Why We Need More Doctors in Public Office
As president of the KCMS from 2017-19, Dr. Teresa Girolami appealed to her colleagues: “Run for office. We need you at the table.” Years later, that call to action is more urgent than ever.
This month, Dr. Girolami shares her reflections on attending AMPAC Candidate School—a program that trains physicians and other healthcare professionals to run for elected office—and why it matters for the future of medicine.
A Doctor's Path to Politics: Lessons from AMPAC Candidate School
By Dr. Teresa Girolami, Former KCMS President, Current KCMS Board Member, and alternate delegate on the AMA delegation
As president of the King County Medical Society, I gave a speech encouraging physicians to run for public office. That conviction came from personal experience. After spending time in Olympia, I realized that no physicians were serving as elected officials in Washington State at the time.
Even now, very few legislators have a medical background, which has profound implications for healthcare policy.
While testifying before the healthcare committee, I saw firsthand that the elected officials responsible for making decisions about patient care and physician practice often lacked the clinical context to understand the issues fully. And honestly, how could they? Lawmakers are asked to be experts in countless areas, most far outside their own experience.
When I need guidance, I turn to a specialist. But elected officials often don’t have that same access or insight. Imagine the value of having a physician on the health committee—someone who can speak from lived experience and help their colleagues navigate the complexity of modern medicine.
After joining the AMA’s Washington State delegation, I discovered AMPAC Candidate School—a program run by the AMA to prepare physicians and healthcare allies to run for elected office. With support from the Washington State Medical Association (WSMA), I received a scholarship and jumped at the opportunity to attend. I flew to Washington, D.C., just in time to catch the cherry blossoms in bloom.
What followed was an intense and eye-opening course. We learned how to choose which office to run for, assemble a campaign team, evaluate polling and fundraising strategies, manage media relations, and navigate campaign laws. We practiced speeches, discussed networking tactics, and mapped everything from filing deadlines to financial disclosures. There were 24 participants from across the country, and the speakers—representing both political parties—were top-tier professionals with real campaign experience.
Running for office, at any level, is both daunting and exhilarating. The time commitment is significant. It affects your family, your work, your social life, and yes, your finances. But I encourage any physician drawn to public service to explore it seriously. Healthcare is too important to leave solely in the hands of non-clinicians.
We need physicians—people who understand the real-world impact of healthcare policy—to help make those decisions.
I’m grateful for the opportunity to attend AMPAC Candidate School, and I’m happy to speak with any colleague who’s curious about the experience or considering a future run. Feel free to reach out to me via. info@kcmsociety.org, I genuinely believe our profession needs more physicians in public leadership.
-Teresa
Would you be ready to Get Involved? Start with the KCMS Delegate Council
If you're not ready to run for office (yet!), there are meaningful ways to get involved in health policy right now. One excellent starting point is the KCMS Delegate Council.
The Delegate Council serves as the policy engine of the KCMS, bringing together physicians to write, review, and vote on healthcare resolutions. These resolutions influence county, state, and even national policy decisions. Participating in the Council is an excellent way to:
- Learn how policy is shaped.
- Represent the voice of physicians and patients.
- Build your leadership skills.
- You can get involved with advocacy that makes an impact.
Interested? Contact us at info@kcmsociety.org or visit kcmsociety.org to learn more about the Delegate Council and how to join.
