you feel is the biggest challenge RADPAC faces?
One of the main challenges RADPAC faces is ensuring that trainees feel connected to its mission. As a trainee, I know firsthand that we may underestimate the importance of our involvement at this stage in our careers. We strive to emphasize the significance of supporting our PAC, especially in relation to crucial matters such as minimizing Medicare reimbursement cuts and preserving graduate medical education spots. Effective communication and engagement with members are essential in navigating the complex landscape of healthcare policy and legislation.
What is your RADPAC "pitch?" In other words, how do you get people excited about RADPAC as well as advocacy?
My RADPAC "pitch" centers around the core principle of patient-centered advocacy. By emphasizing RADPAC’s recent advocacy successes, we can help provide measurable outcomes that highlight RADPAC's role in safeguarding radiologists' interests, ensuring equitable reimbursement and preserving the quality of patient care. Ultimately, when discussing RADPAC, I stress the importance of collective action and the impact it can have on patient care. By advocating for physician-led care and addressing scope of practice issues, for example, we directly advocate for our patients' best interests. Supporting candidates who understand radiology's challenges and opportunities allows us to impact legislative decisions that profoundly affect patient care, such as securing language to hold off over $1 billion in proposed imaging cuts. Contributing to RADPAC means contributing to a powerful movement dedicated to ensuring our patients remain at the forefront of our priorities.
How have you helped residents become engaged with RADPAC?
One way I think we have helped residents become engaged with RADPAC is by equipping them with excellent educational resources that highlight the importance of advocacy in their future careers as radiologists. This past year, the ACRA team helped create a one-stop shop website to learn more about the RAN and RADPAC. It houses the RADVOCACY podcast where guests like Greg Nicola, MD, FACR, chair of the ACR Commission on Economics, and Kristin Flukey, congressional staff member for the U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce share their expertise on relevant topics. The website also directs members to their respective state leaders to become more involved at the state level. By initiating conversations about radiology advocacy and RADPAC, we create opportunities for residents to participate in advocacy events, attend meetings and connect with radiologists on advocacy initiatives. Our emphasis on specific policy issues affecting residents helps demonstrate how their contributions and volunteerism can create a meaningful difference. Additionally, we've streamlined the process with calls to action, allowing trainees to reach out to their members of Congress in under 60 seconds on important healthcare matters.
Why is it important to give to RADPAC and to support advocacy activities?
The significance of giving to RADPAC and supporting advocacy activities lies in the opportunity to shape healthcare policy and legislation. Advocacy efforts protect the interests of trainees and radiologists, ensuring fair reimbursement, promoting access to quality care and advancing innovation in our field. One example is our collaboration with the Association of American Medical Colleges on the GME Day of Action, where we urged Congress to support the bipartisan Resident Physician Shortage Reduction Act. This legislation aims to increase Medicare-supported medical residency positions, ultimately strengthening our healthcare workforce. Supporting RADPAC is a proactive investment in our future as radiologists.
Who is your dream RADVOCACY Podcast Hosted by RADPAC guest?
If I were to host a dream RADVOCACY Podcast guest, it would undoubtedly be a patient whose life has been positively impacted by radiology. Hearing firsthand how our work has made a difference in the lives of those we serve would be meaningful and inspiring.
For more information about RADPAC, contact
Ted Burnes, ACR Senior Director, Political Affairs. For more information about the RAN and getting involved in the College’s advocacy initiatives, contact
Melody Ballesteros, ACR Assistant Director, Government Relations.
