Chapter Leadership Elections
Candidate Statements - NYACP Governor-Elect
Hudson Valley Region
It’s time to vote for the next NYACP Governor for the Hudson Valley Region! The Governor serves as the Chapter’s official ACP representative providing a link between members at the local level and leadership at ACP national. This year, candidates running for Governor are Anush Patel, MD, FACP and Kelly Ramsey MD, FACP.
Members in this region can vote online between September 25, 2026, and November 6, 2026. Members eligible to vote will receive a ballot that includes your ACP Member Number and a unique Election Passcode that is required in order to cast a vote.
Please note the following to ensure a smooth voting process:
• Eligible voters must be MACPs, FACPs, Members, and Resident/Fellow Members with an election date of 9/1/2024 or earlier.
• ACP partners with Survey & Ballot Systems (SBS) to conduct the election.
• Add noreply@directvote.net as an approved sender so your ballot arrives safely in your inbox.
• The subject of the ballot email will be “ACP 2026 Governor-elect Election Voting Information.”
• Ballots will be sent electronically around September 26, 2025.
For replacement ballots, print ballot requests, and election customer service, e-mail support@directvote.net or call 866-909-3549, Monday - Friday, 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. ET. For general election information, contact Julie Sinkoff, Coordinator, BOG Relations, by email or call 215-351-2699.
Click Here for Candidate Information -2026 new york governor-elect election
Anush Patel MD, FACP
Governor-Elect Candidate
Hudson Valley Region
What do you see as a "serious challenge" to our specialty over the next 3-5 years, and how would it be best for Internal Medicine to meet that challenge?
· Primary Care Pay and insurance reimbursement: Increase state and federal lobbying for better reimbursement, especially for rural and independent practices that are struggling financially.
· Scope of Practice: Get directly involved in policymaking to keep care physician-led and set firm boundaries on independent practice for APPs and pharmacists.
· Rural Doctor Shortages: Push for more visas, loan forgiveness, and grant programs to recruit and retain doctors in underserved rural areas.
· ACP Membership: Boost regional engagement by holding local, in-person meetings at hospitals and clinics rather than relying on high-level outreach.
· Public Trust: Launch clear, straight-talking public education campaigns to address misinformation and rebuild confidence in healthcare.
How will your experiences, skills, and background help to support and advance the New York chapter over that same time frame?
As Chief of Medical Oncology in a rural health system, I understand our regional recruitment barriers firsthand. Building on my long-standing involvement in ACP leadership, education, and community advocacy for diversity, I will help advance the NYACP by driving targeted policy—like expanded visa access and retention grants—while building an active, inclusive membership base across our region."
Kelly Ramsey, MD, FACP
Governor-Elect Candidate
Hudson Valley Region
What do you see as a "serious challenge" to our specialty over the next 3-5 years, and how would it be best for Internal Medicine to meet that challenge?
Public health, research, and science in general are being increasingly questioned and undermined by federal policies and funding. Age-old evidence-based principles and practices, such as vaccines, climate change, and food safety, are being dismissed and defunded. This results in a potentially more fractious encounter with patients over simple premises such as preventive care.
In my specialty of addiction medicine, the results of federal policies and funding are especially acute. Stigma towards people who use drugs, persons with mental health health conditions, and persons experiencing homelessness is reflected through punitive executive orders and withdrawal of funding. In my practice setting, at a very low threshold clinic in a harm reduction program, the vast majority of my patients have Medicaid and rely on that insurance to access lifesaving medications, such as medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) and pre- and post-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP and PEP).They will be inordinately harmed by the arbitrary Medicaid workforce requirements.
How will your experiences, skills, and background help to support and advance the New York chapter over that same time
frame?
My experience as a leader, including in the state policy and regulatory sphere, as well as my advocacy experience poise me well to address the challenging times we are facing in Internal Medicine.
My clinical work in a marginalized field of medicine prepares me well from an advocacy perspective.
My consultant work provides me with a national perspective and allows me to interface with individuals from multiple jurisdictions with respect to issues related to addiction medicine and harm reduction. It gives me additional perspective regarding patient care in a variety of settings, including carceral settings and long term care facilities.