Assemblyman Conaway Receives Epic Award

New Jersey Nurse, May/Jun 2006

Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-7) was awarded the Institute for Nursing's Exceptional People Impacting the Community (EPIC) Award on May 19, 2006.

Assemblyman Conaway, who serves as chairman of the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee, is in his fourth term as a Legislator in the seventh legislative district. He also serves as a member of the Assembly Appropriations Committee and the Assembly Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee. He earned a BS in politics from Princeton University and earned his medical degree at Thomas Jefferson University Medical School in Philadelphia. He earned his JD at Rutgers law school. Dr. Conaway is the only member of the New Jersey legislature who holds both a medical and law degree.

In addition to serving in the Legislature, Dr. Conaway has an internal medicine practice in Willingboro, New Jersey. He currently serves on the Board of Trustees of Family Service of Burlington County and Boys and Girls Club of Burlington County.

Dr. Conaway has a strong community focus and is a member of the Medical Society of New Jersey. He states that his goals are to work to improve the health care of all New Jerseyans through a collaborative approach among all stakeholders. He uses this approach in his leadership as Chair of the Assembly Health and Human Services Committee. He is open to all ideas from all sides of an argument and strives to put forth the best legislation possible to protect the health of NJ residents.

He wrote legislation that expanded the eligibility criteria for the NJ KidCare health insurance program, and sponsored legislation to expand prescription drug coverage for seniors and disabled citizens. Recently, Dr. Conaway sponsored two bills of importance to the nursing profession: The Safe Patient Handling and Violence Prevention bills.

The Institute for Nursing president, Linda Gural, RN presented Dr. Conaway with the award at the EPIC luncheon held at the Sheraton Edison Hotel Raritan Center.

EPIC Awards are given annually to those people who show there are no limits to the difference people make every day in the lives of others. Congratulations Dr. Conaway!