Journal of the Harvard Medical School Academy

Advocating in the Face of Resistance

Physicians frequently serve as advocates for patients--at the individual and population level--which can result in positive and lasting impacts. Medical school broadly encourages students to reflect on, prepare for, and provide “patient advocacy”; however, as students, we do not yet truly understand what patient advocacy should be and how to best engage in it. Continued 

Teaching, Learning, and Practicing Student Advocacy

While being exposed to many specialties and styles of medical practice in our core clerkships, we, medical students, are simultaneously privy to the imperfections of the medical system and real challenges our patients face. While in the clinic, students may hear about their patients’ challenges like finding reliable, low-cost public transportation to and from the clinic; in inpatient settings, a student may learn about their patients’ confusion with their discharge instructions and uncertainty about when to follow up with their physician. Across clinical settings, we are exposed to health system barriers that are impediments to our patients’ health and wellbeing. Continued

Dr. Gaurab Basu is an instructor at Harvard Medical School, primary care physician at Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA), and Co-Director of the CHA's Center for Health Equity Education and Advocacy (CHEEA). He is also the co-course director of the social medicine course in Essentials II. Continued

HMS's Health Equity Education Curricular Theme

The Health Equity Education Curricular Theme at HMS was created to ensure that HMS graduates are equipped with the knowledge, skills, and behaviors to alleviate suffering and improve health and well-being for all. Leaders at HMS and nationally hold paramount the importance of teaching and training future physicians to advocate for their patients, to eliminate health disparities, and to promote wellness for vulnerable populations. Continued