State Representative Joseph Lyons

The Chicago Medical Society (CMS) hosted its first 2008 Legislative Mini-Internship Program on Tuesday, September 9th. Honored guest, State Representative Joseph Lyons shadowed CMS member Jose Elizondo, MD and Elizabeth Feldman, MD to experience first-hand what it is like to be a doctor.

The Legislative Mini-Internship Program matches legislators and civic leaders with physicians for one day. The goal is to expose legislators and civic leaders to the realities of medicine, allowing them to draw their own conclusions about the complexities of the profession. Designed as a two-way communication project, the Legislative Mini-Internship Program offers information to help broaden the perspective of all viewpoints. The program allows CMS members to become better acquainted with legislative responsibilities and deepens the legislator’s understanding of how legislation affects health care.

The program was held at the Amundsen School-Based Health Center. The Amundsen School-Based Health Center is a partnership between Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center and Amundsen High School. The program included several activities, as well as conversation on current legislation that affects both the health care center and doctors in general. Activities included a tour, a precept session, and one-on-one meetings with school representatives.

The internship provided State Representative Lyons with a comprehensive view into school-based health care. State Representative Lyons met with the medical staff, school leadership, and student involvement groups to understand thecomplexity of the Center. Also, the physicians were able to communicate to State Representative Lyons the successes and barriers they experienced as a result of current legislation.

This program provides a unique platform for CMS members to address health care issues and provides legislators and civic leaders new perspectives within the health care system. The program opens opportunities to create a future physician resource for the legislators and civic leaders on health policy issues helping set the stage for a healthier tomorrow.