Austin –State Representative Dianne White Delisi returned today to Texas from Washington, DC, after accepting the Dr. Nathan Davis Award the previous evening from the American Medical Association (AMA). Representative Delisi was awarded for Outstanding Public Service in the category of State Representative.


"To be recognized nationally by the AMA honors all of us at the state level who work in health care public policy," Delisi stated. "It is gratifying. I return to Texas inspired to try to make our health care system better."


The Dr. Nathan Davis Award is the AMA's highest honor that may be bestowed upon a public official and is given to eight individuals each year. Each winner represents a distinct area of public service within one of eight awards categories. The categories range from U.S. Senator to Statewide Elected Official to Career Public Servant at the Local Level.


The Dr. Nathan Davis Award is named for the founding father of the AMA and recognizes these eight elected or career officials in federal, state, or municipal service whose "outstanding contributions have promoted the art and science of medicine and the betterment of public health." The AMA, founded in 1847, is the nation's premier medical organization.


Representative Delisi was nominated for this award by both U.S. Sen. John Cornyn and Texas House Speaker Tom Craddick. The nominations were then judged by a panel of national medical policy experts.


"I was gratified with the opportunity to speak to some of the best health care minds in the country to highlight the unique needs of Texas: flexibility, better health outcomes, and sustainability," Delisi stated. "I also think that this award brings some shared recognition of the Texas Legislature for its ongoing attempts to bring innovation to health care."


Greater freedom from the federal government for the individual states to design their own Medicaid health care plans was stressed by Delisi.


"We can do it, if you let us," Delisi promised.


Rep. Delisi also used her remarks to highlight her family background in health care issues, which include a grandfather, father, and brother who all became physicians. Their combined time in practice now stretches more than 125 years.


"The Nathan Davis Awards highlight the significant accomplishments attained by those in government service who are giving of themselves to advance the health and well-being of all,” said AMA President John C. Nelson, M.D., M.P.H., in the AMA's announcement of the winners.


Attendees at the awards ceremony held at the Mayflower Hotel included both U.S. Sen. Cornyn and U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison.



The other recipients of this year’s Dr. Nathan Davis Awards are:

UNITED STATES SENATOR:

• The Honorable Charles E. Grassley, representing the state of Iowa
• The Honorable Max Baucus, representing the state of Montana
  
  

ELECTED STATEWIDE OFFICIAL

• The Honorable W.A. “Drew” Edmondson, Attorney General, State of Oklahoma
  
  

MEMBER OF EXECUTIVE BRANCH SERVING BY PRESIDENTIAL APPOINTMENT

• The Honorable William Winkenwerder, Jr., M.D., M.B.A., Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, U.S. Department of Defense
  
  

MEMBER OF EXECUTIVE BRANCH IN CAREER PUBLIC SERVICE

• Vice Admiral James A. Zimble, M.D. (USN ret.), President Emeritus, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences
  
  

STATE SENATOR

• The Honorable Vi Simpson, Indiana State Senate
  
  

CAREER PUBLIC SERVANT AT THE LOCAL LEVEL

• Stephanie B.C. Bailey, M.D., Director of Health, Metro Public Health Department of Nashville/Davidson County