What Do I Advocate For?

Why Is Advocacy Important To An MD-PhD Student?

At the start of my journey, I believed that medicine and science were all that was needed to make a difference. As time went on, I discovered that advocacy is also critical to this mission. While my research and medicine can help traumatized children heal in the clinic, advocacy can prevent the societal and environmental factors that traumatize children in the first place. I hope that my research will deepen our understanding of childhood trauma and lead to novel therapeutics, but also be used as a tool to advocate on behalf of children.

Me in Washington DC for the 2023 AMA Medical Student Advocacy Conference

Broadly, I am passionate about children’s rights, health disparities, childhood trauma, and mental health. Currently, I primarily engage in advocacy through the American Medical Association and Wisconsin Medical Society. Through these organizations, I write resolutions that give power to these organizations to advocate on behalf of these issues. 

I may update this in the future with some specific projects I am working on or any major progress. If you would like to learn more about my advocacy or want to collaborate on AMA or WMS resolutions, please feel free to email me!

Major current advocacy related positions

  • SOPT Liaison to the American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Early Childhood

  • Chair of the Racial Equity Committee, Wisconsin Medical Society-Medical Student Section

  • Co-Vice Chair of the Committee on Global and Public Health, American Medical Association-Medical Student Section

Resolutions Authored

  • American Medical Association

    • Improving Access to Forensic Medical Evaluations and Legal Representation for Asylum Seekers. AMA-Medical Student Section, Annual 2023 (primary author). This resolution will be presented to the House of Delegates at Interim 2023.

  • Wisconsin Medical Society

    • Addressing the Black Maternal & Infant Mortality Crises in Wisconsin. Wisconsin Medical Society, Policy Cycle 1, 2023

    • Expanding Protections for Incarcerated Pregnant People with Substance Use Disorder Resolution. Wisconsin Medical Society, Policy Cycle 2, 2023 (primary author)

UWSMPH in Washington DC for the 2023 AMA Medical Student Advocacy Conference

UWSMPH and MCW Medical Students at the Wisconsin Medical Society’s 2023 Doctor Day (try to spot me!)