Career Retrospective: Brian Shiozawa Reflects on 35 Years in Medicine and Health Policy
As I think about retirement, I know my career in medicine is coming to an end, but my commitment to community is far from over. For almost 35 years, I’ve devoted myself to helping others, whether in the emergency room, the Utah Legislature, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services or, most recently, here at the University of Utah.
As the Associate Vice President for Health Policy, I’ve been honored to be part of the University of Utah Health team. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished, from passing important legislation to securing funding for the new West Valley hospital and the West High School Clinic, to the medical school expansion, and so much more. The excellence of care, teaching, research , and community collaboration at this institution is truly remarkable.
Medicine as a Calling
I first came to the U for my residency in family medicine, a decision that would forever affect my professional journey.
While completing my residency, I realized that emergency medicine—with its fast-paced environment and emphasis on critical care—better suited my personality. So I changed specialties and spent 27 years as an emergency room physician at St. Mark’s Hospital. I’ll never forget the patients I had there.
For me, medicine is both a profession and a calling. You get to actively help people who are sick and injured and be a part of their lives, hopefully in a positive way.
Looking back on my years in emergency medicine, I appreciate that we don’t discriminate in terms of finances or insurance. We treat the patient first and worry about bills later. Not only is it mandated by federal law, but it’s the right thing to do.
Five years ago, I finally came back to the U, primarily advising and consulting on legislation and community relations at the state and federal level. I’ve had the chance to work closely with leaders I admire—including Ed Clark, MD; Gordon Crabtree, MBA; and Michael Good, MD—to help achieve the university’s mission.
I’ve also been inspired by the medical students at the University of Utah. Over the past few years, I took a number of them with me to visit the legislature to attend committee meetings and meet with legislators. This gave the students a chance to share their interests and concerns while learning about funding issues and current bills. I know, as a former elected official, how government and medicine can closely intersect.
Representing on the Hill
During my career as a physician, I’ve been honored to serve in leadership positions, whether it was heading up the Utah Medical Association or the Utah chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians.
I often visited Capitol Hill to advocate for patients and doctors while still working in the emergency room. I remember being there one day when a lobbyist said something I’ve never forgotten: “If you really want to make a difference, be inside the chamber,” he said.
That was a life-changing moment. I listened to his advice and soon won my first campaign. It was a remarkable experience to serve in the Utah Senate from 2012 to 2017. While I continued practicing emergency medicine at St. Mark’s, I worked on policy and helped pass bills to improve the lives of Utahns. I learned so much during this fulfilling time.
I helped pass 50 bills during my time in the Utah Senate. I’m especially proud of the bills we passed expanding Medicaid and providing insurance for children with autism. Parents were literally mortgaging their houses, selling their cars, and taking second jobs just to have enough money to pay for proven therapies that weren’t covered by insurance.
Changing what insurance covered meant families could stay in their homes and kids with autism could attend school and integrate into their communities. One of the most touching awards I’ve ever received was a little plaque with a key on it from the house a family had to sell before the law passed. The plaque reads: “Thank you for being the key to families in Utah getting treatment and services for children with autism.”
Getting Naloxone in the hands of first responders is another bill that made a huge difference. Before the law changed, first responders had to rush overdose patients to the emergency room to receive therapy. By changing the law, EMTs could administer the drug on site. It was a law that literally saved people’s lives.
A Regional Role
Being a senator was such an honor, but when the White House asked me to become the Regional Director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), I knew I needed to seize the opportunity. It was another chance to make a difference.
From 2017 to 2019, I oversaw the western region of HHS including Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, North Dakota, and South Dakota. We worked on everything from mental health and homelessness to the opioid crisis and the Indian Health Service.
I built relationships with leaders in federal government like then-HHS Secretary Alex Azar along with members of Congress. I learned so much from a regional and national perspective about how government works and money is spent.
That experience would prove to be extremely useful when I arrived at the University of Utah in 2019. The U serves many of Utah’s Medicaid patients. By then, I had a better understanding of eligibility, the flow of dollars, and what can and cannot be covered. I could become the bridge between the university and our elected officials.
An End and a Beginning
Soon I will begin a mission with my wife, Joye, for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in California. My retirement from medicine will actually mean a new beginning for both of us.
We plan to stay in the Los Angeles area for the next two years, speaking with the international community about the church’s mission and its humanitarian endeavors. We’ll connect with consulates and embassies about how the church might help them in their own countries.
But I’ll always look back on my time here at the University of Utah with a deep sense of pride. Representing the incredible providers at the U and helping this institution grow have been a career highlight.
