MMA Medical Student Section - Hands on Advocacy Project

About

• Hands On Advocacy is a student-created, student-led experiential learning project started by students within the Minnesota Medical Association - Medical Student Section (MMA-MSS) that provides a structured opportunity for medical students to run an advocacy campaign on a public health topic.    
• Hands On Advocacy is a pilot program that has been created by students to test a new model of teaching advocacy and leadership in medical school.

Project Structure

• Annual Advocacy Campaign: A new public health issue is identified each year and a team of medical students is selected to generate and implement a campaign that addresses this issue through education, policy, or professional best practices. 
• Advocacy & Leadership Core Curriculum: monthly didactic sessions on pertinent advocacy and leadership topics.
• Mentorship: each student is paired with an advocacy mentor

Campaigns

• 2019-2020: Access to Mental Health Care Campaign (Year 2)
  • Background
    • This is year 2 of the access to mental health care campaign, which began in 2018.
    • Through this campaign, medical students will raise awareness of the topic, become involved in legislative advocacy, and provide education to students, physicians and the community on what can be done to address the challenges that exist in ensuring access to mental health care.  
  • Accomplishments
    • Coming soon
  • Resources
    • Reducing the Stigma of Mental Illness
      • This video was created by a group of medical students at the University of Minnesota Medical School, as part of their Public Health and Health Policy Project.
  • HOA In the News
    •  Three U of M Medical Students Advocate for Change in Mental Illness Disclosure Requirements
• 2018-2019:  Access to Mental Health Care Campaign
  • Background
    • Medical students across the state were surveyed regarding public health topics of interest and working to address access to mental health care was highly ranked.
    • Through this campaign, medical students will raise awareness of the topic, become involved in legislative advocacy, and provide education to students, physicians and the community on what can be done to address the challenges that exist in ensuring access to mental health care.
  • Accomplishments
    • Engaged in mental health outreach at local health fairs.
    • Reached out to legislators at the MMA Day at the Capitol to raise awareness for lack of mental health access.
    • Changed the curriculum at the University of Minnesota Medical School to include trauma-informed care.
  • Resources
    •  Mental Health Disparities
• 2017-2018: The Opioid Epidemic Campaign
  • Background
    • Medical students across the state were surveyed regarding public health topics of interest and working to address the opioid epidemic was highly ranked.
    • Through this campaign, medical students will raise awareness of the topic, become involved in legislative advocacy, and provide education to students, physicians and the community on what can be done to address the opioid epidemic.
  • Accomplishments
    • Education/training for students and physicians
    • Education for legislators
    • Community engagement
  • Resources
    • Responsible Use of Opioids
    • How to Dispose of Opioids and Other Medical Waste
    • How to talk to patients about chronic pain
    • Talking to patients about addiction
    • Proper Usage, Storage, and Disposal of Opioids
  • ​HOA in the News
    • Minnesota Medical students want updated teaching on opioids
• 2016- 2017: The Vaccine Campaign
  • Background
    • Medical students across the state were surveyed regarding public health topics of interest and vaccines were highly ranked. 
    • Talking to vaccine hesitant parents is difficult for both students and providers and the students leading the project felt this was a great opportunity to enhance provider ability to educate their patients.
  • Accomplishments
    • Education/training for students and physicians
    • Education for legislators
    • Community engagement
  • Resources 
    • Vaccine Hesitancy Cheat Sheet
    • Immunization Resources for Providers
    • Vaccine Hesitancy Video
    • Talking to Legislators Video
  • HOA in the News
    • UMN medical students help create vaccine-promotion resources for physicians

Additional Information

• Hands On Advocacy Project  (Note:  This page is not maintained by the MMA, but rather by students on the Hands on Advocacy Project)
• If you are interested in serving as a mentor for a medical student participating in Hands On Advocacy, please contact Juliana Milhofer.