Most years, the residents participating in the Advocacy in Clinical Leadership Track (ACLT) hold a day-long event where they have the floor to tell their personal stories, relay their legislative priorities, and attempt to sway the hearts and minds of elected officials. This year, because of the COVID-19 pandemic, instead of meeting in-person they used Zoom to video conference.
Thanks to NC connections facilitated by Duke Health Government Relations, the day began with meeting the health policy staff for Senator Thom Tillis on the topic of long term care and public health during COVID. Afterwards they gathered virtually with members of a government relations team from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) for a review of all of the AAMC efforts followed by a Q & A session with them.
Though Advocacy Day wasn’t as originally planned, the residents expressed appreciation of the experience and were grateful they were able to meet, albeit virtually, to discuss these serious health policy issues.
The ACLT program is led by GIM Associate Professor of Medicine, Dr. Daniella Zipkin.