Educating for Advocacy: Exploring the Source and Substance of Community-Responsive Physicians

Abstract

Educational strategies to advance the teaching of physicians to be community-responsive advocates are highlighted.

An Advocacy and Leadership Curriculum to Train Socially Responsible Medical Learners

“…Advocacy Preceptors: We recommend recruiting and training physicians and residents, preferably those with prior experience in health advocacy (Oandasan & Barker, 2003), to act as advocacy preceptors in support of this curriculum. Advocacy preceptors will provide standardized assessment and guidance for reflective practice, reflection on clinical experiences that relate to advocacy (Dharamsi et.…”

“…At most schools what may be called for is a reorganization and refocusing of existing classes, and the linking of currently taught material to advocacy and social responsibility (Oandasan & Barker, 2003), rather than simply the addition of new classes. For example, the current McGill curriculum was surveyed by the working group which prepared this document and it was found that most theoretical learning objectives were already covered by the existing curriculum, albeit not necessarily under the banner of 'advocacy and leadership'.…”

“…al 2010]. These community exposure programs, while often being more observer and service experiences than advocacy experiences per se, have an important role in informing advocacy work (Oandasan and Barker, 2003). For a model of how working with communities and focusing on strengths and capacity building (and not solely on needs) can be effective, see the CPT program at UC Davis (Hufford et.…”

“…al, 2009). A small qualitative study showed that, among other things, exposure to underserved communities and knowledge of social determinants of health motivated physicians in their advocacy work and led them to practice more community responsiveness (Oandasan & Barker, 2003).…”

The Human Rights and Social Justice Scholars Program: A Collaborative Model for Preclinical Training in Social Medicine

“…Medical students who gain experience working with underserved communities early in their medical careers may be more likely to be advocates and practitioners of community health as physicians. 11 Curricula Bakshi et al designed to have students critically engage with communities in the field and learn about community health and environmental, political, and socioeconomic issues affecting health have been shown to increase students' commitment to working with medically underserved populations. 12 Additionally, many medical schools and residency programs are offering advocacy training to their students in recognition of the professional role of physicians in creating system-wide changes to address problems they see in their clinical practice.…”