With the March for Science scheduled to take place in just a few days, several from Duke who were attending SGIM17 decided to do a bit more than march.
The day before the march in Washington, DC, a group of faculty, residents, and medical students led by Drs. Daniella Zipkin and Patrick Hemming, headed to Capitol Hill. Their mission? To advocate for strengthening Medicaid and avoiding block grant funding plans, as new versions of a health reform bill come around. Remarkably, they met with the staff of US Senators from North Carolina, Senator Burr and Senator Tillis.
"Having the chance to talk to senate staff and advocate for what our underserved patients need is really exciting!"
"Having the chance to talk to senate staff and advocate for what our underserved patients need is really exciting," says Daniella Zipkin, MD. "Perhaps even more fun is introducing students, residents, and other faculty to the process!"
The group introduced their key points, while adding examples of the impact of Medicaid on patient care. Their main point: health care reform must protect vulnerable populations.
