March, 2012    ABOUT GIPAC GIPAC is the political action committee (PAC) for clinical gastroenterologists and gastrointestinal (GI) specialists. We are a bipartisan federal PAC that supports legislators demonstrating an interest in the issues and challenges facing our practices and patients. It is important to note that GIPAC is an issue-specific PAC: While our members may have diverse political opinions, we agree that it is necessary to support those willing to champion the legislative causes important to our profession. GIPAC is always looking to be involved in a federal campaign. If you wish to have GIPAC support a member of Congress, or candidate for federal office, please contact GIPAC leadership. Please visit http://GIPAC.org to make a contribution.    GIPAC HAS UNDER LEADERSHIP! Daniel Pambianco, MD, FACG (Charlottesville, VA) was nominated by the GIPAC Board and voted unanimously to serve as the new GIPAC President. Replacing Dr. Pambianco as GIPAC Treasurer is Elwyn Lyles, MD FACG (Alexandria, LA), who accepted the invitation to join the GIPAC Board and was also unanimously voted to serve as GIPAC Treasurer. GIPAC is thankful Drs. Pambianco and Lyles accepted the Board’s invitation to serve as President and Treasurer respectively. It is comforting that GIPAC will be under strong leadership as we head into the 2012 federal election cycle. GIPAC also wanted to take this opportunity to thank Harry Sarles for his leadership and vision. During his time as GIPAC President, Dr. Sarles literally built GIPAC from a small fund from to help the GI clinician get a meeting with a member of Congress into one of the most respected and sought-after physician society PACs that members of Congress and candidates for Congress routinely seek to engage and listen to the needs of clinical GI. Dr. Sarles will remain on the GIPAC Board but we would be remiss if we did not publicly thank Dr. Sarles for his leadership and success as GIPAC President. A message from Dan Pambianco I personally want to assure GIPAC members that I will continue to grow GIPAC into one of the bigger PACs in the physician community while keeping overhead and administrative expenses to a minimum. Your contributions should be going towards a campaign and not lost in administrative fees. As a stand-alone organization, GIPAC is uniquely situated where total operating expenses are less than $1,000 per month. We will continue to operate on a shoe-string administrative budget while growing GIPAC coffers heading into this election season. Our goals are reachable simply because of your continued support. Thank you. Let’s keep up the momentum! “One Scope” Campaign Please join GIPAC today. I urge you to donate the reimbursement from one procedure to help GIPAC be a strong voice for the GI clinician. Dwindling Medicare reimbursement makes this even easier! With the election season fast before us, GIPAC is well positioned financially to inform Congress that their health reform duties are not over. We are excited to repeat our near-perfect success in supporting members of Congress (or running for Congress) who won their respective seats last election season. Fellow GI clinicians and colleagues, please contribute “one scope” for clinical gastroenterology!    RECENT GIPAC EVENTS GIPAC is also thankful for its membership’s efforts to advocate on behalf of clinical gastroenterology. Recently, GIPAC members attended campaign events in their respective district and states. These local events are ideal as are more imitate and members of Congress obviously appreciate the support - both financial and voting - from each attendee and constituent. GIPAC participated in local events for Rep. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Rep. Alyson Schwartz (D-PA). Rep. Murphy is running for the U.S. Senate and the seat being vacated by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and has been active in health care and physician issues while serving in the House of Representatives. Rep. Schwartz continues to be move up in the House Democratic Leadership ranks and has been a long-time supporter of GIPAC as well as professional societies such as the American College of Gastroenterology. GIPAC thanks Dr. Myron Brand and other physicians for attending these campaign events on behalf of GIPAC. These physicians have not only provided their financial support but also their time in representing GIPAC at these local events. Please contact GIPAC leadership if you would attend a campaign event on behalf of GIPAC and clinical Gastroenterology. Thank you again for your support. GIPAC will continue to be a strong voice on Capitol Hill fighting for clinical gastroenterology. Donate today! http://GIPAC.org Daniel Pambianco, MD, FACG President GIPAC GIPAC.org