2023 Richard Neubauer Advocate of the Year Award
Congratulations to Shakaib U. Rehman, MD, FACP from Scottsdale, AZ for being the 2023 Neubauer Advocate of the Year Award winner! The Neubauer award is presented each year during Leadership Day to recognize individuals who have made exceptional efforts in support of the College’s advocacy program.
Shakaib U. Rehman, MD, FACP: 2023 Richard Neubauer Advocate of the Year Award Winner
Dr. Rehman has been an active advocate for ACP priorities for many years.
At the national level, Dr. Rehman has been an avid advocate for patient health and wellness, and has served on multiple national ACP committees, including many years of service on the ACP Health and Public Policy Committee and as a founding member of the ACP Council of Young Physicians (currently known as the Council of Early Career Physicians). He has also served on the ACP Services PAC board, attended ACP Leadership Day many times over the last 20 years, and taken action on ACP grassroots advocacy action alerts. Due to his tireless efforts, Arizona faculty, residents, student’s participation in ACP’s Leadership Day has been steadily increasing over many years. He has increased the number of key contacts and is always recruiting new members.
At the state level, Dr. Rehman has provided leadership and service to the ACP Arizona chapter for several years by serving on the ACP Arizona Chapter’s Governor Advisory Council as the chair of the Advocacy/Health Policy Committee and on the annual meeting planning committee. He has also successfully organized the Arizona Hill Day and has developed many training tools to help attendees learn the ropes as to how to be an effective advocate.
Because of his leadership, ordinary physicians have gotten engaged in advocacy and made an impact in many Arizona legislative and administrative efforts. For example, because of his efforts, the Arizona Licensing Board has changed their license application question related to Physicians’ Mental Health, which has led to other states doing the same, and an ACP (national) – Institute for Healthcare Improvement collaboration on the issue. Additionally, Dr. Rehman was invited to serve in the Arizona Medical Association (ArMA) Legislature Affairs committee that sets up the direction of ArMA.
Dr. Rehman has ensured that ACP is a major contributor to the Arizona state legislature and has helped pass multiple pieces of legislation to better the lives of both patients and physicians.
