Believe it or not, the current Congress has 16 physicians serving as Representatives or Senators. They include household names like Senator Tom Colburn, M.D., an OB-GYN an expert in the art of the filibuster, and Ron Paul, M.D., OB-GYN, the flamboyant Congressman who recently ran for President. The physician members are diverse from conservative to liberal.
There are four newly elected physician members.
On the Senate side, there are two physicians. On the House side, there are fourteen physician representatives. Louisiana and Georgia have the most physician representatives each with three.
The American Medical News featured an article on two of the newest physicians to join Congress – one a democrat and one a republican – both from southern states.
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Physicians |
Specialty |
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Rep. Charles Boustany Jr., M.D. (R, La.) |
Cardiovascular surgeon |
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Rep. Paul Broun, M.D. (R, Ga.) |
Family physician |
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Rep. Michael C. Burgess, M.D. (R, Texas) |
Obstetrician-gynecologist |
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Rep. Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R, La.) |
Gastroenterologist/internist |
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Del. Donna M.C. Christensen, M.D. (D, Virgin Islands) |
Family physician |
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Rep. John Fleming, M.D. (R, La.) |
Family physician |
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Rep. Phil Gingrey, M.D. (R, Ga.) |
Obstetrician-gynecologist |
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Rep. Parker Griffith, M.D. (D, Ala.) |
Radiation oncologist |
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Rep. Steve Kagen, M.D. (D, Wis.) |
Allergist/immunologist |
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Rep. Jim McDermott, M.D. (D, Wash.) |
Psychiatrist |
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Rep. Ron Paul, M.D. (R, Texas) |
Obstetrician-gynecologist |
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Rep. Tom Price, M.D. (R, Ga.) |
Orthopedic surgeon |
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Rep. Phil Roe, M.D. (R, Tenn.) |
Obstetrician-gynecologist |
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Rep. Vic Snyder, M.D. (D, Ark.) |
Family physician |
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Physicians |
Specialty |
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Sen. John Barrasso, M.D. (R, Wyo.) |
Orthopedic surgeon |
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Sen. Tom Coburn, M.D. (R, Okla.) |
Obstetrician-gynecologist |