Page 26 - Layout 1

LEGISLATIVE WRAP-UP

continued from page 25

How did this experience impact you as a Do you believe that you made a difference?
medical student? Ryan: I truly do feel that I made a difference. There were times
Ryan: Attending First Tuesdays empowered me because it when I would see the wheels turn in legislators’ minds after I would
showed me that I actually can make a difference. My expectation explain something to them—one legislator I met with even started
was that the legislators wouldn’t really listen to me because I was to ponder her long-standing belief on a certain issue. On top of
just a medical student. However, the opposite was true. Legislators this, a lot of the bills we went to the Capitol to advocate for were
wanted to know my perspective as a medical student and listened then signed by the Governor and became laws! Students at our
to what I had to tell them. One even told me that they had never school who attended said that it was strong affirmation to witness
thought about a certain issue in the way I explained it. It also gave real policy change as a result of our efforts. I can’t say for sure
me the confidence and experience to attend the Medical Student whether I or the other medical students were what caused the bills
Advocacy and Region Conference in DC, during which our school’s to pass, but I can definitely say that we played a role.
delegation met with legislators and spoke about prescription drug
pricing, graduate medical education funding, and research into gun What advice would you give to future medical
violence prevention. Because I attended First Tuesdays, I knew ex- students who participate in advocacy days like
actly what to do when I attended, and I now feel confident enough First Tuesdays?
to walk into a legislator’s office by myself. Ryan: It’s okay to feel nervous for your first First Tuesday; going
into the Capitol can be a nerve-wracking experience. But you should
How do you think this will impact your practice as also keep in mind that you won’t be alone. There will be other med-
a physician? ical students and practicing physicians with you who will show you
Swetha: My understanding of a physician’s ability to be a patient what to do, and you don’t have to speak until you’re comfortable.
advocate at numerous levels has expanded. We’re in a heightened Lastly, as a medical student you have a unique voice and perspective
age of political awareness and more physicians and future physicians in the legislative process, and the legislators genuinely do want to
are starting to work against the different forces that play into their hear what you have to say.
patient’s health. This experience underscored the strong presence
that political interests and policy change have on the wellbeing of Swetha: Show up. Listen. Learn. And then, speak up. Your voice
patients, while demonstrating how we have a strong voice that can has power and weight to it as a medical student and you are re-
create positive changes for patients. Part of our role in providing spected for that. Think about your connection to medicine and use
high-quality care for our patients, to my belief, includes advocating that to share your perspective; you will be heard.
at the macroscopic level for structural change. Patient care isn’t com-
plete without advocacy work.

26 San Antonio Medicine • August 2019