Future Physician, Present Voice: Medical Student Takes to Capitol Hill at American Medical Association National Advocacy Conference to Champion Change
Last month Hannah and I attended the AMA’s National Advocacy Conference in Washington, D.C. as part of the Colorado Medical Society delegation. The conference brought together physicians and medical students from across the country to learn about national healthcare issues and the physician’s role in advocating for change. We had the opportunity to listen to diverse speakers and panels discuss the political climate in DC, current bills in question, and proposed solutions to the problems medicine faces today. Finally, we had the opportunity to meet with state legislators to personally advocate for our patients and healthcare colleagues.
During our first clinical years of training, many experiences revealed just how often the healthcare system itself creates barriers to care. These barriers frequently fall hardest on patients who are already vulnerable, whether because of socioeconomic status, insurance instability, or other structural challenges. We felt a sense of deep frustration and helplessness as medical students, and the policies and rules shaping the system around us felt far beyond our reach. This conference was a window into how larger policy change is possible and provided a platform for us to advocate directly to legislators for the betterment of the system, and therefore of our patients’ lives.
Our “Day on the Hill” brought a refreshing sense of agency. Alongside physicians from across Colorado and CMS leadership, we met with members of our state’s congressional delegation and their staff to discuss healthcare priorities and share stories from our clinical experiences. It felt particularly meaningful to be able to bring patients’ stories into these conversations. These meetings transformed moments we had witnessed in clinic into opportunities to advocate for broader change. The conversations with legislators and their teams were thoughtful and engaged. Their questions and interest reassured us that physicians’ voices and patient stories—have an important place in shaping policy.
The conference gave us a clearer understanding of how system-level change happens and deepened our appreciation for the many physicians who have spent decades advocating for improvements in healthcare. While meaningful reform often moves slowly, this experience reminds us that progress is possible—and that even small steps and small stories can make a big difference.
Participating in the National Advocacy Conference also strengthened our commitment to continue engaging in advocacy throughout our careers, working locally and nationally to help build a healthcare system that better supports all patients. As future physicians, we can’t wait to see what we get involved in next!
This article is written by NCMS board member Katelyn Brown. Hannah Anderson is also mentioned as both students attended the NAC conference this year. Hannah is serving on the Colorado Medical Society COMPAC committee. They're also assisting with the NCMS Legislative Night event coming up in the fall.