Hands On Advocacy
About Us
​Hands On Advocacy is an experiential learning project started by students of the Minnesota Medical Association - Medical Student Section that provides a structured opportunity for medical students to run an advocacy campaign on a public health topic of interest. We believe that doctors, nurses, and other care providers are uniquely positioned to recognize the flaws in healthcare and advocate for public health and policy changes to improve care. By working together with organized medicine, our politicians, our lobbyists, and our community, we can improve the state of healthcare in Minnesota and beyond. Though the concept is simple, the practice often seems difficult and overwhelming, particularly for those with limited experience.
​
We conducted a survey of 225 medical students in the state of Minnesota in 2016 that revealed that over 75% of respondents across the state are aware of key public health issues and believe that healthcare providers should take an active role in legislative advocacy. However, the survey also demonstrated that most medical students felt unprepared to talk to legislators and to take steps to advocate for issues they care about. This Hands On Advocacy project was created to address this gap.
Our Goals
-
​To give students an opportunity to experience grassroots advocacy firsthand
-
To educate the local community and Minnesota legislators about an important public health topic
-
To collaborate with students from other health professions on a public health project
How it Works
​The project timeline spans one year, during which time a team of medical students recruited from all 3 Minnesota medical schools will gather information about a public health topic, set project goals, create a strategic plan, create a convincing campaign message, build coalitions with other organizations, engage lawmakers, carry out a grassroots advocacy campaign, and finally evaluate the success of the campaign. The students are divided into 3 committees (messaging, community organizing, and coalition) and one student is designated to focus on health equity. The entire project team meets once per month to facilitate collaboration and learning.
​
Another important aspect of the project is its advocacy curriculum. One of the project leads acts as an advocacy mentor - providing resources and expertise to the various committees regarding their individual tasks. Monthly meetings also involve a 15 minute educational component to teach the entire team of students about key aspects of advocacy. Finally, monthly check-ins with a project lead facilitate reflection on the advocacy process and success in meeting personal goals.
​
A final component of the project is mentorship from field experts. Students are exposed to leaders in advocacy via the Minnesota Medical Association and the University of Minnesota School of Public Health.
