The American Medical Association (AMA)announced that Todd Askew has been named as its new Senior Vice President of Advocacy. After serving as AMA's Director of Congressional Affairs for more than 13 years, Askew will now oversee the organization's legislative, government affairs, political, health policy and private sector advocacy activities.

"With his extensive experience in Washington and working within the AMA, Todd Askew will provide strategic leadership that will build upon our successful advocacy on behalf of physicians and their patients to improve the health of the nation," said AMA Chief Executive Officer and Executive Vice President James L. Madara, M.D. "We also thank Rich Deem for dedicating 35 years to the AMA. Under Deem's leadership, the AMA has been instrumental at increasing and protecting access to health coverage for millions of Americans, eliminating the fatally-flawed SGR and making inroads combatting the opioid epidemic."

During his time as AMA's Director of Congressional Affairs, Askew led efforts to advance organized medicine's priorities before the United States Congress. Askew previously served as AMA's Assistant Director of Congressional Affairs.

"I look forward to continuing the AMA's advocacy on behalf of America's physicians to ensure they have the resources and support they need to deliver high quality care to patients," said Askew. "I am eager to continue our efforts to shape the health of the nation by working to reduce dysfunction in the health care system, achieve health equity, train the next generation of physicians and improve public health."

Prior to joining the AMA, Askew served as a legislative aide for the American Academy of Pediatrics Department of Federal Affairs. In this role, he worked extensively on legislative and regulatory matters dealing with health care financing and public health, including the 1997 enactment of the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

Askew received a B.A. in History from Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA.