by Mary ENava, MBA
Editor’s Note: Since the inception of “A Day in the Life,” the individual stories told have always been those of physicians. In a rare departure from that format, the physician-led BCMS publications committee requested that BCMS Lobbyist Mary Nava describe one of her typical days at the Capitol, lobbying for our member physicians.
My name is Mary Nava and I’ve had the privilege of
serving as Bexar County Medical Society’s lobbyist for the last three years.
As time has passed, I’ve gained valuable insight into the inner workings of the Texas Legislature. I’ve had the opportunity to watch the legislative process unfold as bills become laws or die in committee, to fight for a constituency I believe in and to portray the role of physicians as dedicated individuals who do all they can to help their patients and their community. I have come to develop strong relationships and friendships with several of our elected officials from Bexar County.
When San Antonio delegation members see me coming, they stop to say hello and they always ask how all my doctors are doing. What I want BCMS physicians to know is that I really love my job and I’m honored to be their representative in Austin.
During the legislative session, I’m in Austin every day. One really cool thing about my job is when I sit up in the chamber’s Gallery, I have a bird’s eye view of the actions of the Texas Legislature. I have witnessed firsthand some of the commentary and debates during the House and Senate sessions and also in a number of committee hearings. Many would be surprised at the amount of time and hard work most legislators give to their role as members of the Texas House of Representatives and Texas Senate.
I’m able to witness the work and participation of the Bexar County delegation members in particular. By the same token – and in support of the physicians in Bexar County, I’m able to provide BCMS members with my impression of the commitment and dedication by our elected officials in terms of how well they serve our constituency.
Also, as my colleagues in the TMA and I have gotten to work together more closely this session, I’ve been given the opportunity to participate in state-level strategy, representing TMA in communications with not only the San Antonio legislators, but also legislators from other parts of the state.
Though I am stationed primarily in Austin Monday through Friday when the Legislature is in session, the most special days during the session have to be First Tuesdays.
Tuesday, May 1 was the final First Tuesday of the session, and the following provides a synopsis of a typical day in my life working in Austin for the 4,000+ physician members of the Bexar County Medical Society.
Originally started by Texas Medical Association Alliance members in 2003, the first Tuesday of each month beginning in February (when the Legislature is in session) is when physicians, residents, medical students and Alliance members from all over Texas descend on the Capitol to lobby, inform and discuss with legislators issues of importance to physicians and their patients in Texas. The sight of scores of Texas physicians in white coats filling the corridors of the Capitol never fails to bring awareness to legislators and their staffs that the “the doctors are in town.” As part of my job, I help prepare the BCMS physicians for the visit and I set appointments with each member of the Bexar County legislative delegation.
Starting with a 7 a.m. meeting at the TMA headquarters, physicians, residents, medical students and Alliance members from all over Texas meet to plan the day of intensive lobbying. On this particular morning, our BCMS coalition consisted of David F. Schneider, MD, Valorie R. Robertson, MD, Resident Tobie Smith, MD, BCMS Executive Director Steve Fitzer, San Antonio Medicine Editor Karen Littleton and myself. We were also joined for part of the morning by William Hinchey, MD, a most distinguished BCMS member who recently was installed as TMA’s President.
First Tuesdays attendees participate as “lobbyists for a day,” representing BCMS and the TMA. As we have done each month since Feb-ruary, our group is led by a physician spokesperson who sets the direction of the discussion with each elected official.
After our morning orientation at TMA headquarters, our BCMS First Tuesdays coalition hits the pavement for a brisk walk to the Capitol. Know-ing that a crowd of lobbyists, tourists and spectators from all over the state already are gathering at the Capitol, it’s my job to elbow out the competition and map out where and when to hit the first legislator on our list.
Because legislators have mercurial schedules, sometimes even an appointment made weeks in advance cannot be kept. Because of this, I make sure our coalition always has a plan B; another legislator nearby our group can drop in on.
On this day, as usual, we planned to contact all 14 state representatives and senators representing Bexar County. If they were unavailable, we insisted on face-to-face meetings with their senior administrators, leaving printed materials and gaining assurance that their legislator would be given our message-- loud and clear.
The morning session was quite productive. We met face to face with Representative Robert Puente, then later with a couple of Senate legislative aides in their offices. Then just before the morning session was to begin, we shifted to Phase II of our lobbying strategy.
In Phase II, our coalition gathered just outside the giant oak entry doors of the legislative chamber. As we waited outside the chamber, we looked for the San Antonio representatives and as they walked into the foyer, we’d stop them and quickly make a few points on the two or three issues of the day. I also sent notes in to legislators while they were in session and “paged” them to the foyer for a brief chat.
Believe me, a note that says, “Sev-eral physicians from Bexar County are in the foyer waiting to see you” will prompt most legislators to come out to see what’s on their minds.
As our point man for the day, I watched as David Schneider, MD honed his delivery and gained more confidence each time he approached a new legislator.
His fellow physician Valorie Robertson, MD flanked him in her white coat and looked on earnestly as Dr. Schneider spoke. Medical resident Tobie Smith, MD stood nearby watching and listening as did BCMS Executive Director Steve Fitzer. Our group appreciated the opportunity to meet briefly with Representatives Leibowitz, Menendez, Villarreal, Straus, McClendon, Castro, Farias and Martinez-Fischer.
Once the morning session was done, our cadre marched down to the Capitol basement to join our TMA allies for a working lunch/debriefing. After lunch, we headed to a couple more offices to meet with Senate legislative directors, and in between those meetings, our group met with a reporter from Texas Monthly. Our group offered him information about the First Tuesdays visits to the Capitol and why it was important for physicians to take the time to participate in these visits.
By 3 that afternoon, the First Tuesday group had accomplished what they set out to do and headed back to San Antonio feeling satisfied on having had a successful day.
I leave the grounds of the Capitol for a while, walking to the Texas Attorney General’s Building to say hello and to thank an Assistant AG who recently con-tributed a piece on Victim’s Compensa-tion for our BCMS magazine. I then return to the Capitol House Chamber and take my usual seat in the East Gal-lery to converse with other lobbyists and listen to the remainder of the session, which on this evening ended around 9 p.m. I leave the Capitol, grab a bite to eat, check e-mails and plan for the next day. My day usually ends between 11 p.m. and midnight.
My commitment to serving BCMS physicians is unwavering and I’m humbled by the continued support of so many physicians who believe in my abilities as their representative. But none of this would be possible were it not for having a superb boss, Mr. Steve Fitzer, who was instrumental in setting forth my role as BCMS lobbyist.
Finally, I wouldn’t be able to commit the time and energy it takes to do this job without a strong family support team, consisting of my husband and extended family. My number one priority is being a mother to my two children, ages 5 and 11. Their education and well-being are my top priorities as a working parent.
With a career spanning more than 17 years, I hope to instill in my children that my desire and commitment to obtaining a good education and becoming a professional in my field is a life-long dream I have pursued with them in mind always.
