Stephen Rockower

Stephen J. Rockower, MD, by himself.

I grew up outside of Philadelphia in Elkins Park, PA, third of three children. Since my brother couldn’t pronounce “Stevie”, I became known as “TV” for much of my childhood. I did poorly in elementary school, and testing suggested I needed to be put up a grade to “challenge” me. I actually did better after that.  

Not much of an athlete, I gravitated to theater, and performed in numerous high school plays.  For the musicals, I stayed in the background doing backstage work!

College was at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA where I was a member of the Phi Epsilon Pi Fraternity (now Zeta Beta Tau).  I began dating the love of my life, Ann Sablosky, during my Junior year, and soon began making numerous trips to Towson, Maryland to see her at Goucher College.

Back to Philadelphia for Medical School at Temple University, initially living in an apartment that was handed down through various cousins who were also at Temple.  During my Freshman year, Ann tore her ACL and had surgery for a repair. As a medical student, I watched, and subsequently did a clerkship that summer with the surgeon.  This brought me to my second love, Orthopaedics. I was also involved in student politics, being President of my Senior class.

The match took us to Washington for my residency at George Washington University. By the time I was finishing, Ann was in law school, and we stayed. I first worked as a civilian contractor for the Air Force at Andrews Air Force Base, and subsequently took a private job in Silver Spring. 

It was during those first years in Silver Spring that I became involved in the Montgomery County Medical Society, writing articles for Montgomery Medicine.  At the urging of Diane Briggs, I joined the Board.  When I was approached to become President of MCMS, I said I’d only do it if Diane stayed on.  So, two months prior to my term, Diane retired.  I don’t think it was me.  

The search turned up Susan D’Antoni, the “Energizer Bunny” of Executive Directors.  Montgomery Medicine morphed into Maryland Medicine, and I continued writing on topics related to Private Practice.  I became President a second time when a “hole” developed when someone moved. I also became the Montgomery County Trustee on the MedChi Board, after spending numerous years on the Legislative Council.

I continued with legislative affairs on the Board. We worked on numerous malpractice bills, public health bills, and Board of Physicians bills.  I shepherded a bill through the legislature to restrict the use of “Virtual Credit Cards” by insurance companies.

When I became President of MedChi, we started the process of restricting price increases in drug prices. The first bill that passed was struck down by the courts, but eventually a Drug Price Board was established.

At the AMA level, I continued to work on legislative and policy issues, being on numerous Reference Committees in Chicago and elsewhere.