Congressman Gregory F. Murphy, MD, presented “The Veteran’s Prostate Cancer Treatment and Research Act” for the Grand Rounds in Urology audience in August 2021.
How to cite: Murphy, Gregory F. “The Veteran’s Prostate Cancer Treatment and Research Act.” August 2021. Accessed Dec 2024. https://grandroundsinurology.com/the-veterans-prostate-cancer-treatment-and-research-act/
The Veteran’s Prostate Cancer Treatment and Research Act – Summary
Congressman Gregory F. Murphy, MD, a urologist and the Representative from North Carolina’s 3rd District, introduces the bipartisan Veteran’s Prostate Cancer Treatment and Research Act, also known as H.R. 4880. After an introduction from E. David Crawford, MD, Editor-in-Chief of Grand Rounds in Urology and Professor of Urology at the University of California, San Diego, Rep. Murphy explains that H.R. 4880 seeks to create a streamlined approach to care for prostate cancer, the most-diagnosed cancer in the VA system. Rep. Murphy then lists the elements of the bill, including the development of: a national prostate cancer clinical pathway that reflects prostate cancer guidelines that are up-to-date and change as needed; a comprehensive prostate cancer program at the VA that will implement this pathway and present a coordinated effort from VAs all across the system; a prostate cancer education plan; and a prostate cancer registry. Rep. Murphy particularly highlights the importance of prostate cancer education and early management, noting that certain veteran groups may be at particularly high risk of developing prostate cancer due to exposure to chemicals like Agent Orange or contaminants such as those formerly found in the drinking water at Camp Lejeune. The presentation concludes with a conversation between Rep. Murphy and Dr. Crawford on how the urology community can help H.R. 4880 pass. Rep. Murphy emphasizes the importance of communication between healthcare providers and legislators, and encourages audience members to develop relationships with their state and federal representatives, as well as to call their congressperson regarding this bill.
For more on prostate cancer treatment for veterans from GRU, check out Hormonal Intervention for the Treatment of Veterans with COVID-19 Requiring Hospitalization (HITCH).
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Originally from Raleigh, Congressman Greg Murphy graduated magna cum laude from Davidson College in 1985. He attended UNC School of Medicine graduating with Honors. After completing his residency in Urology and Renal Transplantation at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, he and his wife, Wendy, settled in Greenville, NC to begin his practice. Dr. Murphy has been the President of Eastern Urological Associates in Greenville, an Affiliate Professor and Chief of the Division of Urology at the ECU School of Medicine, Davidson College’s Alumni President and served on Davidson’s Board of Trustees. Outside of work, he has traveled extensively for the last 35 years as a Medical Missionary, including to India, several parts of Africa, Nicaragua, and Haiti.
Dr. Murphy’s professional career has been primarily one of clinical practice and administrative leadership positions. His surgical practice site is Vidant Medical Center, which serves 29 eastern NC counties. He served for three years as Chief of Staff of the Medical Center.
As a newcomer to politics, Dr. Murphy served in the North Carolina House of Representatives from 2015 to 2019. During his second term in the General Assembly, he served as Senior Chair of Health Policy and Chair of Health and Human Services Appropriations. Dr. Murphy was the Primary Sponsor of both the STOP Act and the HOPE Act, North Carolina’s two main legislative actions to combat the Opioid Crisis. He led efforts to combat waste, fraud, and abuse in the state’s Medicaid system which saved the state hundreds of millions of dollars during his tenure.
Dr. Murphy was sworn in to the U.S. Representatives in September 2019, replacing the late Congressman Walter B Jones, Jr. He serves on the House Committee on Education and Labor as well as the House Veterans Affairs Committee.
