Charles Grassley Should Get a Real Job

Several national newspapers today reported that Charles Grassley, the ranking minority member of the Senate Finance Committee was placing “under scrutiny” Dr. Stephen Ondra, recently appointed by the Obama administration as the Senior Policy Advisor to the VA.

Before I prattle on about Chuck, I must issue a disclaimer. Dr. Ondra performed surgery on my spinal column that corrected a birth defect. At the very least this surgery allowed me the continued use of my legs (which I have grown quite accustomed to and enjoy on a daily basis) and possibly saved my life (which I have also have become quite accustomed to and enjoy on a more sporadic basis). It was surgery that the head of neurosurgery at Evanston Hospital determined too complex for him and consequently referred me to “the only surgeon he knew that could do it.” That surgeon was Dr. Ondra. He told me that Ondra would only take on surgery that other surgeons deemed too difficult. He would also accept new patients that had previous “botched” surgeries. In other words, this is one highly skilled and respected surgeon.

So forgive me my bias.

Grassley is concerned that Dr. Ondra received fees for consulting from Medtronics. And by “fees” I mean a pile of it, about $3.7 million to be precise.

Medtronics is a very large medical device manufacturer with headquarters in Minnesota. They pay many leading scientists and physicians consulting fees. In fact, they pay out a huge amount. As reported by Medtronics themselves, they paid out $15.7 million to various doctors in the fourth quarter of 2009 alone. If you want some details take a look at http://www.fiercehealthcare.com/story/medtronic-divulges-it-paid-docs-over-15-7-million-royalties-and-consulting-fees/2010-06-01.

Why or why didn’t I stay in the pre-med program? Oh yeah, I would have never made it into medical school.

But I digress.

Grassley says “such payments are legal, but says they raise questions about whether Ondra's advice at the VA is vulnerable to potential conflict of interest.” He is still concerned despite the fact that Ondra ended his relationship with Medtronics 11 months before he became the VA’s senior policy advisor.

Eleven months!

After Chuck requested information about Ondra, Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric K. Shinseki responded in writing stating that “before taking the VA job, Dr. Ondra correctly and fully disclosed his finances under the rules of the Office of Government Ethics, had no conflicts regarding Medtronic or any other firm when he assumed his VA duties and has none since."

Let’s take a moment to learn more about the man Grassley is targeting.

Stephen Ondra was born in 1957 in Bellville Illinois to Shirley and Duane. Attended the United States Military Academy at West Point. Continued military service while attending Rush Medical College in Chicago. Completed his internship and residency training in neurological surgery at Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, DC. In 1990-91, he was deployed to Saudi Arabia where he served with distinction during the 1st Gulf War winning a Bronze Star and Army Commendation medals. After returning from the war, he was transferred to Walter Reed where he eventually served as Director of Spine Surgery. Leaving the service in 1994, Dr. Ondra pursued private practice in Ann Arbor, Michigan and served on the Clinical Faculty at the University of Michigan. In 1996, he joined the faculty of Northwestern University in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Ondra served as the Residency Program Director, Vice Chair, Director of Spine Surgery in Neurosurgery, Director of the Spinal Deformity Fellowship, Director of Spine Research, Medical Director of the Neuro-Spine Intensive Care Unit and is an Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery. Dr. Ondra has authored numerous papers and book chapters. He is a highly sought after speaker and is considered a world expert in many areas of spine surgery. Highly regarded for his expertise in the treatment of spine conditions, Dr. Ondra has served as a Board Member of the American Association of Spine Physicians, on the Executive Committee of the AANS/CNS Joint Section of Spine and Peripheral Nerves and Education Committee of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. In 2004, Dr. Ondra became the first neurosurgeon to be granted membership in the Scoliosis Research Society.

Dr. Ondra is currently directing several research projects, including: 1) finite element modeling of the spine, 2) motion analysis of the spine in gait, and 3) sagittal alignment of the skull and cervical spine and its relationship to overall spinal pelvic balance and function. These three projects combine to improve the understanding of the spine as a complex part of the locomotor unit, with a goal of developing a better understanding of spinal disease and its impact on function. In addition to basic science projects, Dr. Ondra has developed a technique for precise correction of spinal deformity based on basic trigonometric calculations. Other clinical research projects include alternative bone graft methods, the use of osteobiologics in the surgical setting and in new pedicle access technology.

Now, let’s take a look at Chuckie’s accomplishments.

Born in 1933 in New Hartford, Iowa to Ruth and Louis.
Graduated in 1955 from Northern Iowa State and got his MA there in 1956. Hmmm…one year, must have been a rigorous program. During the 50’s he worked as a sheet metal worker and in various factories. Then he went into politics.

Story over.

Really, he was in state government from 1958 to 1974. He then served three terms as a congressman and since then, a Senator. Yep, that’s it.

Oh wait, there was more. See what prejudicial reporting can leave out.

He has five children and is a member of The Family, the Christian political organization that organizes the National Prayer Breakfast.

Take a moment to compare and contrast the accomplishments of these two men. One is currently holding the other accountable for his actions. It is a crime that he can do it. It is a crime that he is taking tax payers’ money to do it. It is a crime he is not focusing on things more important than this, like learning if he could ever really survive by some other method than suckling at the government teat.

But again, I admit that I left something out of Chuckie’s oh-so-impressive vitae. Chuck has raised over $7.5M in contributions since 2005. Who are his five largest contributors? According to the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics, the industries that have been the largest contributors to Grassley during his political career are health professionals ($1 million in contributions), insurance industry ($997,674), lawyers/law firms ($625,543) and pharmaceuticals/health products ($538,680). His largest corporate donors have been Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance, Amgen biotech company and Wells Fargo bank.

Could that list impact his effectiveness as one of the leading members of the Senate Finance Committee?

But let’s be fair and look at some more of Grassley’s accomplishments.

1. In March 2009, amid the scandal involving various AIG executives receiving large salary bonuses from the taxpayer-funded bailout of the corporate giant, Grassley sparked controversy by suggesting that those AIG employees receiving large bonuses should follow the so-called 'Japanese example', resign immediately or commit suicide. After much criticism he has not backed off of those comments, dismissing them as rhetoric

2. In 2005, Charles Grassley received a 7 percent rating on the Republicans for Environmental Protection's (REP) environmental scorecard.

3. Senator Grassley received a 10 percent rating on the League of Conservation Voters (LCV) scorecard for his pro-environment votes on the issues of renewable energy and farm conservation programs.

4. According to the Disabled American Veterans, Senator Grassley has the third-worst voting record in the entire US Congress (both House and Senate combined) on veterans issues, earning a 40 rating.

5. In May 2009, Grassley cosponsored a resolution to amend the US Constitution to prohibit flag-burning. (screw that 1St Amendment thing…)

Uh, Chuck…about that Japanese example…

Comments

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Good post, I like to leave comments because it allows bloggers to become more engaged and for the opportunity to perhaps learn from each other.