BY TOM FLANAGAN, MMS MEDIA RELATIONS MANAGER
Left-to-right: Ellis Barrera, Dr. Nicole Mushero, Dr. Annamaria Muwonge, Dr. Tiffany Bellomo, Dr. Raffia
Qutab, and Dr. Hailey Greenstone
Each morning when third-year medical student Ellis Barrera makes the walk from his home to UMass Chan Medical School, he notices his elderly neighbors sitting on the sidewalks because of a lack of public benches.
Recognizing that this is neither a safe nor comfortable alternative, Ellis began working with his city councilor and state representative to address the issue, believing that advocacy could help bring about a change.
Like many trainees and physicians, Ellis has tapped into the power of perspective.
“Recently, I completed my family medicine rotation, where I realized just how much of our counseling for chronic disease revolves around healthy eating, exercise, and stress management,” said Ellis, who is a member of the Massachusetts Medical Society’s
Committee on Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer Matters. “But what do we tell a patient who doesn’t have a grocery store nearby, can’t afford fresh produce, or lives in a neighborhood where it isn’t safe to exercise outdoors? When something
is not fair, and it is going to have a negative impact on health, it is our job to be the loudest voice in the room.”
Inequities in health care are a primary driver for many physician-advocates.
“The patient-physician relationship is so important . . . seeing patients on a daily basis compelled me to become an advocate on the state and federal level because I see the issues patients face,” said Dr. Nicole Mushero, a geriatrician. “When paychecks
don’t keep up with rent increases, when insurance barriers make it impossible to get necessary tests or medications, when folks in prison face inhumane conditions — all of these require system changes . . . and the way to do that is to advocate at
the State House or Congress. The more voices behind you, the more powerful the message.”
For many physicians and trainees, barriers to health care are a heart-wrenching catalyst that fuel efforts to make impactful and sustainable change through advocacy.
“Advocacy is an extension of our responsibility to care for patients, particularly when systemic barriers contribute to poor health outcomes,” said Dr. Annamaria Muwonge, a family medicine physician who began her career in medicine as a physician in Uganda.
“Engagement at the state and federal levels is essential to help shape policies that improve access to care, reduce disparities, and support evidence-based practice.”
The physician and patient voices resonate with policymakers who understand the technicalities and intent of bills but often yearn to hear firsthand perspectives and the lived experiences of those who will be directly impacted by specific legislation.
“As a vascular surgery resident, many of the operations I perform represent the downstream consequences of failures in diabetes management, hypertension control, smoking cessation, and access to preventive care,” said Dr. Tiffany Bellomo. “By the time
patients need amputations or treatment for mesenteric ischemia, policy decisions made years earlier have already shaped their outcomes.”
While patient impact and outcome are always top of mind for those who are active on the advocacy front, addressing issues that affect the practice of medicine is seen as necessary, especially in the current rapidly evolving health care realm. These issues
are often deeply personal. Dr. Raffia Qutab is an international medical graduate with a passion for advocating for changes to stabilize and build the physician workforce, borne partly of a personal experience where her child was ill and waited more
than 12 hours in the emergency department before finally being admitted to an understaffed ICU.
Raffia sought and secured a meeting with her state senator’s office to discuss a potential solution to the physician shortage.
“I practice primary care in a rural area and feel that there is a great need to recruit more physicians in these areas,” said Raffia, who is a family physician in Central Massachusetts and is active in several MMS and AMA committees. “Hiring more international
medical graduates is widely considered a key strategy to mitigate the projected shortage of physicians in the United States and to enhance workforce diversity.”
There are many paths to advocacy — some receive training in medical schools, some find mentors in organized medicine, and some begin their advocacy journeys as a soloist when profoundly impacted by an issue that demands immediate attention.
“I did not receive formal advocacy training prior to my participation. I sought out increased advocacy education and support to enhance the skills I started building informally through the AMA and MMS Medical Student Sections, which had some training,
but most advocacy education in these spaces came down to luck and finding the right peer support, which was not a straightforward path for me,” said Dr. Hailey Greenstone, a surgical resident.
What advice would you give to physicians or students who are considering becoming involved in advocacy work?
“I would highly recommend it. I totally believe in the “3 Cs” of advocacy, which are communication, collaboration, and commitment.”
— Dr. Raffia Qutab
“Start small by becoming involved with your state medical society or a professional organization. You do not need to be a policy expert to make a meaningful contribution. Physicians already have the most valuable qualification for advocacy: firsthand experience caring for patients. Find an issue you care about, learn how the policymaking process works, and look for opportunities to get involved.”
— Dr. Tiffany Bellomo
“Start by getting involved with professional organizations such as MMS or AAFP, which provide accessible opportunities like advocacy days. Advocacy does not require prior expertise; showing up, sharing clinical experiences, and learning the process are valuable first steps.”
—
Dr. Annamaria Muwonge
“Do it. Find the issues you are passionate about and become involved. It's always going to be extra time and effort, but your voice is powerful, and it’s so worth it.”
— Dr. Nicole Mushero
“Find friends and one thing you genuinely care about. The policy process can seem intimidating, and after a full day of clinic or hospital work, it can be difficult to stay engaged. Having mentors and friends who can answer questions, share opportunities, and make the process more approachable makes advocacy much more sustainable.”
— Ellis Barrera
“It is never too late. We need new voices and perspectives in advocacy, and anyone can learn how to do it. Advocacy is not one-size-fits-all. There is room for everyone at the table. You can do policy work in organized medicine. You can write an op-ed. You can advocate for institutional changes to ensure better interpreter access in the hospital. You can call your legislator or speak at a local or state meeting. You can make public media appearances to dispel medical myths. There are so many ways to be an advocate, and you can find the way(s) that you are most drawn to.”
—
Dr. Hailey Greenstone
How to Get Involved with MMS Advocacy
MMS members are encouraged to visit the MMS Grassroots Action Center to participate in current advocacy campaigns and gain access to resources designed to strengthen their advocacy skills. Available
resources include State Government 101, guidance on meeting with legislators, testifying at legislative hearings, and tips for becoming an effective social media advocate.
