March 2025 Advocacy Champion

Cresta Jones, MD, FACOG, FASAM

Maternal Fetal Medicine Specialist
University of Minnesota
M Health Fairview

1) Why is being an advocate so important to you?
As a perinatal addiction medicine specialist, I see many people who are affected by policies and statutes that they do not have the voice to change. If I can advocate for an environment in Minnesota that better supports pregnant and parenting patients and families impacted by substance use, then I have succeeded in my work.

2) What health-care related issue(s) have you advocated for over the past year?
I continue to advocate for important statute changes that are needed for pregnant patients affected by substance use disorders - please check out the recommendations from our Minnesota Task Force on Pregnancy Health and Substance Use that were released in December - we have some important work to do in the legislative sessions to come!

3) What advice would you offer to others who are interested in advocacy?
Our voices and perspectives are so important, and physicians are often not present or vocal in the legislative space, despite much work being done at that level to regulate and restrict the evidence-based care that we provide. Speak up in any way that you can - that might be writing letters to the editor or your congresspeople (Tip: you can email them at night or on call if you can't reach out during business hours); meeting in person with elected officials to provide your perspective; and sharing patient stories through testifying in legislative hearings. Never underestimate the importance of your experience, education and science-based perspectives.

“I have provided a photo of me with one of our senior residents, Dr. Bukky Akingbola (with her permission) presenting our research on ADHD and pregnancy, at the Society of Maternal-Fetal Medicine annual meeting last month.”