More than 200 physicians-in-training will descend upon Capitol Hill for a full day of advocacy and activism.
Media Contact:
Kelly Thibert, DO, MPH National President
American Medical Student Association
Email: [email protected]
Washington, D.C. – February 23, 2017: Members of the American Medical Student Association (AMSA) represent a powerful group of future physicians who firmly believe that patients and healthcare providers are partners in healthcare management, and that access to quality, equitable healthcare is a fundamental right, not a privilege. For AMSA, activism is central, transforming student idealism into significant public service, innovation, and institutional progress.
AMSA’s Advocacy Day kicks off our weekend-long Annual Convention and Exposition in Crystal City, Virginia. Over 200 physicians-in-training will gather on Capitol Hill for a day filled with advocacy and activism. Students will start their day with training sessions designed to prepare them for engaging effectively with elected officials, discussing critical healthcare issues, and connecting with peers sharing similar passions. After their morning preparations, these future physicians will put on their white coats and assemble at Upper Senate Park from 12:30 pm to 2:00 pm to rally in support of healthcare. Speakers from partnering organizations—including the Committee of Interns and Residents (CIR), the Student National Medical Association (SNMA), Latino Medical Student Association (LMSA), American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), and Planned Parenthood Federation of America (PPFA)—will address attendees before they meet with their representatives to advocate for health-related issues affecting the nation.
AMSA’s Education and Advocacy Fellow, Dr. Matt Moy, emphasizes, “Some believe physicians should not engage in politics, but aren’t we also citizens, immigrants, students burdened by debt, patients, and minorities? We are constituents, and silence is not an option. It’s crucial that we remind our elected officials who they represent—and it begins right here, today, at AMSA’s Advocacy Day.”
“As the upcoming generation of physician leaders, AMSA members have a moral obligation to address injustice and advocate for the health of their communities. Similar to practicing medicine, activism can be challenging, but it remains our duty to care for the most vulnerable among us,” stated Dr. Leana Wen, Baltimore City Health Commissioner and former AMSA President. “Recognizing that health is connected to every issue, I encourage future physicians to ask difficult questions, identify issues openly, and speak up on behalf of those who lack the voice or power to do so. Now is the time for action—our patients’ lives depend on it.”
Together, we stand in solidarity to guarantee our patients’ access to the healthcare they need for reaching their fullest potential. We are healthcare providers. We are patients. We are citizens. Today, we exercise our rights so that everyone will have access to their human right of quality, affordable, equitable healthcare tomorrow.
AMSA’s National President, Dr. Kelly Thibert, notes, “Now, more than ever, we need to empower each other to speak out and amplify voices that might otherwise go unheard. For over 65 years, AMSA has advocated tirelessly for our patients’ rights, and we have no intention of slowing down. Our Advocacy Day is just one example of the many moments when you will hear from physicians-in-training as we move forward.”
We are America’s physicians of tomorrow, committed to securing quality, affordable healthcare for all. AMSA will consistently prioritize patients over politics and continue advocating unwaveringly for their care and rights.
About AMSA:
AMSA is the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States. Founded in 1950, AMSA is a student-governed, non-profit organization committed to representing the concerns of physicians-in-training. To learn more about AMSA, our strategic priorities, or joining the organization, please visit us online at http://amsa.org.
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