March 2026 Advocacy Champion

Elizabeth Elfstrand, MD

OBGYN, Minneapolis

1. Why is being an advocate so important to you?
Physicians see firsthand how policies affect individual patients and the overall health care system.  We must not only form our opinions, but we must show up and speak up to help our patients and our communities.  I believe it is our professional responsibility.
 
I became a trustee on the Board of the MMA in 2020, and really respect the role of the MMA in advocacy for physicians and improving the health of our state in so many ways.  I look forward to taking on the role of the chair of the MMA Advocacy and Policy Committee to further my commitment and presence as a strong supporter of advocacy efforts of the MMA, and look forward to working with our lobbyists and leadership. 

2. What health-care related issue(s) have you advocated for over the past year?
As an OB/GYN, I have a strong passion for all women’s health initiatives and those that involve children too.  My other commitment is for gun violence prevention, and I recently testified in support of a public health initiative to centralize gun violence prevention which is one of the main causes of maternal mortality, and the number one cause of death for children.  
 
I have also advocated in my community and at the Capitol in response to healthcare gaps due to the ICE surge that we had the last few months. 

3. What advice would you offer to others who are interested in advocacy?
There are so many ways to strengthen your role as an advocate.  For me, going to the MMA Day at the Capitol was very meaningful and helped me build relationships with legislators which then made it easier to interact and engage with them on important issues.  This led me to join my specialty society group ACOG, and go to a national congressional leadership conference where I had the chance to meet with members of Congress and their staff -- and feel like I was not just watching from the sidelines, but engaging with how policies are created.
 
My grateful living post from Peace Pilgrim today reads: “Live in the present. Do the things that need to be done. Do all the good you can each day. The future will unfold.” To me this is advocacy in a nutshell.