DO Day 2024: The Art of Organized Medicine on Capitol Hill 

“Organized medicine” is a term that encompasses the assembly of, discussion between, or collaboration amongst physicians and physicians-in-training to draft and advocate for/against policies on health-related issues. Participation in organized medicine can take many forms, occur at the county, state, or national level, and foster coalitions between medical associations and other community, professional, and governmental entities. As I near the end of my first year of medical school, I wanted to reflect on my experiences as a first-time attendee of DO Day 2024 on Capitol Hill and how I used my voice as an osteopathic medical student to advocate for issues that have a direct impact on osteopathic physicians and their patients, as well as the career choices of osteopathic medical students.

On April 17th and 18th, 2024, osteopathic physicians and physicians-in-training joined the AOA in advocating for the following issues:

1. Protecting patient access to care and physician practices by advocating for positive updates to Medicare physician payment through the Strengthening Medicare for Patients and Providers Act (H.R. 2474).
2. Creating a safe working environment for physicians and other healthcare workers by advocating for the Safety From Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act (H.R. 2584 / S. 2768).
3. Alleviating financial burdens of student debt by encouraging Congress to support the REDI Act (S.704 / H.R.1202).

My meeting group included medical students, administrators, and physicians from California. Leading up to my group’s meetings with legislators from the House of Representatives and Senate, I experienced occasional moments of self-doubt. At first, I felt like I lacked the authority and knowledge to discuss these topics, and it was easier to defer to more experienced medical students and physicians to conduct the meetings. After observing the first meeting, I learned that I could offer my unique perspective as a medical student and child of physicians, so I volunteered to help introduce the group, issues, and stakes in the following meetings.

While I could see how each of the three issues related to my life as a medical student and my future role as a physician, I focused predominantly on the Safety From Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act. Here’s how I used personal experiences and AOA talking points in my testimony to highlight why this bill is a high priority:

As practicing doctors, my parents are my role models, and they continually inspire me to become a better person and a great physician. Their coworkers are family friends–we call them “auntie” and “uncle.” My parents and their colleagues have devoted their lives to a noble profession of service and healing, day in and day out, and my fellow medical students and I will eventually enter the workplace as well. Although this was a problem even before COVID, the number of threats and acts of violence escalated further during the pandemic. To imagine any of my loved ones or peers becoming a victim to physical or verbal assault in their own workplace is frightening. Currently, attacking or threatening flight attendants, bus drivers, taxi drivers, and other associated transit operators is a crime; we must extend the same protections to physicians and allied health providers. Though it’s not a permanent fix, taking action through the Safety From Violence for Healthcare Employees (SAVE) Act to deter violence towards our community’s healers is a step in the right direction. Thus, we ask that you co-sponsor the SAVE Act (H.R.2584/S.2768) to deter violence towards physicians and our care teams in the workplace.”

Overall, this year’s DO Day on Capitol Hill was a valuable experience in which I united with fellow osteopathic medical students and politically engaged physicians to advocate for important health-related issues at the national level. For any osteopathic medical student who is interested in participating in organized medicine, please check out my Key Takeaways from DO Day, included below. I also recommend checking out the state or national osteopathic medical associations to see what opportunities are available for medical students to take an active stance on important policies to support their community and advocate for the profession!

Key Takeaways

1. 1. Wear your white coat! While legislators may not know the difference between a short coat and a long coat, the white coat visually symbolizes the profession, solidarity with physicians and physicians-in-training, and authority on issues.
   2. Know your audience. Are you speaking to a member of the Senate, or the House? H.R.[bill#] is for the House, S.[bill#] is for the Senate. Is the legislator a representative of your state or district? It’s even more useful to introduce yourself and where you’re from/where you practice if you fall within their jurisdiction! What is their political stance, and do they typically support/oppose health-related bills? Before the meeting, do a quick Google search on the legislator to find a bio.
   3. Divide and conquer. Divvy up issues amongst group members to facilitate the meetings. Members can volunteer to check in for the group, keep track of time during the meeting, introduce the group or issues, hold onto the issues folder, or offer testimony on an issue.
   4. Choose your approach. Decide whether you would like to utilize statistics, personal narratives, or a mix of both to present your case to legislators! You’re the one with “boots on the ground,” so to speak, so either way, don’t underestimate your perspective and knowledge of the issues and the impact you have on legislators, who ideally want to act in accordance with their districts.
   5. Stay on topic. Meetings with legislators last 15-30 minutes and can take place in a variety of settings (office, lobby, hallways, etc.). Take this time to drive home the points that emphasize the importance of the issues. Don’t tell the legislators how to do their job or use up time to talk about irrelevant topics or express political stances outside of the issues at hand.
   6. Respect the office aides! When the legislator is busy, the office aide will preside at the meeting. Regarding the issues, they may know as much as, if not more than, the legislator for whom they work. The aides themselves may aspire to become future legislators, so communicating respectfully and staying in contact with them is a kind gesture and wise move to build rapport with the office.
   7. Use direct, specific language. When presenting issues to lawmakers, the goal is to demonstrate how our issues are of high priority and require expedited review by the House and/or Senate. Within the confines of the brief meeting, clearly state you would like the legislator to do–“please co-sponsor/oppose H.R.[bill#]/S.[bill#]!” If they are already co-sponsoring one of the bills, thank them for their support and ask how we can support other projects they may be working on. Also provide folders/handouts on the issues, which legislators or their office can reference after the meeting.