Hands On Advocacy Project
The Hands On Advocacy Project is a pilot program that has been created by students to test a new model of teaching advocacy and leadership in medical school.
2024-2025 Campaign: Equitable Health Access and Health Access Disparities throughout Minnesota
About the Project
Hands On Advocacy is a student-created, student-led experiential learning project started by students within the MMA Medical Student Section (MMA MSS) that provides a structured opportunity for medical students to run an advocacy campaign on a public health topic.
Project Structure
Annual Advocacy Campaign
A new public health issue is identified each year and a team of medical students is selected to generate and implement a campaign that addresses this issue through education, policy, or professional best practices.
Advocacy & Leadership Core Curriculum
Monthly didactic sessions on pertinent advocacy and leadership topics.
Mentorship
Each student is paired with an advocacy mentor.
Campaigns
Within "Racism and Health", there are three committees that will serve as the foundation of the project. The three committees are as follows:
1) ENVIRONMENTAL RACISM - Through this committee, medical students will examine a form of systemic racism whereby BIPOC communities are disproportionately burdened with health hazards as a result of living in close proximity to landfills, mines, sewage works, major roads, etc.
2) RACISM IN MEDICINE - Through this committee, medical students will examine the systemic and wide-spread racism that exists within medicine. The committee will examine (1) how health outcomes can be improved for BIPOC communities; (2) how we can address the biases that patients hold against BIPOC medical professionals; and (3) why medicine continues to run into barriers when trying to diversify the physician workforce.
3) CRIMINAL JUSTICE AS A PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE - Through this committee, medical students will examine several issues of criminal justice, through a public health lens. The committee will examine one of the major challenges facing the U.S. - that of mass incarceration. Those who are cycling through our courts, jails and prisons are experiencing high, and often disproportionate rates of chronic and acute health conditions - and the committee will work to address what is needed to bridge the gap between health and justice.
During this project’s cohort, students worked to assess how they could address racism within the medical school curriculum, medical practice, etc. The project had some delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic, so it continued into the 2021-2022 cohort.
BACKGROUND
This is year 2 of the access to mental healthcare campaign, which began in 2018.
Through this campaign, medical students will raise awareness of the topic, become involved in legislative advocacy, and provide education to students, physicians and the community on what can be done to address the challenges that exist in ensuring access to mental health care.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Coming soon.
RESOURCES
Reducing the Stigma of Mental Illness
This video was created by a group of medical students at the University of Minnesota Medical School, as part of their Public Health and Health Policy Project.
HOA IN THE NEWS
Three U of M Medical Students Advocate for Change in Mental Illness Disclosure Requirements
BACKGROUND
Medical students across the state were surveyed regarding public health topics of interest and working to address access to mental health care was highly ranked.
Through this campaign, medical students will raise awareness of the topic, become involved in legislative advocacy, and provide education to students, physicians and the community on what can be done to address the challenges that exist in ensuring access to mental health care.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Engaged in mental health outreach at local health fairs.
- Reached out to legislators at the MMA Day at the Capitol to raise awareness for lack of mental health access.
- Changed the curriculum at the University of Minnesota Medical School to include trauma-informed care.
RESOURCES
Mental Health Disparities
BACKGROUND
Medical students across the state were surveyed regarding public health topics of interest and working to address the opioid epidemic was highly ranked.
Through this campaign, medical students will raise awareness of the topic, become involved in legislative advocacy, and provide education to students, physicians and the community on what can be done to address the opioid epidemic.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Education/training for students and physicians
Education for legislators
Community engagement
RESOURCES
Responsible Use of Opioids
How to Dispose of Opioids and Other Medical Waste
How to talk to patients about chronic pain
Talking to patients about addiction
Proper Usage, Storage, and Disposal of Opioids
HOA IN THE NEWS
Minnesota Medical students want updated teaching on opioids
BACKGROUND
Medical students across the state were surveyed regarding public health topics of interest and vaccines were highly ranked.
Talking to vaccine hesitant parents is difficult for both students and providers and the students leading the project felt this was a great opportunity to enhance provider ability to educate their patients.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS
- Education/training for students and physicians
- Education for legislators
- Community engagement
RESOURCES
Vaccine Hesitancy Cheat Sheet
Immunization Resources for Providers
Vaccine Hesitancy Video
Talking to Legislators Video
HOA IN THE NEWS
UMN medical students help create vaccine-promotion resources for physicians
Additional Information
Hands On Advocacy Project
Note: This page is not maintained by the MMA, but rather by students on the Hands on Advocacy Project.
If you are interested in serving as a mentor for a medical student participating in Hands On Advocacy, please contact Juliana Milhofer.