ACPNJ Advocacy Center

As physicians caring directly for patients, our mission must include advocacy and social justice.

The voices of physicians, individually and even more so collectively, have enormous power to affect change as we are trusted, informed, and dedicated to the needs and rights of others who are often lack that voice.

Advocacy also can directly and positively impact your practice of medicine as ACPNJ supports issues with direct relevancy to patient care and physician careers.

Becoming an advocate for subjects about which you are passionate has the added benefit of shifting your locus of control from the passive recipient of change to an active driver of that change.

Such a perspective can minimize burnout and reinvigorate careers. ACP NJ has been effectively interacting with legislators to affect needed policy change and help our patients. We are passionately committed to advocacy and welcome you to join our efforts.

For more information on our advocacy initiatives or to join the Health and Public Policy Committee, please contact Committee Chair Lisa Cerceo, MD.

2023 Leadership Day

Advocacy in Action

We in New Jersey have an outstanding opportunity to take part in ACP's annual advocacy efforts in Washington, D.C., as well as here at home all year long.

ACPNJ Delegation visiting Rep. Frank Pallone during the 2019 Leadership Day.

Please stand with us and advocate for our patients, our practices and our profession!

Important advocacy events include Leadership Day - ACP Services Inc.'s annual advocacy day on Capitol Hill, and ACP's annual State of the Nation's Healthcare briefing.

2022 Virtual Advocacy Day

Thank you for participating in the 2022 Virtual Advocacy Day!

Agenda:

  • 8:30 AM – From idea to Action: The Logistics of Physician Advocacy - Claudine Leone, JD

  • 9:00 AM
    – Setting Our SIGHTS - Elizabeth Cerceo, MD

  • 9:45 AM
    – Break

  • 10:00 AM
    – Legislator(s) Address - Speakers TBD

  • 11:00 AM
    – Q&A

Advocacy News

ACPNJ Expresses Deep Concern for Health and Wellbeing of the People of Ukraine

By ACPNJ Admin | March 16, 2022

ACPNJ expresses our deep concern for the health and wellbeing of the people of Ukraine in the escalating crisis. Attacks on civilians and on hospitals are unconscionable. It has been more than 150 years since international law prohibited attacks against hospitals, ambulances, the wounded and sick, and health workers.

Sustainable hospitals: We know impact of climate change on health — we also know health care facilities are contributing to it

By ACPNJ Admin | February 14, 2022

Dr. Lisa Cerceo has long counseled her patients about the impacts of climate change, its effect on their health and ways they can work to mitigate those issues.

Last week, an ACP-NJ task force released its “Sustainable Initiatives to Guide Healthcare Transformation” report — providing recommendations to incorporate environmental sustainability into New Jersey’s health systems and facilities.

SIGHT: Sustainable Initiatives to Guide Healthcare Transformation

By ACPNJ Admin | January 5, 2022

ACPNJ is proud to announce the Sustainable Initiatives to Guide Healthcare Transformation (SIGHT): Recommendations on Sustainable Healthcare in New Jersey . SIGHT recognizes the intersection of climate and health and…

2021 Leadership Day Report

By ACPNJ Admin | June 1, 2021

Representatives from ACPNJ participated in the May 26th ACP Leadership Day, which was conducted virtually for the first time.   Jonathan Shammash, MD, FACP, ACPNJ Northern Governor; Elizabeth Cerceo, MD, FACP,…

The People of India Need Our Help NOW!

By ACPNJ Admin | April 26, 2021

COVID 19 has created an unprecedented crisis for India and the Indian people. India needs oxygen concentrators, ventilators, and medicine. Many of our internists in New Jersey have family in…

Earth Day is April 22!

By ACPNJ Admin | April 21, 2021

As physicians’ vow to first do no harm, we must recognize the link between environmental health and wellbeing and our patients’ health and wellbeing. We all impact our environment in…

Proposed Visa Rule Change Would Affect Those With J-1 Classification

By ACPNJ Admin | October 12, 2020

There is a proposal for a visa rule change September 25 by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) that would affect those with visa classifications targeted as J-1. This rule…

Payment for Telehealth and Telephone Consultations During COVID-19 – ACP Chapter Toolkit

By ACPNJ Admin | June 7, 2020

Summary To help ensure access to care, during the COVID-19 health emergency, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has lifted many of the Medicare barriers to telehealth by expanding coverage…

NJ Internist George Wang, MD, FACP published in National Library of Medicine

By ACPNJ Admin | May 22, 2020

Paper on food systems and environmental sustainability was co-authored by George Wang, MD, FACP https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30243951

ACPNJ Advocacy Committee meets with NJ Sen. Vitale

By ACPNJ Admin | March 5, 2020

The ACPNJ Advocacy Committee met with State Senator Joseph Vitale on Tuesday, March 3, 2020 in his Woodbridge, NJ office. ACPNJ Attendees included Dr Jonathan Shammash, NJ Northern Governor, Dr…