Gain an understanding of the State and Federal Judicial System as it pertains to health policy and law
Understand structure of government and the legislative process
Understand the role physicians play in creating and implementing healthcare policy
Advocacy Framework:
Structural competency
Trauma informed care
Reproductive Justice
Global health equity
Health Systems
The failings of our current healthcare system: Cost containment, universal coverage, better systems in other countries
Skills
Communicating an Effective Message:
Develop proficiency in written media
Op Ed writing
Letter to the editor
Legislative fact sheets or policy briefs
Understand how to craft and reference short text bulletins for use on social media.
Gain proficiency in verbal communication and targeted messaging for media relations
Lobbying 101, including at the Massachusetts State House and Capitol Hill
Writing and delivering legislative testimony
Developing Strategic Action Plans:
Identifying a problem amenable to advocacy with values clarification. Grounding advocacy in personal experience and/or professional duties and adapting advocacy skills to issue/patient population
Defining a problem and its scope
Understand unique position of physicians to link social issues and health
Civic engagement as a cornerstone of medical practice
Medical society affiliation
Creating research to affect policy
Leadership:
Coalition building: identifying and engaging strategic partners, contacting and collaborating with partners, needs assessment
Community partnership: engaging with local and global community organizations to advocate for change
