Health Policy and Political Affairs Update:
A Look into the Future

Dr. Sellinger has been a partner at Southeastern Urological Center, now a division of Advanced Urology Institute, since 1991. He received his B.S. degree in Chemistry from Syracuse University, and attended Medical School at the University of Florida in Gainesville. He completed his Urology residency at the University of Florida and has lived in Tallahassee for over 30 years. He was President of the Capital Medical Society in 2003, and served as President of the Florida Urological Society in 2005. In 2018, he served as President of the Southeastern Section of the American Urological Association (SESAUA). In 2019, he served as President of the American Association of Clinical Urologists (AACU). In addition to his urology specific work, Dr. Sellinger has developed a special interest in risk management and prevention of medical errors and has lectured extensively on this subject matter. He is also interested in large group practice development and management. For several years, Dr. Sellinger has served on the board of Advanced Urology Institute (AUI) representing his care center in Tallahassee. In January 2021, he became the second President of AUI, now one of the largest independent urology practices in the United States. Dr. Sellinger currently chairs the Advanced Prostate Cancer (APC) Committee and oversees seven APC clinics within AUI. Since 2015, has also served on the Large Urology Group Practice Association (LUGPA) Board of Directors, where he currently serves as Secretary. At LUGPA, he is proud to represent over 2300 Urologists by working to preserve and advance the independent practice of urology. 

Deepak A. Kapoor, MD
Dr. Deepak A. Kapoor is Chairman and Chief Ecosystem Officer of Solaris Health Holdings, LLC, Market President for Integrated Medical Professionals, PLLC (IMP) and President of Advanced Urology Centers of New York. His expertise includes basic science research in molecular biology, as well as extensive experience in oncologic and reconstructive surgery.

Dr. Kapoor is Clinical Professor of Urology at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Chair of the LUGPA Health Policy Committee, Past President of LUGPA, and Chairman of SCRUBS RRG. He has also served as a Director of UroPAC and Chairman of Access to Integrated Cancer Care. Dr. Kapoor was founder of the New York Urology Trade Association and Integrated Medical Foundation. In addition, he is a Fellow of the American College of Physician Executives.

Dr. Kapoor has published and lectured extensively on clinical, business and health policy issues and is Associate Editor of the journal Urology Practice. He serves on a number of medical advisory boards, including the New York State Governor´s Prostate Cancer Advisory Panel. Dr. Kapoor has received numerous accolades, including the 2011 AUA Ambrose-Reed socioeconomic essay award, the 2014 New York Section AUA Russell W. Lavengood distinguished service award and was recognized in 2018 by LUGPA for outstanding contributions to health policy and the preservation of independent medicine. 

Gary M. Kirsh, MD
Dr. Kirsh is the President of The Urology Group, a 35-urologist integrated group practice headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. He has served as the group’s President since 2009. In 2008, Dr. Kirsh was instrumental in founding LUGPA. He has served as Secretary, President-Elect, and President (2014-2016) of LUGPA. Currently, Dr. Kirsh is the Chair of the LUGPA Political Affairs Committee.

Dr. Kirsh has frequently spoken to urologists across the country on the socioeconomic and political issues facing urology and organized medicine. He has maintained longstanding relationships with various legislators and their staff, and has provided legislative testimony in support of physicians’ issues at both the state and Congressional levels.

Clinically, Dr. Kirsh has special interest in prostate cancer and, more recently, in advanced prostate cancer. He is the director of the Advanced Prostate Cancer Clinic at The Urology Group and lectures often on this topic. Dr. Kirsh earned his medical degree from the University of Chicago, Pritzker School of Medicine in 1984. He completed his urology residency at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1989. Dr. Kirsh resides in Cincinnati, Ohio with his wife Nora. Their two children reside in Boston and Washington, DC.

John McManus
Mr. McManus is the President and founder of The McManus Group LLC, a consulting firm specializing in strategic policy, political counsel and advocacy for health care clients with issues before Congress and the Administration. The McManus Group services clients who are leaders in their respective field across the health care spectrum from the pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical device industries, to physician groups and employee benefit managers. The McManus Group was founded in 2004 and has built a reputation of substantive policy expertise that is trusted by key policy makers in both legislative chambers and in the Administration.

Before founding The McManus Group, Mr. McManus served Chairman Bill Thomas as the Staff Director of the Ways and Means Health Subcommittee, where he led the policy development, negotiations and drafting of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. The MMA provided a market-based, comprehensive prescription drug benefit, reformed Medicare and established Health Savings Accounts. Mr. McManus worked for Chairman Thomas for six years where he also played an instrumental role in the Medicare Commission, Patients’ Bill of Rights and other Medicare legislation.

Before working for Chairman Thomas on Capitol Hill, Mr. McManus worked for Eli Lilly & Company as a Senior Associate from 1994-97 and for the Maryland House of Delegates from 1993-94 as a Research Analyst, briefing the Chairman of the Economic Matters Committee and the members of the Health Subcommittee.

Mr. McManus earned his Masters of Public Policy from Duke University and Bachelor of Arts from Washington and Lee University. Mr. McManus serves on the Board of Advisors of the Williams School of Commerce, Economics and Politics of Washington and Lee University.

Tracy Spicer
Avenue Solutions’ founding partner Tracy Spicer is a 20-year veteran of political campaigns at every level. Ms. Spicer began her involvement in politics in 1992 in former U.S. Senator Edward M. Kennedy’s Senate office before transitioning to his campaign staff in 1994 to assist in his successful re-election campaign against Mitt Romney. Since that time, she has worked with and coordinated numerous campaigns, ranging from municipal and state candidates to the U.S. Congress as well as the White House.

Tracy served as a longtime aide to former Senator Kennedy, quickly rising to Political Director and Deputy Chief of Staff. During her decade of experience on Capitol Hill, she coordinated successful political and legislative strategies for Senator Kennedy. Tracy managed Senator Kennedy’s legislative priorities in the areas of healthcare, education, labor and economic development and strategically worked with Democratic Senators and their political campaign committees to position legislative priorities for political success.

Tracy is widely recognized for her political acumen and expertise in designing legislative and regulatory strategies and her established network of long-standing professional contacts among elected officials, appointed policymakers and their staffs. She draws on her vast political and legislative experience to help clients in navigate the labyrinth of Capitol Hill and government bureaucracy and to position them strategically to head off obstacles, find common ground and achieve success.

As a founding partner of Avenue Solutions, Tracy advises a broad array of clients, including Fortune 100 companies, non-profit organizations, associations and coalitions. She is particularly noted for her expertise in healthcare policy. On behalf of her clients, Tracy has played a leading role in the consideration, negotiation and implementation of the Affordable Care Act (healthcare reform); Medicare and Medicaid legislation; passage and implementation of MACRA and healthcare delivery system reform; and the value and innovation of prescription drugs.

Tracy is a graduate of Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva, NY where she earned her bachelor’s degree in Political Science.