J-LSMS 2023 | Fall/Winter

NEW MEDICAL STUDENT AND EARLY CAREER PHYSICIAN BENEFIT

STUDENT LOAN PROFESSOR AKA DOCTORS WITHOUT QUARTERS

professionals. In the physician realm, over 25,000 medical school graduates enter training annually in the US. Most of these newly- minted doctors begin their residencies with over $200,000 in federal student loan debt with an average interest rate of over 6%. Medical training can last anywhere from three to eight years with an average salary starting around $60,000. We can help you manage your debt so you can focus on your passions and achieving your goals. LSMS members receive a 15% discount on services. Start your consultation today! (https://www. studentloanprofessor.com/louisiana-state-medical-society- consultations/) ■

SLP partners with colleges, universities, medical schools, residency programs, employers, and national associations to provide education and resources to thousands of students and graduates each year. We offer hands-on support for individual borrowers to ensure that the proper strategies and concepts are executed on an ongoing basis.

Formerly known as Doctors Without Quarters (DWOQ), SLP has specialized knowledge for medical students and graduate health

TO GET POLITICS OUT OF MEDICINE, PHYSICIANS MUST GET INTO POLITICS!

THIS MEANS OVER 25% OF THE LEGISLATURE IS NEW

Now is the perfect time to become engaged in politics as we are changing Governors here in Louisiana. In the last election cycle, we faced a significant turnover in the Legislature. We are again seeing a large turnover in the Legislature, but we will also be changing administrations. When you change administrations, you don’t just get a new Governor. You also get a new Commissioner of Administration, a new Health Secretary and a new Executive staff and more. By nature of the beast, the first year in any new administration lends itself to some chaos. It simply can’t be avoided when you have so many new changes and personalities involved in an adjustment of this scale. While Governor-elect Landry is both astute and sophisticated and hit the ground running, he still won’t have the full power of the office until he is inaugurated on January 8. At that point, he will have to go through the process of Senate confirmations for his selected team. This includes all cabinet appointees, in addition to boards, commissions, task forces, councils and special appointees. As the constitution allows for interim appointments if the legislature is not in regular session, the work of government does not stop. It just means that the Governor and his appointees must be focused on the appointment process while also effecting change. Shifting to the Legislature shows us 40 new members who were elected this Fall. This count addresses only those individuals who have never served, not those who moved from one chamber to the other. This means over 25% of the Legislature is new. This election also saw both the Senate President and The House Speaker termed out – meaning new leaders for both bodies. It is

expected that Sen. Cameron Henry will be the Senate President and Rep. Phillip DeVillier will be the House Speaker. What comes next will be selections for both Pro Tem positions and then new committee chairs and vice chairs will be appointed. Put your running shoes on and get ready for the round robin to come. There are people to meet, legislators to educate and chaos to overcome! We are already planning White Coat Wednesday and will be announcing that date early in January. Please make plans to join us this year as every voice is important! ■

12 J LA MED SOC | VOL 175 | FALL 2023

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