Alok D Sharan, MD

I completed the Washington Health Policy Fellowship from 2005-2006, while I was doing a fellowship in spine surgery at the Hospital for Joint Diseases. The Washington Health Policy Fellowship allowed me to pursue my interests in health policy while not foregoing my clinical training. During the year, I chose to study the issue of Pay for Performance, and how it would affect physician reimbursement. Many of my interests in Medicare policy originated when I interned in 1995 for Rep. Richard Neal (D-MA), who is a member on the House Ways and Means Committee. There were many attempts to change this entitlement program in fundamental ways. As an outside observer, I was troubled by the lack of physician involvement in the legislative process.

I have always believed that many of our health care policy issues can be solved if more physicians became involved in the policy process. As such, during my Fellowship, I had the opportunity to present on the topic of Pay for Performance at various Grand Rounds to orthopaedic residency programs, as well as at AAOS sponsored meetings. My goal during and after the fellowship has been to inform the orthopaedic community on how the changes occurring in Washington D.C. will fundamentally affect how we practice medicine on a daily basis.

Articles Associated with Washington Health Policy Fellowship:

• Sharan D, Genuario MJ, Mehta S, Kusuma S, Ranawat A, Nunley R, Weinstein SL. Current issues in health policy: a primer for the orthopaedic surgeon. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. 2007 Feb: 15 (2): 76-86.
• Alok D. Sharan, MD; James W. Genuario, MD; Samir Mehta, MD; Ryan M. Nunley, MD; and the Washington Health Policy Fellows. Stem Cells in Orthopaedic Surgery. August 2007 AAOS Now.
• Alok D. Sharan, MD; Samir Mehta, MD; Ryan M. Nunley, MD; and the Washington Health Policy Fellows. Issues Facing America : The Uninsured. February 2008 AAOS Now.