Advocacy Leadership Institute
February 24-27, 2012
Sterling, VA (AMSA National Office)
Select participants may now pay their tuition fees here.
As physicians-in-training, we are likely to see many things that we'd like to change, whether locally in our communities and educational institutions, or globally at the state, federal or international level. What can any one person do to try to effect any of these changes? The answer is advocacy - but of course this just raises more questions… What is advocacy and what does it mean to be an advocate?
The Advocacy Leadership Institute
The American Medical Student Association's Advocacy Leadership Institute is a four-day intensive training experience in knowledge and skills of advocacy for physicians-in-training at all levels of their education. From February 24th-27th, 2012, participants will learn about different aspects of advocacy, including legislative policy, grassroots organizing, education, coalition building, and more. An emphasis will be placed on skill-building and project-planning, with each participant involved in developing advocacy projects to target health-care disparities. The Institute will also include a "Day on the Hill" for students to meet with the Congressional staff of their elected officials (subject to scheduling & availability) to advocate on behalf of a health-related issue.
Sample Sessions
- Physician as Advocate
- Student-Driven Curriculum Reform
- Advocacy Campaign Planning
- Organizing for Change
- How a Bill Becomes a Law
- Leading Change in Medicine Workshop
- Capitol Hill Lobby Visit
Why Advocacy?
Although the role of advocacy training in medical education has generated significant controversy, AMSA strongly endorses the importance of this training for future health professionals. While some have questioned the potential politicization of medical schools and academic medical centers, advocacy has increasingly been recognized as a core element of medical professionalism, and efforts are underway to incorporate advocacy training into graduate and undergraduate medical school curricula.
By virtue of the role physicians play in society and the unique features of the doctor-patient relationship, physicians and physicians-in-training are uniquely suited to advocate with and for patients. To develop effective physician advocates, longitudinal skill development is essential from the outset of training. The importance of this objective at the medical school level is outlined in the AAMC’s Medical School Objectives Project, and there are several medical schools with novel health policy programs.
Exposure to policy, however, is not synonymous with exposure to advocacy, and most physicians-in-training do not have access to a comprehensive advocacy curriculum or even isolated advocacy experiences in formal curricula. Physicians-in-training with exposure to formal training and advocacy experiences will be better positioned to efficiently and effectively advocate for health equity throughout their careers.
Program Fees
Applicants who are selected to participate will be expected to pay tuition fee:
- Members: $249
- Non-Members: $299
Tuition includes breakfast and lunch on Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday as well as 4 nights of hotel accommodations (up to 4 same-gender persons to a room; although an option for 2 can be offered for an additional fee). Program fees will also be used to offset the cost of developing the educational program, including resource materials and administrative support. Please be aware that the institute organizers have worked hard to provide participants with a unique, enjoyable, and educational experience while keeping costs to a minimum.
Participants will be responsible for all other meals and travel expenses, including airfare and/or ground transportation.
For more information, please contact Colin McCluney, Education and Advocacy Fellow.