Rep. Michael Bilirakis Receives Award for Distinguished Public Service from Nation's Largest Medical Specialty Association

5/13/2003

From: Carolyn McGuire of the American College of Physicians, 202-261-4572, e-mail: carolynm@acponline.org WASHINGTON, May 13 -- Munsey Wheby, MD, FACP, president of the American College of Physicians (ACP) presented U.S. Rep. Michael Bilirakis (R-Fla.) with the Joseph F. Boyle Award for Distinguished Public Leadership on health reform and issues affecting seniors. "Rep. Bilirakis's national leadership has had a tremendous impact on healthcare reform over more than two decades," said Dr. Wheby. "His recent legislative accomplishments include the enactment of the Children's Health Act of 2000 and reauthorization of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality." Dr. Wheby noted several other accomplishments during Rep. Bilirakis' 20 years in Congress: -- championship of federal support for the National Institute of Health; -- support for womens' health research, and improved breast cancer screening; -- lead sponsorship of legislation to reform the Medicare physician payment system and provide regulatory relief to physicians; and -- support for an adequate Medicare prescription drug benefit. The Joseph F. Boyle Award for Distinguished Public Service Award is bestowed upon a current or former government official or a physician acting in an official capacity (state or federal, executive or legislative) who has provided outstanding public service toward improving the delivery of health care. The recipients' accomplishments must be consistent with the ACP's goals and objectives. The American Society of Internal Medicine (ASIM) presented a Distinguished Public Service Award beginning in 1990. In 1992, the award was renamed to honor the late Joseph F. Boyle, MD, ASIM's Executive Director from 1985 to 1992. Following the merger of the ACP and ASIM in 1998, the Board of Regents unanimously approved continuing the award and expanding it to include a physician acting in an official capacity. The American College of Physicians is the largest medical specialty organization and the second-largest physician group in the United States. ACP members include more than 115,000 internal medicine physicians (internists), related subspecialists, and medical students.