FEATURE
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research and development before legalization of medical marijua-
na; and limiting prescriptive authority for schedule II substances,
including opioids. Other health care-related legislative themes,
including capping out-of-pocket costs for insulin, were also dis-
cussed and students and physicians were encouraged to discuss
other topics of interest with their legislators.
After the legislative priority debrief session, physicians and
students attended meetings with their state legislators to weigh in
on these important issues. Medical students had the option to “tag
along” with a physician advisor, giving a whole new meaning to
the age-old practice of “shadowing.” I had the privilege of meeting
with Representative Tom Burch and Senators Julie Raque Adams,
Paul Hornback and Ernie Harris.
Medical students were also encouraged to engage in discus-
sion. While in a meeting with Senator Ernie Harris and several
physician colleagues, GLMS President, Dr. Frank Burns, called on
me to discuss my thoughts on prescriptive authority for opioids.
Luckily, in addition to having read over the legislative priorities
the night before, I had also already discussed this topic, among
others, while in earlier legislative meetings. In fact, I had the op-
portunity to discuss my opinions rather openly in all of the meet-
ings I attended.
At the close of legislative meetings, KMA and GLMS mem-
bers were invited to attend the Senate meeting where Senator
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14
LOUISVILLE MEDICINE
Ralph Alvarado, MD paid his respects with a tribute to the late
Dr. Robert Couch, MBA, President-Elect of KMA and a physi-
cian with whom I had the pleasure of working with through the
KMA Board of Trustees and annual meeting. The day closed with
a KMA Board of Trustees meeting where legislative meetings were
debriefed, and I had the opportunity to share some of my experi-
ences as a medical student participating in the day.
A few months have passed since this year’s PDAC, but the spir-
it of the event carries far past the day itself. KMA members contin-
ue their advocacy by writing resolutions to be adopted during the
KMA Annual Meeting in the fall. This past year, several medical
students wrote resolutions on topics, including firearm safety in
medical school curricula and setting an excise tax on electronic
cigarettes. Students went on to present their resolutions at a na-
tional level at the AMA Interim meeting in San Diego this past
November. Medical students are participating in resolution draft-
ing for both meetings this year as well. After PDAC, students were
also encouraged to contact their legislators as part of an advocacy
week event at UofL.
As exemplified by the recent events surrounding COVID-19,
physicians play an integral role in safeguarding the health care
and well-being of our nation. The rise of the current pandemic
has led many physicians to speak out regarding the importance
of social distancing, opportunities for telemedicine and the lack
of personal protective equipment that leaves health care workers
exposed. Many physicians have taken to media outlets, including
the news and social media, pleading for their family and friends
to flatten the curve, stating, “We go to work for you, please stay
home for us.” Now, more than ever, we need physicians and med-
ical students to organize on behalf of our medical profession and
advocate on behalf of the patients we took an oath to protect.
So, what compels a group of medical students who are pre-
paring for an exam to wake up early and drive over an hour away
to talk about health policy? It’s the notion that we, as future phy-
sicians, can make a difference through advocacy. As physicians,
we have the opportunity to impact lives on an individual scale.
Through policy, we can make changes on a population-wide
scale. PDAC summarizes everything I love about advocacy in one
event—it is a reminder of why we chose to enter this profession,
how powerful our voices truly can be and how the sacrifices we’ve
made to pursue medicine are well worth it.
Rachel Safeek, MPH, is a second-year medical student at the University of Louis-
ville School of Medicine.