Dr. Weil and other respected caregivers say congresswoman is the right choice for District 8

Giffords for Congress today announced support for Gabrielle Giffords from respected leaders of the Southern Arizona medical community.

Among the 20 caregivers and health care professionals announcing their support today are Dr. Ron Fischler, president of the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics; Tucson Medical Center CEO Judy Rich; Arizona Hospital Association CEO John Rivers and acclaimed health and wellness leader Dr. Andrew Weil.

“These caregivers, researchers and other industry leaders understand that Gabrielle is a true champion for the health and well-being of Southern Arizona,” said Giffords for Congress campaign Chair Michael McNulty. “From supporting cutting edge research to making sure our community health centers have the resources they need to care for the most vulnerable in our community, Gabrielle fights for those individuals and organizations who keep our community healthy.”

“It is an honor to receive the support of these doctors, nurses, administrators and academics who have dedicated their lives to keeping Southern Arizona healthy and safe,” said Gabrielle Giffords. “As a small business owner and now as a public official, I always have fought to make quality health care accessible to my employees and constituents.  I was proud to take that commitment one step further when I voted in March to improve the healthcare of 447,000 individuals in my district as well as provide 13,400 small businesses in my district with tax credits to help them insure their employees.”

Acclaimed health and wellness expert Dr. Andrew Weil lauded Giffords’ commitment to the Southern Arizona community. “Gabrielle is a tireless advocate for the health of Southern Arizona and its residents. From her support of renewable energy to ensuring all Arizonans have access to the health care they need, she is a powerful force shaping the future quality of life of our community. I appreciate her courage to cast aside politics and pundits and do what she knows is in the best interest of her district. Arizona needs leaders like Gabrielle and I am proud to support her re-election.”

Lawrence J. Aldrich of University Physicians Healthcare described Gabrielle as a champion for her community. “Gabrielle is the type of principled leader Southern Arizona needs. She works tirelessly for her constituents and takes time to understand the challenges they face and what she can do to help them find resolution. We do not agree on every issue, but I always am impressed with her courage and conviction to do what is right for the region. I strongly endorse Gabrielle for re-election.”

“Gabrielle is an honest, trustworthy advocate for her constituents; a strong communicator who works well across the aisle; and she has a keen sense of the challenges facing our community,” said veteran oncology R.N. and Pima Community College nurse educator Karen Brown, R.N., PhD. “Plus, she has a good heart. Nurses have a sixth sense about these things.”

“I interact with a lot of public officials and Gabrielle is one of the hardest-working I have ever known. Plus, she is someone who can be trusted to move things back toward the sensible middle during this time of intense political polarization. I appreciate her strong support of the needs of people with mental illnesses and substance use disorders and her strong support of national legislation to that end,” said Neal Cash, CEO of Community Partnership of Southern Arizona, the regional behavioral health authority for Southern Arizona, in his personal endorsement of Giffords.

W. Mark Clark, MSW, ACSW, president and CEO of CODAC Behavioral Health Services offered his personal endorsement of Giffords, saying, “In my 30-year career leading non-profit health and human service organizations, I’ve worked with many different lawmakers.  But Gabrielle Giffords stands out as the shining star based on her incredible and consistent dedication to supporting mental illness and substance abuse treatment for her community. Whether for our neighbors or our veterans returning from Iraq and Afghanistan, Congresswoman Giffords saw the gaps in our health care system, and she has fought tirelessly to assure that when people get sick, they have access to the care they need.”

Dr. James Dalen, Dean Emeritus of the UA College of Medicine, praised Giffords. “I applaud Gabrielle’s reasoned and well-thought-out approach to key issues and votes. She listens to all sides before making up her mind and once she makes a decision about what is right for her community, she sticks to it. Her energy, honesty and commitment to the people of Southern Arizona represent the best of what we need in our leaders. I admire her hard work and ability to get things done here in her district and in Congress.”

Dr. Palmer Evans, Tucson Medical Center’s chief medical officer, also offered a strong personal endorsement of Giffords. “I am pleased to support Gabrielle Giffords. She is a powerful advocate for the needs of community health providers in Southern Arizona, including working to extend federal reimbursement of hospitals for emergency health services provided to undocumented immigrants and helping secure other needed support for health care providers. These efforts translate directly into improved treatment for patients across Southern Arizona.”

“Gabrielle is a true champion for Arizona’s children. While some in our state legislature were cutting health care for tens of thousands of Arizona kids from working families, Gabrielle stood up to political pressures to make sure that when our children get sick, their parents do not have to choose between taking them to the doctor and putting food on the table,” said Dr. Ron Fischler, pediatrician and current president of the Arizona Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. “Above all, Gabrielle knows that Arizona’s success in the global economy will be made or broken based on the investment we make in our children right now. She knows how to cut through red tape and partisanship and accomplish what is right for her district.”

Alison Hughes, UA College of Public Health faculty member and former director of the UA Rural Health Office, highlighted Gabrielle’s work on behalf of her rural constituents in her personal endorsement. “I have witnessed first-hand Gabrielle’s commitment to the health and well-being of the rural constituents in her district. She has done a remarkable job ensuring the rural community in Southern Arizona receives its fair share of health care resources and consideration by our leaders. I wholeheartedly support her re-election.”

“Gabrielle is one of the original supporters of the Beat Cancer Boot Camp. Her commitment to Boot Camp and the many programs that work to improve the health, well-being and quality of care of Southern Arizonans is remarkable. I appreciate her continued support helping me reach others by educating and advocating for all health needs. I support her vote for quality, affordable health care as well as her work making sure that health care providers are adequately reimbursed, that rural health centers are supported and the health of our women veterans is a priority for the VA. It is a privilege to have her as our congresswoman and to offer her my endorsement today,” said Anita “Sarge” Kellman, a health care professional of 30 years and founder of Beat Cancer Boot Camp.

“It is easy to support Gabrielle, because she is the most intelligent, hard-working, thoughtful and approachable elected official with whom I have had the pleasure to work.  Her dedication to her constituents and the issues important to them is demonstrated by the immense number of hours she devotes to her job,” said UA College of Medicine professor and immediate past vice president of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, Dr. Charles Otto. “We have not agreed on every issue but she has always been a knowledgeable and willing listener and gone out of her way to explain the positions she has taken.  Southern Arizona is fortunate to have her voice of reason speaking for us on the national scene.”

Longtime UA cardiology professor, World War II veteran and author Dr. Brendan Phibbs described Giffords’ steady leadership. “We need a presence in Congress that will ignore the shrieking of well-funded special interests and, instead, think only of the country’s best interests. We need a calm, keen, unwavering intellect that can see through the fog of organized hysteria and deliberate misinformation. In other words, we need Gabrielle Giffords’ leadership now more than ever.”

Tucson Medical Center CEO Judy Rich personally endorsed Giffords, saying “I am proud that Gabrielle had the courage and vision to support the health care reform legislation that will extend coverage to thousands of uninsured residents in District 8, promote innovative approaches to improving the quality of care and reduce the cost of treatment for patients. Throughout her time in public office, Gabrielle has worked with the community to educate citizens and listen to their advice and concerns. I appreciate her support and knowledge of the issues and I am proud to support her in turn.”

Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association President and CEO John Rivers lauded Giffords’ courage in his personal endorsement. “Gabrielle showed great courage with her vote to extend health care to all Americans. This bold action confirmed that she is a leader of great integrity who does what she believes is right for her constituents and the future of her community regardless of what partisan political advisers may say.  I have the utmost respect for her and support her re-election wholeheartedly.”

Jennifer “Ginger” Ryan, CEO of Chiricahua Community Health Centers Inc., in Douglas, Bisbee and Elfrida, said, “Congresswoman Giffords has been very supportive of Chiricahua Community Health Center’s Pediatric Center of Excellence.  Through her efforts, we are able to renovate the previously abandoned 15^th Street School in Douglas and bring a true medical home to the children and families along the U.S. – Mexico border.  As a result, the finest pediatric care in the country will be available here in Southern Arizona.”

Dr. Eve Shapiro, pediatrician, praised Giffords’ support of health care reform legislation. “Gabrielle saw beyond the political rhetoric and special-interest lobbyists to the stark reality facing our country: our medical system in this country was broken and this health care reform legislation was the best possible first step to right the ship.  She put ‘doing the right thing’ ahead of what was politically advantageous and voted in favor of families in need of relief from arbitrary caps on coverage, restrictions on pre-existing conditions and the Medicare doughnut hole.”

Concerned citizen Joan Shaver, Ph. D., R.N., who is Dean of the UA College of Nursing, offered a glowing personal endorsement of Giffords. “Gabrielle is a courageous leader fighting for better health care for everyone in our community – young, old, urban, rural, male and female. I appreciate her deep understanding of the critical issues facing the health care community in Southern Arizona.  She reaches out to bring the voices of the public, private and academic sectors together to creatively solve problems and advance our community. I believe she is the best representative Southern Arizona could have in Congress and that is why I enthusiastically support her re-election.”

Phil Tygiel, P.T., past president of the Arizona Physical Therapy Association, described Giffords’ effective work for seniors. “From day one, Congresswoman Giffords has gone out of her way to pull together health care providers to find out what we needed to do to improve our health care system, especially for seniors.  After meeting with physical therapists in her district, the Congresswoman learned that there is an arbitrary yearly cap on the amount of physical therapy seniors can receive under Medicare.  She took action and cosponsored legislation to eliminate the cap on coverage for seniors, assuring they have access to the care they need.”

Dr. Raymond Woosley, president and CEO of Tucson’s Critical Path Institute, praised Giffords’ ability to turn vision into action. “Gabrielle is a uniquely talented leader for Southern Arizona.  She takes ideas about what our community can be and turns them into reality. From making Arizona the solar energy capital of the nation, to improving math and science education and fostering our health care and bioscience industries, Gabrielle is a really effective and highly respected leader who gets meaningful, measurable work done in Congress. She works so hard for our community while in Washington but also in her district. She meets regularly with community and business leaders, listening carefully to their issues and opinions. Gabrielle is one of the most dedicated public servants I have had the pleasure to know.  Arizona needs her continued representation and her vision for the future.  I’m proud to endorse her. ”

Also endorsing Giffords is Kathleen Gomez of the Southeastern Arizona Medical Center in Douglas.