Elkhart Physician Joins Healthcare Reform Discussion with President Obama
The Centre, P.C. offers the latest plastic surgery procedures to patients in Elkhart and South Bend, Indiana, Michiana and the Southern Michigan area, and Chicago.
Elkhart, IN (June 29, 2009) – An Elkhart surgeon is taking action to address the national healthcare crisis in America. His latest effort involved the largest association of physicians and medical students in the country, as well as the President of the United States.
Ronald K. Downs, MD, FACS, founder of The Centre, P.C. and alternate delegate to the American Medical Association, recently participated in the AMA’s 157th annual meeting held in Chicago. This year the AMA meeting was of historic significance as hundreds of physicians from around the country welcomed President Obama, who spoke about the urgent need for healthcare reform.
“The rising cost of healthcare during this recession is devastating to Americans,” said Dr. Downs. “It’s going to take national leadership and physician cooperation to restore affordable healthcare to everyone. That was the goal of this meeting.”
Highlighting physicians’ commitment to their patients, President Obama said to a standing ovation, “you did not enter this profession to be bean counters and paper pushers. You entered this profession to be healers – and that’s what our healthcare system should let you be.”
Talking points for the AMA’s framework for healthcare reform included improvements to the way health insurance is made available to workers and their families, a greater emphasis in preventative healthcare and personal responsibility, new efforts to reduce the rate of growth in healthcare spending, and new policies designed to lower costs for patients, physicians and taxpayers.
“The AMA meeting was the most significant step so far toward reforming healthcare for America,” continued Dr. Downs. “We laid out the plan. Now we have to make it happen.”
Dr. Downs is a board certified plastic surgeon and an active member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery, Indiana State Medical Association, Ohio Valley Plastic Surgery Society and Rush Surgical Society. He founded The Centre, P.C. in 1992.
The Centre, P.C. is a comprehensive plastic surgery practice with board certified plastic surgeons—all members of the American Society of Plastic Surgery—who deliver professional care to patients throughout northern Indiana, southern Michigan and the Chicago area. Reconstructive and cosmetic surgery, hand therapy services, and non-surgical options including skin health products and a medical spa are all available at both their Elkhart and Chesterton locations. For more information, visit www.TheCentrePC.com.
To learn more about the AMA’s framework for healthcare reform, the 2009 meeting in Chicago or President Obama’s speech to physicians, visit www.ama-assn.org.
Press Contact
Chuck Bergman
The Centre, P.C.
574-296-9100
- 800.909.2992
Elkhart Office
RiverPointe Medical Building
500 Arcade Ave., Suite 300
Elkhart, IN 46514
Phone: 574-296-9100
FAX: 574-293-1511
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MEDICAL PAVILION I
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Chesterton, IN 46304
Phone: 219-395-9200
