Introduction: The purpose of this study is to illustrate and compare the dynamic involvement of neurosurgeons in the political theater. Comparison is made between different specialties through the participation, financial contribution, and political leanings of their respective political action committees.
Methods: Data was acquired related to funds donated, participation, donor status, donation destination, and political party designation. Information was retried through opensecrets.org, open source Federal Election Commission website, and the public information through organized neurosurgery. Neurosurgery PAC was compared to 24 other of the top contributing medical specialty and physician PACs.
Results: Table 1 illustrates total expenditure through different medical specialty political action committees. Neurosurgery ranks 21st with $317,964 spent in 2016.
Of practicing American neurosurgeons, 344 members have donated to NeurosurgeryPAC in 2011, or 6.4% participation. This is compared with 21% of orthopedic surgeons. Participation data can be found in Table 2.
89% of neurosurgical political money went to republican candidates. This was the most unilateral of all PACs. Our colleagues in family practice showed 59% donations going to Democratic candidates. This is data is seen in Table 3.
Conclusions: Neurosurgeon’s enjoy a vibrant political voice through the Neurosurgery PAC in order to best serve our patient’s interests. Neurosurgeon’s are the 21th ranked PAC in terms of total contribution, the 11th in donor participation, and 1st in political ideology. It remains vitally important for neurosurgeons to engage and remain active in the Neurosurgery PAC.
Patient Care: This research evaluates neurosurgical participation in the political spectrum. Encouragement of further participation enables our specialty to lobby for better and more efficient neurosurgical patient care.
Learning Objectives: 1) Compare the political activity of neurosurgeons to other physician groups. 2) Reiterate, the importance of physician participation in the political spectrum.