Ontario medical students prep for political advocacy
Advocating for an improved health-care system might not be part of the typical medical school curriculum, but more than 70 students made it their priority to learn how they can effect change during a recent training weekend.
The group, ranging from first- to fourth-year students, met recently at the OMA offices in Toronto for the Ontario Medical Student Association’s Day of Action & Reimagining EDID Medical Education conference, one of the association’s flagship annual events.
I think it’s important for medical students to be involved in shaping the public health-care system and making our voices heard about some of the issues that are going to be affecting us as we go into practice in the next few years,
said Angus Foster, a second-year student at NOSM University who is passionate about advocating for improved care in the north.
There are really unique systemic challenges to working in rural, remote, northern isolated communities,
he said, adding his experience as a born and raised northern Ontarian from Thunder Bay brings a unique perspective to his health-care advocacy. Improving northern access to family medicine is one of OMSA’s advocacy priorities for this year.
This year, the students participated in a three-day training weekend filled with speakers, workshops and networking, preparing them for meetings with their local MPPs later this month.
These meetings, scheduled by OMSA with support from the OMA, typically occur on a single ‘Day of Action.’ However, this year the meetings – which will include followups – will be booked throughout the month of April because of the provincial election in February.
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Policy doesn’t just happen. It’s made. It’s made through political action, and that political action involves promises of political parties, but also the effect and impact of lobbyists – of which, of course, doctors are really important.— Dennis Pilon, chair of department of politics at York University and presenter at OMSA’s Day of Action training
During their training, the students learned how ideas can become public policy, about the intersection of the provincial government with the health-care system and about the leadership role of physicians within that changing system. Students also learned how to approach an MPP meeting and position their health-system asks, through mock sessions with former MPPs arranged through the Ontario Association of Former Parliamentarians.
Zoe Tsai is OMSA’s president-elect and a third-year medical student at the University of Ottawa.
The family medicine crisis is such a pertinent topic right now,
said OMSA’s president-elect Zoe Tsai, noting one of the association’s health-system asks is to update the remuneration model for family physicians, something the OMA has also called for in its Stop the Crisis campaign.
It’s such an important topic to talk about,
said Tsai, a third-year medical student at the University of Ottawa. So I’m here to be a part of this cause and to stand in unity as we try to help the system grow.
This is a watershed moment for family medicine. Specifically, I think that we're in a place where the policymakers understand that having a strong foundation is critical, and that we have a workforce that's itching to be able to help as many patients as possible— Dr. Jobin Varughese, president of the Ontario College of Family Physicians and presenter at OMSA’s Day of Action training
Chirag Chopra, a first-year medical student at Queen’s University in Kingston, wants to learn more about reducing administrative burden for physicians.
Chirag Chopra is a first-year medical student at Queen’s University in Kingston.
The health-care system has different ways of recording information, 15 different forms for the same thing in different places. Those are inefficiencies,
he said. They’re expensive, they’re leading to burnout.
Chopra said events like the Day of Action are an opportunity for medical students from all corners of the province to come together and discuss health-care solutions.
For Trisha Chibber, a first-year medical student at the University of Toronto, the Day of Advocacy training has been a reminder of the importance of asserting your needs.
Advocate for yourself and understand that any voice, any perspective that you have, is important,
she said. It’s valuable and needs to be brought to the table.
Check out OMSA’s website to learn more about its advocacy and other portfolios.
Jessica Smith is a writer/producer at the OMA.