EVENT

2020 National Advocacy Week banner

Medical Student National Advocacy Week is a national grassroots effort created to:

  • Address critical barriers in accessing equitable, quality, and affordable health care
  • Equip medical students nationwide with the tools to advocate effectively for their patients

From Oct. 12-16, medical student members of the AMA from every corner of the United States will stand together to actively address barriers to quality health care. Each day focuses on a specific topic and plan of action.

Schedule of events

  • Oct. 12: Map out your advocacy plan
  • Oct. 13: Future of telemedicine & broadband access
  • Oct. 14: Improving health equity through COVID-19 & beyond
  • Oct. 15: Fix prior authorization
  • Oct. 16: Investing in public health infrastructure & final summary session

Review the agenda tab for full schedule of events. Event times are Eastern. Schedule is subject to change.

Download the agenda

All sessions will be virtual. Further information on accessing virtual sessions will be provided once available.

Download the action kit

Download the action kit (PDF) for the full agenda, action items for each day, issue briefs, a checklist, how to apply for a Section Involvement Grant (SIG) and more.

AGENDA

Moving forward and redefining health care

Monday, Oct. 12

1:00 pm - 1:15 pm
Intro to National Advocacy Week

Reilly Bealer, MSS GRAF representative
1:15 pm - 1:40 pm
How to be an effective lobbyist

Dana Lichtenberg, lobbyist, AMA Division of Congressional Affairs
1:40 pm - 2:00 pm
AMPAC presentation

Mia Rienstra Bareman, MD, 2018-2020 AMPAC student representative
2:00 pm - 2:20 pm
Physician leadership in Congress

Representative Kim Schrier, MD, D-WA 8th District
2:20 pm - 2:35 pm
VoteHealth 2020 presentation

Manisha Sharma, MD, FAAFP, co-founder, VoteHealth 2020
2:35 pm - 2:40 pm
Conclusion

Reilly Bealer, MSS GRAF representative

Tuesday, Oct. 13

1:00 pm - 1:10 pm
Introduction

Reilly Bealer, MSS GRAF representative
1:10 pm - 1:40 pm
Broadband expansion, telemedicine and the digital divide: Impact on rural and underserved communities

Representative Jim Clyburn, D-SC 6th District, Majority Whip, third-ranking Democrat in the United States House of Representatives, chairman of the House Select Committee on the Coronavirus Crisis and chairman of the Rural Broadband Task Force
1:40 pm - 2:10 pm
Advancing telemedicine

Representative Buddy Carter, R-GA 1st District, member, House Committee on Energy and Commerce
2:10 pm - 2:15 pm
Conclusion

Reilly Bealer, MSS GRAF representative

Wednesday, Oct. 14

1:30 pm - 1:35 pm
Introduction to health equity

Reilly Bealer, MSS GRAF representative
1:35 pm - 2:00 pm
The disproportionate impact of maternal mortality

Patrice Harris, MD, MA, immediate past president, AMA
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm
Centering health equity in policy and legislation

Mia Keeys, MPH, DrPH(c), director, Health Equity Policy, AMA Center for Health Equity
2:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Equitable data collection and ending health disparities during COVID-19

Representative Robin Kelly, PhD, D-IL 2nd District, member, House Committee on Energy and Commerce and House Committee on Oversight and Reform
3:00 pm - 3:05 pm
Conclusion

Reilly Bealer, MSS GRAF representative

Thursday, Oct. 15

1:00 pm - 1:10 pm
Introduction

Reilly Bealer, MSS GRAF representative
1:10 pm - 1:40 pm
The impact of prior authorization on providing patient care

Marilyn Heine, MD, FACEP, FACP, FCPP, chair, Council on Legislation
1:40 pm - 1:45 pm
Conclusion

Reilly Bealer, MSS GRAF representative

Friday, Oct. 16

1:00 pm - 1:15 pm
Summary of National Advocacy Week

Reilly Bealer, MSS GRAF representative
1:15 pm - 1:45 pm
Rebuilding public health infrastructure and supporting physicians

Susan Bailey, MD, president, AMA
1:45 pm - 2:15 pm
Public health communication and medical student

Vice Admiral Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, Surgeon General of the United States
2:15 pm - 2:45 pm
Career opportunities in health policy

Marisa Dowling, MD, MPP, George Washington University Health Policy Fellow, currently serving U.S. Representative Robin Kelly with COVID-19 response, health disparities and telehealth legislation, among a variety of health policy topics
2:45 pm - 3:15 pm
Fireside chat

Stephen Hahn, MD, Commissioner of Food and Drugs, FDA
3:15 pm - 3:20 pm
Thank you and conclusion

Reilly Bealer, MSS GRAF representative
More about: