Impact of One Training Session on Improving Advocacy, Knowledge, and Empowerment in Medical Students

While the Association of American Colleges (AAMC) and the institute of medicine have supported further education, social determinants of health are taught at few medical schools currently. Multiple approaches to provide training in health policy have been reported with the goal of providing students with the skills to advocate for their patients. Although these programs are successful, they are difficult to implement and require time, strong leadership, and community resources. Our institution offers no formal advocacy training to medical students. Given this, our student interest group worked with a community advocacy organisation to host a joint student advocacy training session after which students reported feeling empowered and confident in taking the first steps towards advocacy. Our experience suggests that by partnering with community organisations, advocacy training can be offered in institutions without the use of additional resources.