The challenge is that the Federal Government has such a broad scope, it can’t be as nimble as an emergency physician working with urgency in the ED. That’s been an adjustment for Dr. Kass. “Every problem can’t be solved right away, and there are things the Federal Government can do and things the Federal Government can’t do is a lesson that I am learning every day,” she explained. “I’m learning a lot in that way of where the actual change happens,” Dr. Kass said. “I’m having a great time partnering with state and local jurisdictions on making sure that the care they deliver is optimized by whatever resources the Federal Government has to offer.”

Dr. Kass had to sacrifice practicing clinically when she took the role because of federal ethics considerations, and she has really missed being at the bedside. She recently got permission to volunteer with Veterans Affairs hospitals for a couple of hours per month so that she can work with patients again.

Her favorite part about the role is the way she can connect the dots to help accelerate change. When she took the job in November 2021 during a COVID surge, that took the form of making sure federal resources for vaccination and testing were reaching state and local governments as quickly as possible. With the new 9-8-8 national suicide hotline, it’s connecting federal support with the local call centers and community activists who need implementation support. Regarding reproductive health care access, it’s about making sure that people know the stance and statements from the administration and what it means for the care they deliver.

“Being able to communicate with larger groups of people, being able to connect and congregate people, is a big part of this job,” Dr. Kass said. “Those are the parts that I just love the most.”