Fixing what’s broken isn’t new for Dr. Al Olszewski. Growing up in Great Falls, he observed his father fix “broken” every day, as he worked tirelessly to provide for his family by installing carpet, tile and linoleum throughout central Montana. As the oldest of seven in a third generation Montana family, Olszewski had no doubt that he would also work hard for his family and his community, just like his dad.
After graduating from medical school, Olszewski served 10 years in the U.S. Air Force, fixing broken warriors and their families. His desire to return to the Big Sky Country led him back to Montana to raise his five children with his wife, Nancee. He made Flathead Valley his home, where he has served Montana families as an orthopedic surgeon for nearly 20 years.
As an independent orthopedic surgeon, federal regulations were making it increasingly difficult for him to care for his patients. He realized similar burdensome regulations were making it just as difficult for his patients to care for and provide for their families. After nearly 30 years of fixing broken people in healthcare, Olszewski decided to “jump with both feet” into government, so he could fix broken policies to better support Montanans. Although a new face in politics, he was not new to policy, having served Montana on state and national levels as a healthcare advisor since 2009. Olszewski was elected to the Montana House of Representatives for District 11 in 2014 and currently serves as the state senator for District 6. In these roles, he has carried legislation to advance multiple suicide awareness and prevention programs for our Native Americans, our youth, and our Veterans. To cure Montana’s physician shortage, Olszewski has developed legislation that creates incentives for physicians to practice in rural Montana and initiated the necessary funding mechanisms to start a psychiatric residency program in Billings. He is also spearheading and providing legislative oversight to update and reform our Child Protection Services to more successfully serve the at risk youth in our state.
Olszewski grew up in a household where you didn’t talk about what needed to be accomplished. You just did it. That’s why fixing a broken healthcare system isn’t something Olszewski is just talking about doing. He’s already made progress in Montana, and he’s running in the 2018 US Senate race so he can continue to fix broken policies that burden Montanans. Join him in his pursuit of creating a better way of life for Montanans today and for generations of Montanans to come.
