White Coats Rally for Gun Violence Prevention

May 14, 2026

Dozens of physicians, physicians-in-training, and other healthcare professionals gathered at the Capitol on May 12 to participate in Protect Minnesota’s "White Coats at the Capitol for Gun Violence Prevention.”  

The press event was organized by Protect Minnesota to put pressure on House GOP leadership to bring  SF 4067, which recently passed the Senate, to the House floor for a vote. The legislation is an MMA legislative priority, and includes a statewide ban on assault weapons, high-capacity magazines, and mental health initiatives. 

The event included a simulation that was meant to demonstrate the large number of highly trained individuals and resources required to treat one pediatric patient with a gunshot wound. Physicians, physicians-in-training, and other healthcare professionals in attendance played the roles of EMS, radiologist, trauma surgeon, ER physician, ER charge nurse, lab tech, neurosurgery team, social worker, intensive care team, pharmacy team, chaplain, and others. 

The simulation was led by Maggiy Emery, the executive director of Protect Minnesota, and Patricia Angeline Valusek, MD, a pediatric general surgeon at Children’s Minnesota. On the morning of the shooting at Annunciation Catholic Church and School, Valusek was the pediatric trauma surgeon on duty at Children’s Minnesota.   

The Minnesota House has yet to take up the bill.

Picture: Patricia Angeline Valusek, MD, a pediatric general surgeon at Children’s Minnesota, spoke about the Annunciation shooting on May 12.