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Knowledgeable Aging

Resources for the Aging Population

Effectively influencing state legislators and why that’s important

We feel overwhelmed, fatigued, and powerless when it comes to politics.
Congress seems remote, but what about state and local government?
After all, that’s where most of the decisions that affect our daily lives are made.
Can we make a difference there?
The answer is YES.

Dan Morhaim is an emergency medicine physician, author, and consultant who served for 24 years in the Maryland State Legislature.
He believes in an empowered citizenry and an active civil democracy.
But like all systems, there are ways that we can be more effective.

In his presentation, Dan will share his insider’s view of the process and how  – with minimal effort – you can be a change agent and a savvy citizen lobbyist.
He’ll help you understand why state legislatures are so important, how those elections work, and the best ways to effectively communicate.

Whether your issue is healthcare, education, climate, or potholes, you will know more after his presentation.

For more about Dr. Dan, see www.thebetterend.com

Listen to the Podcast

  • 2:00 – My background as doctor, state legislator and author
  • 3:14 – What do state legislators regulate and control
  • 4:11 – Who are your state legislators
  • 4:40 – Each state legislator is different…so you have to know yours
  • 6:08 – Election numbers and the importance of primary elections
  • 9:47 – How to communicate with state legislator
  • 14:19 – Some stories from my time as state legislator
Dan Morhaim, M.D.

Dan Morhaim, M.D. brings a unique perspective: Physician, state legislator, academic, author, consultant. As an emergency medicine physician, he’s been on the front lines of health care for over 40 years, including 13 years (1981-1994) as Chair of Emergency Medicine at Franklin Square Hospital (Maryland). After his election to the Maryland General Assembly in 1994, he joined the ER Team at Baltimore’s Sinai Hospital where he continues on staff. He was a physician volunteer for 3 years at a Baltimore homeless clinic and served on its Board, and he’s also worked on the Navajo Indian Reservation. As a state legislator, he served in the Maryland House of Delegates for 24 years (1995-2019), enacting 139 bills on a broad range of topics with a focus on healthcare, environment, public safety, and procurement reform. He has been and continues to be on numerous boards and committees including serving now as Chair of the Baltimore County Behavioral Health Advisory Council. He brings a clinical perspective to EagleForce, a health information technology company, and he is the medical director for commercial ambulance companies. As faculty at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health (16 years) he taught public policy, and his research on advance care planning led to numerous articles and two books: the first book in 2011 and his second in 2020 (“Preparing for A Better End, www.thebetterend.com) both from Johns Hopkins Press. The books have earned endorsements from a diverse group of distinguished people including Maya Angelou, U.S. Senator Ben Cardin, Dr. Leon McDougle, Dr. Leana Wen, and others from the medical, academic, faith, and business communities.

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