Virginia Senator George Barker has spent his adult life serving his community and working to effect positive change. Prior to his election to Virginias State Senate in 2007, George took the lead on a host of issues, and has been consistently committed to improving our quality of life in Northern Virginia.
For 30 years, George has worked for Northern Virginias regional health planning agency, the Health Systems Agency of Northern Virginia. During his tenure at the Agency, he worked to contain skyrocketing health care costs, promote quality of care, and ensure access to medical care for all Northern Virginians.
George and his wife, Jane, reside in Clifton. Together they raised two children, Erik and Emily, who are now grown and are pursuing their own careers. George earned two degrees from Harvard University, receiving undergraduate honors in Economics and Public Health and a masters in Health Policy and Management.
When it comes to health care, Senator Barker sponsored a bill that will create an online database of advanced health care directives, which passed the House and Senate and has been signed into law. This legislation will support families in need during a time of a crisis and will protect Virginian families by making sure the wishes of the patients can be determined more easily.
He has worked on health and human services issues since 1990. He was the founding chair of the Northern Virginia Perinatal Council until 1996, and again has held the job since 2004.
He has also been the advisor to the newly established Greater Prince William Community Health Center since 2004, was a founding member and analyst for the Southeast Fairfax Health Task Force since 2003, which helped stabilize Inova Mount Vernon Hospital and providing the first recommendation for the developing Inova Lorton HealthPlex.
He was also a founding member and chair of the Northern Virginia Access to Health Care Consortium, an organization that works to provide medical care to the uninsured.
For more information about Senator George Barker, visit www.senatorbarker.com:http://www.senatorbarker.com.
To view the highlights from the DC Health Summit on YouTube click here.
To view a transcript of our discussion at the DC Health Summit, click here.