Dr. Theodora Grauer

Those of us in the health professions are dealt a double whammy when it comes to issues concerning health care. Not only do we have professional concerns in terms of our patients and our practice environments but we also have concerns about our own health care and that of our loved ones. So there is a two-fold necessity, i.e., a personal and professional demand for awareness of health care issues and the legislative process.

Challenging issues involving cost of health insurance, prescription drug coverage, availability of care, choice of physicians, quality of care, etc. affect all of us and our families. Additionally, as professionals we assume responsibility and duty, both implicit and explicit, imposed by our roles. Maintenance of high standards, role delineation, protection of the public, academic access, opportunities for advancement, wages, job availability and work-place issues consume our thoughts and hopefully, prompt action. This newsletter is devoted to an exploration of the ways in which we prepare students in the School of Health Professions and Nursing to be both informed consumers and providers.

Many of the ways in which one becomes a thoughtful, aware and proactive professional are similar to that of being a good citizen. Information gathering, analysis and attention to debate are hallmarks of the informed voter as well as the basis for the development of a proactive professional. Today, there is no shortage of available information – from the daily newspapers, radio and T.V. to the internet, we are bombarded with information. The difficult task is to make sense of the information and then to plan to act on it. A commitment to awareness is the first step because it is hard work to think through complicated issues. The reward occurs when change actually takes place or even sooner as one sees the wheels of progress begin to turn. Read on...

Dr. Theodora Grauer