22. Changing Health Systems Through Clinician Advocacy from Chicago

When we think of healthcare professionals we usually picture them treating illnesses. But the reality is that major health gaps aren't usually caused by clinical failures – they are the result of social, political, economic, or educational factors. Advocacy in healthcare involves using your voice and expertise to influence not only individual health, but the health of our society. Susan Kressly, president of the American Academy of Pediatrics, tells us how healthcare professionals can step up to make big changes, not just for the person right in front of them, but for whole communities.References:Earnest MA, Wong SL, Federico SG. Perspective: Physician advocacy: what is it and how do we do it? Acad Med. 2010 Jan;85(1):63-7. doi: 10.1097/ACM.0b013e3181c40d40. PMID: 20042825.Olatunbosun C, Wilby KJ. Advocacy as a professional responsibility. Can Pharm J (Ott). 2022 Oct 7;155(6):298-301. doi: 10.1177/17151635221125782. Earnest M, Wong SL, Federico S, Cervantes L. A Model of Advocacy to Inform Action. J Gen Intern Med. 2023 Jan;38(1):208-212. doi: 10.1007/s11606-022-07866-x. Epub 2022 Nov 2. Warwick S, Kantor L, Ahart E, Twist K, Mabry T, Stoltzfus K. Physician Advocacy: Identifying Motivations for Work Beyond Clinical Practice. Kans J Med. 2022 Dec 19;15(3):433-436. doi: 10.17161/kjm.vol15.18255.Haq C, Stiles M, Rothenberg D, Lukolyo H. Effective Advocacy for Patients and Communities. Am Fam Physician. 2019 Jan 1;99(1):44-46.