The Rhode Island Medical Society honored Sen. Dawn Euer with its Civic Leadership award at Thursday’s annual meeting at the Squantum Association in Riverside.
The society honored Senator Euer for her ongoing advocacy for patients and medical professionals in Rhode Island, in particular her work to sponsor and successfully pass the Health Care Provider Shield Act (2024-S 2262A, 2024-H 7577), which protects medical providers who provide transgender and reproductive health care services in Rhode Island from civil or criminal suits from other states or their residents.
“I am honored and humbled to receive this award and I want to recognize the Rhode Island Medical Society for its hard work and advocacy that helped to make the Health Care Provider Shield Act law in Rhode Island,” said Senator Euer (D-Dist. 13, Newport, Jamestown). “As more states have banned established, best-practice medical care, particularly care involving reproductive and transgender health, some states have not been content to stop at their own borders and are targeting health care providers who provide this care in states where it is legal, including Rhode Island. It is important that we preserve our right and our ability to regulate our health care providers and to protect them so they can continue to provide essential, standard-of-care health care to all Rhode Islanders.”
Said Heather Smith, MD, MPH, president of the Rhode Island Medical Society, “On behalf of the Rhode Island Medical Society and the patients we serve, we proudly congratulate Senator Dawn Euer on receiving the Civic Leadership Award. Her tireless advocacy for reproductive rights and healthcare access, particularly through the Health Care Provider Shield Act, has been crucial in protecting both patients and providers in Rhode Island. Senator Euer’s commitment to equitable healthcare ensures that all Rhode Islanders have access to the care they need.”
Representative John Edwards (D-Dist. 70, Tiverton), who cosponsored the Health Care Provider Shield Act, was also honored at the event with a Civic Leadership award and Sen. Joshua Miller (D-Dist. 28, Cranston, Providence) received a Special Recognition award for his long legislative career working to improve the health of Rhode Island’s medical system and its patients.
The Rhode Island Medical Society is a voluntary association of physicians, physician assistants and medical students that advocates for equitable healthcare and the needs of physicians and their patients.
