FINDING COMMON GROUND
Advocacy In Action:
A Student Perspective
by Temiloluwa A. Haastrup, M2
As a medical student, I had the privilege to be one of the students who participated in the GLMS student advocacy mentorship program earlier this year. Under the leadership of Dr. Aneeta Bhatia and Dr. Ashima Gupta, other medical students and I were able to brainstorm ideas on how to improve the Louisville community, research and communicate those ideas in resolution format at the GLMS Policy and Advocacy meetings, defend our resolutions at the KMA reference committee and watch resolutions become adopted as policy of the KMA. This process incited moments of reflection about what it means to be an advocate, the process of advocacy and how my definition has evolved.
Student Advocacy: Getting Involved
At the University of Louisville School of Medicine, leaders of the American Medical Association Student Section initiated with GLMS a Student Advocacy Mentorship program, where medical students are connected with physician advocacy leaders. At our initial meeting, we started the session with a panel of Drs. Thomas Higgins, Jeffrey Goldberg and Aneeta Bhatia discussing the importance of advocacy in the Greater Louisville community, and ways students could get involved to inspire and incite longitudinal impact. Medical students were grouped with clinicians, and we were able to hear what inspired other students to join and connect with like passions and like minds. I had the wonderful opportunity to be grouped with Dr. Bhatia, who embodies advocacy with undeniable excellence and poise. She started the group session by asking the simple question,“ What are you passionate about in advocacy?” and the discussion began. Topics ranging from environmental justice and maternal rights to vaccinations and scope of access were brought up, all of which were heard with supportive nods and smiles. We left the session excited about fueling our energy towards change. As the semester came to a close, students and I were invited to a brainstorming session with our leaders to learn about the process and begin brainstorming ideas for resolutions.
The Heart of Advocacy
Prior to the brainstorming session, I remember discussing with students how we were equally as nervous as we were excited to begin the process. What do I care about? What do I want to see change? How
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