What a thrill to be in conversation with today’s guest, former Senator Bill Frist from Tennessee.
After working for 16 years as a surgeon, specializing in heart and lung transplants, Dr. Frist was elected to the U.S. Senate in 1994, becoming the first practicing physician to serve in that body since 1928. While in the Senate, he continued annual medical missions to impoverished countries. In 2000 Senator Frist became chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee. Two years later, the Senate Republican Conference elected him as their party’s floor leader. As majority leader, he championed legislation to fight HIV/AIDS globally, modernize Medicare to include prescription drug coverage for seniors, reduce taxes, and achieve K-12 education reform. Majority Leader Frist retired from the Senate in 2007 but remains quite active, including serving as global board chair of The Nature Conservancy.
Senator Frist was in the Snate at the same time I worked there, and while I didn’t know him, I always had respect for him and his staff. It was such a pleasure to interview him about the nexus between public health and climate change and I send a tip of my hat to Ed Maibach for both suggesting Senator Frist for the show and connecting us.