ATSU-KCOM dean and fellows attend national advocacy day
Posted: November 4, 2019
Each year, Ed to Med, a national grassroots advocacy campaign through the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (AACOM), organizes College of Osteopathic Medicine Day, a legislative action day for supporters of osteopathic medicine nationwide.
This year, A.T. Still University-Kirksville College of Osteopathic Medicine (ATSU-KCOM) Dean Margaret Wilson, DO, ’82 and academic fellows Allison Goldenstein and Ryan Canaan attended the event on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., from Oct. 16-17.
“This was a great opportunity to have osteopathic medical students’ voices heard and to help them learn about advocating for the profession,” said Dr. Wilson.
U.S. Sen. Susan Collins and Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Debbie Lesko spoke with attendees at the College of Osteopathic Medicine Day welcome dinner and reception about the importance of the Health Resources and Services Administration’s Teaching Health Center Graduate Medical Education Program, which works to address the physician shortage in rural, underserved areas.
The following day, the team spoke to members of Sens. Josh Hawley and Roy Blunt’s and Rep. Sam Graves’ staff, raising awareness of higher education policies that profoundly impact medical and health professions students across the country. In particular, this year’s participants advocated for bills addressing student loan issues and supporting the training and placement of physicians in underserved and rural areas.
To learn more about how you can support the passage of these policies, visit the Ed to Med website.