Senator Bill Frist                                                                  Home Page

Featuring : Senator Bill Frist

Tennessee Christian Living Magazine - Cover Story                                           Print this page

No matter where you stand when it comes to politics, you can’t help but notice the

campaigns are gearing up for one of the most important elections of our countries’

history. With issues such as terrorism and health care on the horizon, it’s important to

take notice and become educated as to where the candidates stand on the many issues

that will decide the moral and financial future of our country.

Former U.S. Senator Bill Frist took time to share with the readers of Tennessee Christian

Living, offering a bird’s eye view into the world of politics. Serving as U.S. Senator for

twelve years, four of those as Senate Majority Leader, his insights are from the busy

center of our U.S. Government.

Sitting in his busy VOLPAC (www.volpac.org, a Political Action Committee) office in

Nashville, his driving passions come from a rich heritage of family and faith as far back

as he can remember. “I was blessed to have parents that were married almost 60 years.

That stability, commitment one to the other and the humility they showed had an impact

on the values I’m trying to live up to today.” His was also a large family where Bill was

the youngest. “Being the last child, you can learn from your siblings, almost by definition

you sit back and watch. I paid attention to good decisions and bad, which helped me to

make better decisions for myself.”

As the son of a physician, a medical profession was a natural progression for Bill. “I knew

I wanted to be a doctor, however at Princeton, I was unsure if it would be medicine or

public service. Ultimately, I became a medical doctor because of my commitment to

service and healing.” But Frist is more than a doctor; his compassion for his patients

enabled him to become a pioneer in the heart and lung transplant industry. This paved

the way for him to be named Director of the Heart and Lung Transplant program at

Vanderbilt University. “Healing one-on-one in medicine manifested itself creatively. Not

only can you stay on the cutting edge of science, but you focus on the individual person,

helping them to make decisions that give them the opportunity to enjoy life, have

families, and have fulfilling careers.”

At the peak of his medical career, he began to want to reach beyond the hospitals and

operating rooms to affect change on a larger scale. One of those concerns was the cost of

health care and the growing need for organ donors. He drafted articles and spoke to

others around the state on many issues, one being the need to convince organ donors to

identify themselves on their driver’s license. Though he experienced success, he knew in

order to have an impact beyond Tennessee; it would need to be at the national policy

level. He also knew that with the cost of healthcare skyrocketing year after year, his

experience would enable him to engage in overdue debate that could bring action.

“I was actively discouraged from getting involved in politics,” he said chuckling. “My

parents were at the top of that list. Why would anyone who is at the top of his field,

drives only three miles to work, saves lives everyday in surgery want to change that?” But

that decision was not made easily.

“It was not as much a calling as a rational decision to risk everything and put myself out

to do something the odds were stacked against!” With no political experience to speak of,

this seemed an impossible task. “The odds were probably 99 to one trying to beat a full

term incumbent U.S. Senator, especially by someone who had never served in public

office and didn’t even know anyone who had served in public office,” again chuckling as

he recalled. “But I knew if I could get there, I would have the opportunity to serve and to

heal. The potential was there.”

Taking the risk of the lifetime proved fruitful. He served as U.S. Senator from January

1995 to January 2007, serving as Senate Majority Leader from January 2003 to January

2007.  Junior Senator Frist brought is passion for healthcare to Washington DC, and helped

implement programs that have affected millions. His accomplishments include serving as

Chairman of the Senate’s Subcommittee on Health which focuses on Medicare, seniors,

prescription drugs, children’s health, and cost of healthcare. In addition, he has also been

a leader in the topics of bioterrorism and HIV/ Aids, as well as authoring the Medicare

Modernization Act, which made prescription drugs available to 43 million senior citizens.

“One of the times my faith grew the most was while in the Senate. What a lot of people

don’t know is that in the U.S. Senate we had a weekly Bible study, where I attended every

Wednesday for five years. The Senate does not open unless we have prayer and a Pledge

to the Flag. That may not be true where you work or in school, but it’s true in the

Senate,” he said with obvious passion.

Discussing how everyday Americans can affect change, his answer was simple yet often

overlooked. “Vote!” he said. “A clash of ideas can be vigorous and generate robust debate,

but the respect and civility between the parties has fallen to an all time low. The

American people are tired of it. It’s going to take leaders of our country who offer

principle centered leadership, someone tolerant but at the same time caring, reaching out

in action to get things done. We must look for servant, unselfish leadership, yet someone

with a vision for reaching out to the less fortunate. Those are the things that can unite

our country and bring people together.”

Another important discussion involving change is the attempt to remove any reference to

God in government. “Attempts to strip God out of government, off our currency, out of

our public spaces, prohibition of the Ten Commandments being posted, and not allowing

Nativity scenes have got to be hit head on,” he responded with concern. “The best way to

affect that type of change is legislatively. We have to put people in our courts that have

faith and strong values. Government has to impact the court system. It boils down to

casting an educated vote.”

With success in both the medical and political fields, he is also a solid family man. Frist

is committed to his three sons, Harrison, Jonathan, and Bryan, as well as his wife of over

25 years, Karyn. “Family centeredness is a precept to everything else in life. Faith, family

and friends is the three-legged stool that leads to fulfillment in life.” His comments were

based on his family of origin as well as his own family of today. “Though I’m not perfect,

my sense of priority is there--faithfulness, loyalty, trust, and communication.” Frist is

also quick to give credit to Karyn for her strength during his years as a surgeon, who

often worked around the clock waiting for an organ to arrive. He commends her ability to

explain to the family the demands on a public servant and her commitment to his calling.

Frist recalls several times when he would say ‘no’ to career in order to create lifelong

memories for one of his children. “I remember hosting a big event for Bob Dole when he

was running for president,” he recalled while smiling. “We had the whole thing planned

and people were committed to attending as well as giving. That same week my son won

an opportunity to compete in the National Pine Wood Derby with the Boy Scouts. That

week I traveled with my son and his hand crafted car, knowing it was more important

that I was with him, rather than Bob Dole.”

The span of the ongoing career of Senator Bill Frist is amazing when looking back on

what one man has accomplished. Perhaps more amazing will be what lies in his future,

not knowing exactly what he plans for next year. “My favorite verse best answers that,”

he said. “Proverbs 19:21 says that in his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord

determines his steps.” One thing is certain. His future will be filled with healing--

whether in our country or on one of his medical mission trips where he travels into

poverty-stricken countries, offering health care to children who often need just clean

water and food to overcome disease.

“I can’t say for sure what I’ll be doing eight months from now, but the Lord determines

my steps. I didn’t know the first time I went into the Sudan that I would end up right in

the middle of a civil war. I didn’t know when I went on a safari in Africa that my next trip

would be a medical mission trip. I do know all of that is not serendipity. It’s not chance.

In my heart I know I want to serve others.” In addition, his recent appointment by

President Bush to serve on the board of the Millennium Challenge Corporation will keep

him looking at needs across the world. The responsibility of this board will be to take a

close look at foreign aid to ensure accountability to recipients around the world. The rule

of this law dictates that if a country does not obey the law, they don’t get the money.

“Most people don’t like foreign aid, but if they understand that a dollar from their taxes

can save a life, Americans become very generous.”

In talking about the perspective on the world after a first hand look at extreme poverty

and need, his response was heartfelt. “My favorite quote is from Martin Luther King from

a letter he wrote from the Birmingham jail. ‘We are caught in the inescapable network of

mutuality tied in a single garment of destiny.’ “What affects one affects us all indirectly.

We have to go beyond ourselves. What happens in Africa is important to what happens in

Appalachia. That comes back to Christian faith and charity. Read Luke 12:48. Much has

been given to us. Then look at the next verse. Much is entrusted and demanded,” he said

adding emphasis to the word demanded. “My role is not to make my life better; it’s to

make my life and your life better. We have a moral responsibility as a society to act

whether in Nashville or Sudan. That is where you not only see healing one-on-one, but

one-on-millions.”

To become involved in what the Senator is doing around the world, log onto www.hopethroughhealinghands.com