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MSDC Executive Committee member Laurie Duncan, MBBS, FACP, MS, testified on Thursday at the Committee on Health’s oversight hearing of DC Health/DC Department of Health.

The hearing is part of the Council's 2021 budget process. Each government agency and department has an oversight hearing and budget hearing with the relevant Council committees. The process allows the public and the agencies to identify budget needs and areas that should be funded.

Dr. Duncan's testimony primarily aimed at introducing the Council and DC Health to MSDC's wellbeing efforts as well as outlining how DC Health could help reduce physician burnout. Her testimony began by thanking Dr. LaQuandra Nesbitt and her staff for their leadership in these critical areas. It transitioned to outlining the issue, and included stats on the impact of burnout, addiction, and suicide on the medical profession. 

Dr. Duncan then made three asks in her testimony:

1. DC Health publish or make available the de-identified data from the biennial physician workforce survey. In particular, the data on burnout is critical to identifying the major drivers of burnout in the District.
2. DC Health and the Council support the creation of a District-wide, physician led wellbeing program to address and treat burnout.
3. The Board of Medicine and DC Health partner with the MSDC Physician Health Program to maintain a working relationship aimed at helping physicians seeking treatment for addiction.

Chairperson Vincent Gray was taken by the statistics presented by Dr. Duncan and asked questions about why physician burnout was so rampant. He asked Dr. Duncan and MSDC to keep him and his staff engaged on the issue.

MSDC members are encouraged to testify on any issues within their expertise before the Council. Dr. Duncan joins Dr. Sara Imershein, Dr. Angus Worthing, Dr. Neal Barnard, and others in testifying before the Council this session. Contact MSDC to learn more or to receive help in advocating before the Council.