amsa perspective
Health Equity Leadership Institute 2010: Preparing Future Physicians to become Future Leaders By Drew Lee, AMSA Race, Ethnicity, and Culture in Health (REACH) Education Coordinator
I
n the midst of our busy schedules and academic lives, 21 medical and premedical students gathered in Washington DC to explore topics in health equity at this year’s Health Equity Leadership Institute (HELI). I was fortunate to be one of the few individuals selected to participate in this three-day crash course on medical advocacy, in which I learned various advocacy skills and formed lasting friendships with others who share a similar passion for health equity as I do. Like many of my peers, I entered medical school in order to become an advocate for my patients. I began my first day of medical school excited to explore topics in health equity and social justice, only to quickly find out that the topics I wished to cover and the skills I wished to develop were often beyond the scope of the medical curriculum. As a result, I began reading up on the literature, attending various talks, and getting involved wherever I could. I felt it was important
patients in the future. However, without any specific direction, I found myself overwhelmed by the amount of issues that needed to be addressed, and I wanted to know what else I could do to become a better, more efficient advocate. This is when I came across the HELI application. For those who may be in a similar situation as I was, I would like to share a glimpse of what I learned during this oneof-a kind experience.
Advocacy Requires a Little Courage
Drew Lee to develop the necessary knowledge and skills now, in order to become the best physician-advocate I can be for my
Even before arriving in Washington, DC, I could tell I was going to learn a lot at HELI by the amount and content of the homework we received in preparation for the institute. We were assigned to read several articles, watch PBS’s Unnatural Causes, approach our deans to obtain funding to attend HELI, as well as participate in a webinar to learn about H.R. 3090: Health Equity and Accountability
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