JERSEY SHORE MEDICAL CENTER KICK-OFF RALLY IS A SUCCESS

The kick-off rally for "Operation House Call" was held at Jersey Shore University Medical Center on October 7, 2003. The rally was attended by over 400 physicians, staff members, and concerned citizens. Rally coordinator, Dr. Alan Zaccaria, president of the Monmouth County Medical Society, opened the event with a speech about changing the make-up of the New Jersey State Assembly to one that is more physician friendly, in order to finally achieve effective tort reform for medical malpractice claims. This was the dominating theme, as the goal of "Operation House Call" is to remove the political power from the lawyer-friendly democrats, replacing them with key doctor-friendly republican candidates.

Pictured left to right, Alan Zaccaria, MD, President, Monmouth County Medical Society and Rally Coordinator, Senator John O. Bennett, Senate Co-President, and Steve Berkowitz, MD, executive committee member, Monmouth County Medical Society

Bus loads of doctors came from Monmouth, Ocean and Middlesex Counties, as well as Bergen County, led by Dr. John Poole from Holy Name Hospital. Many excellent speakers were present, including Senator John Bennett (Senate Co-President), Senator Joseph Kyrillos, Senator Gerald Cardinale, Assemblymen Eric Munoz, Herb Conaway, "Doc" Arnone, and Joe Azzolina. Physician leaders included Dr. Robert Rigolosi and Anthony Caggiano (past presidents of MSNJ), Dr. Ruth Schulze, Dr. Steve Berkowitz, Dr. Michael Richardson, Dr. Steve Reich, Dr. Rick Scott, Dr. Frank Kelly, Dr. Ronald Bochner and several others, who all gave passionate speeches about the purpose of the rally and "Operation House Call". The goal being to go "door to door" in key legislative districts to promote certain Republican candidates who have pledged their support for the New Jersey physicians. For the Monmouth and Ocean County doctors, the Republican candidates that are being supported are William Baroni and Sidna Mitchell, both running for a seat in the Assembly in the 14th district. Both of the candidates were given the opportunity to address the crowd, and were very well received.

Following the rally, the physicians began their "door to door" campaign. The doctors met at Steinert High School, in Hamilton Township, and were sent out in groups of two, armed with campaign literature, to begin knocking on doors. They found that most of the people were interested and concerned, and listened to what the doctors had to say about the importance of tort reform and saving medicine in New Jersey. Some lucky callers were even treated to candy, or home-made chocolate chip cookies. Although it was a good start, much more work needs to be done over the next several weeks. The success of the campaign will be determined on voting day in November, when the balance of power in the New Jersey State Assembly will shift, and the physicians will be able to rest easy--knowing that their efforts to preserve medicine and quality health care in New Jersey finally paid off.

Email- Aldozac@netzero.net
Website- www.plasticsurgery_zaccaria.yourmd.com