Advocacy in Clinical Leadership Track
The Advocacy in Clinical Leadership Track (ACLT) has been a core part of the Internal Medicine residency program at Duke since 2012. The ACLT is an elective track for second and third year internal medicine residents with an interest in health policy. Residents spend one half day per week across ten ambulatory weeks during the year in seminars covering the topics listed below. Through collaboration with Duke Government Relations and Duke State Relations, residents develop and present their own advocacy platform each year, alternating Raleigh, N.C. and Washington, D.C.
Curriculum Content:
- Legislative and executive branch advocacy at state and federal levels
- The US healthcare system
- Public health insurance
- Advocacy by medical organizations
- Updates on the current landscape from policy experts in academics, government and non-profit organizations
- Incorporating advocacy into academic careers
- Group work time on advocacy platform development
The ACLT is led by Dr. Caroline Sloan. It is a wonderful opportunity to engage in the systems of care which impact our patients and to develop one’s voice in policy change. Residents apply at the mid point in intern year. Please contact caroline.sloan@duke.edu with any questions!
- Resident advocacy related to Medicaid expansion in North Carolina in 2017, 2021, and 2023 led to broader conversations with state legislators about the importance of Medicaid for our most vulnerable populations. NC expanded Medicaid eligibility in December 2023. https://medicine.duke.edu/news/aclt-advocates-expanding-medicaid-access
- Resident advocacy has directly led several federal legislators to co-sponsor bills we brought to their attention.
- ACLT’s success led to the establishment of a parallel track for clinical fellows, the Fellows’ Advocacy Curriculum, in 2023. https://medicine.duke.edu/education-and-training/trainee-career-development/fellows-advocacy-curriculum
Resident Driven Platforms
"The Advocacy Track has given me the opportunity to develop practical skills in policy advocacy while learning how to use my voice as a physician to advocate for patients and communities. I hope to carry these skills forward as an academic cardiologist, integrating clinical care, research, and advocacy to improve cardiovascular prevention and reduce disparities in care."
- Alee Danyluk, PGY-3, Internal Medicine resident
"The opportunity to directly advocate on state and federal levels for an issue that you and your co-residents are passionate about gives you the chance to work toward meaningful change, learn a lot, and have a good time along the way. Probably more important than any single issue, though, is that ACLT expands your own policy armamentarium, allowing you to pursue this kind of advocacy throughout your career.”
- Alex Gunn, PGY-5, Cardiology fellow
"ACLT was a unique opportunity among residency programs, teaching me how to build advocacy into my career as a physician. Working with my peers, I gained the tools and experience to advocate effectively for concrete policy change. The program energized me by showing how the injustices I saw my patients face in the healthcare system could be turned into real policy solutions."
- Sachiko Oshima, PGY-6, GI fellow
"ACLT helped me build the confidence and skillset to effectively advocate for policies at both the state and national level that will promote healthcare access and equity. I have a newfound appreciation of our unique position as physicians to share our patients' stories as a catalyst for systemic change and plan to use the advocacy skills I've gained through ACLT throughout my career to improve the health of the communities I serve.”
- Lisette Corbin, PGY-4, Med-Psych resident