Health Policy and Advocacy

The DEI Shift's mission is to create a podcast series on diversity, equity, and inclusion (D.E.I.) in medicine that sparks discussion and provides practice-changing data and stories for a physician, student, allied health professional, and health care leader audience. Listeners will be able to gain useful information to improve their practices and environments, to gain empathy, cultural competency, and humility, and to learn more about emerging D.E.I. concepts. The DEI Shift will discuss issues related to gender, race, sexuality, religion, ability, socioeconomics, and so much more.

Co-Hosts: Dr. Elisa Choi, Branden Barger

Guests: Dr. Ankita Sagar, Dr. Zoe Tseng

Editor/Assistant Producer: Joanna Jain

Production Assistants: Alexandra Babakanian, Ann Truong, Likitha Aradhyula

Learning Objectives:

1. Describe the role of advocacy in healthcare.

2. Describe the mission of ACP as a regional and national physician advocacy organization.

3. Identify tools to effectively advocate for public policy at local, regional, state, and federal levels.

4. Implement strategies for community and civic engagement, such as coalition building, social media engagement, and grassroots organizing.

[0:00-2:04] Introduction

Introduction of our co-hosts, guest, and the episode topic

[2:04-4:07] Introducing Guests Dr. Zoe Tseng and Dr. Ankita Sagar

• Dr. Zoe Tseng
  • Internal Medicine specialist and primary care physician
  • Instructor at Harvard Medical School
  • Faculty advisor for the Harvard Medical School Internal Medicine Interest Group
  • Faculty advisor and lecturer for the Harvard Medical School’s Internal Medicine residency Social Justice and Advocacy curriculum
  • Member of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American College of Physicians Governor’s Council
  • Co-chair of the MA ACP Chapter’s Health and Public Policy Committee
• Dr. Ankita Sagar
  • Internal Medicine specialist and primary care physician
  • Associate Professor of Medicine at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Health
  • Director of Internal Medicine Health Policy curriculum at Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell Health
  • Chair of Early Career Physicians Committee for NY Chapter of American College of Physicians

[4:07-6:37] “A Step in Your Shoes” Segment

[6:37-8:27] Overview of the American College of Physicians

• National organization of Internal Medicine specialists and subspecialists with 161,000 members
• Largest medical speciality organization and second largest physician group in the US

[8:27-10:59] What Health Advocacy Means to You

• Dr. Ankita Sagar
  • Recognize, promote, defend, and sponsor policies for clinicians, patients, and healthcare workers that aim to better the system for future generations
• Dr. Zoe Tseng
  • Support for patients beyond the direct and immediate clinical encounter
  • Advocate on different levels that match the issue at hand

[10:59-16:59] COVID Advocacy and Upcoming Policy Concerns

• Dr. Ankita Sagar
  • Focus on evidence-based medicine for vulnerable populations such as those impacted by structural racism
  • Emphasize wellness for clinicians and healthcare professionals to help in supporting an integration of life with work and to manage the emotional burden that can arise, especially in the context of a pandemic
  • ACP Health Policy and Advocacy Committees work to support legislation that enables progress in these areas of evidence-based medicine and wellness
• Dr. Zoe Tseng
  • Highlight the ways in which social determinants of health (i.e. food insecurity, economic stability, etc.) impact patient health and insurance coverage
  • Direct attention to the history of ongoing racial disparities in the delivery of healthcare that disproportionately limits people from access to equitable care
  • ACP supports universal coverage to mobilize support for all Americans to alleviate the cost and burden of accessing healthcare
  • ACP continues to work internally to address existing racial disparities and take actions to advocate for systemic changes to better support our communities 

[16:59-21:45] Getting Involved in Health Advocacy

• Dr. Zoe Tseng
  • Join or initiate your state’s ACP chapter Health and Public Policy Committee
  • Participate in your state’s medical society to gain awareness on key issues
• Dr. Ankita Sagar
  • Find folks in your own community who are dedicated to recognizing, addressing, and advocating for the rectification of a shared concern
  • Collaborate with others across training levels and disciplines to identify areas of concern that can be addressed and worked on, ACP committees allow for this breadth and depth of collaboration

[21:45-27:13] How to be a Better Advocate

• Dr. Zoe Tseng
  • Care about who or what you are advocating for (i.e. clinicians, patients, an issue, etc.) and translate that care into passion and action
  • Practice effective communication skills to better present what you care about
  • Learn from others, become comfortable with not being an expert in everything and lean on the collective knowledge and support from others
• Dr. Ankita Sagar
  • Practice advocacy with a similar mindset as to how one practices their physical exam skills, take the time to gather what is important to you and how to effectively communicate that
  • Find a professional society, like ACP, that aligns with your values and learn from what has and has not worked for advocacy efforts in the past

[27:13-28:37] Closing

[28:37-29:42] Outro

• Twitter and Instagram: @TheDEIshift
• Email: thedeishift@gmail.com
• Website: www.thedeishift.com

Additional Reading/Resources:

Commonwealth Magazine Eliminating Religious Exemptions:

https://commonwealthmagazine.org/opinion/abolish-the-vaccine-religious-exemption/

ACP Access to Care:

https://www.acponline.org/advocacy/where-we-stand/access-to-care

ACP Racial Health Disparities, Prejudice, and Violence: https://www.acponline.org/advocacy/where-we-stand/racial-health-disparities-prejudice-and-violence

Dr. Ankita Sagar: @Sagar_Ankita (https://twitter.com/sagar_ankita)

Mowgli: @pupmowgli (https://twitter.com/pupmowgli)

Resources for physicians:

ACP Policy Paper on Physician Suicide Prevention: https://www.acponline.org/acp_policy/policies/physician_suicide_prevention_and_the_ethics_and_role_of_a_healing_community_2021.pdf

ACP Physician Guidance on Patient Trust: https://www.acponline.org/acp-newsroom/new-recommendations-offer-physicians-ethical-guidance-for-preserving-trust-in-patient-physician

AAFP Tips: https://www.aafp.org/journals/fpm/blogs/inpractice/entry/social_media_best_practices.html

Emotional Support Hub from ACP:

https://www.acponline.org/practice-resources/physician-well-being-and-professional-fulfillment/im-emotional-support-hub

ACP's Patients before Paperwork: https://www.acponline.org/advocacy/where-we-stand/patients-before-paperwork

Resources on advocacy:

ACP Advocacy landing page: https://www.acponline.org/advocacy

ACP Advocate newsletter: https://www.acponline.org/advocacy/acp-advocate

Massachusetts ACP Chapter Advocacy: https://www.acponline.org/about-acp/chapters-regions/united-states/massachusetts-chapter/public-policy-advocacy

New York ACP Chapter Advocacy: https://www.nyacp.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=3936

ACP Women in Medicine:  https://www.acponline.org/advocacy/where-we-stand/women-in-medicine/top-10-things-you-can-do-to-impact-gender-equity-in-medicine

Credits:

Guests: Dr. Zoe Tseng, Dr, Ankita Sagar

Co-hosts/Producers: Dr. Elisa Choi, Branden Barger

Executive Producer: Dr. Tammy Lin 

Co-Executive Producers: Dr. Pooja Jaeel, Dr. Tiffany Leung

Senior Producers: Dr. Maggie Kozman, Dr. DJ Gaines

Editor/Assistant Producer: Joanna Jain

Production Assistants: Alexandra Babakanian, Ann Truong, Likitha Aradhyula

Website/Art Design: Ann Truong

Music: Chris Dingman

Disclaimer: The DEI Shift podcast and its guests provide general information and entertainment, but not medical advice. Before making any changes to your medical treatment or execution of your treatment plan, please consult with your doctor or personal medical team. Reference to any specific product or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by The DEI Shift. The views expressed by guests are their own, and their appearance on the podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by The DEI Shift team are those of each individual, and do not necessarily reflect the views or opinions of The DEI Shift team and its guests, employers, sponsors, or organizations we are affiliated with.

Season 3 of The DEI Shift podcast is proudly sponsored by the American College of Physicians Southern California Region III Chapter. 

The DEI Shift theme music is by Chris Dingman. Learn more at www.chrisdingman.com.

Contact us: thedeishift@gmail.com, @thedeishift, thedeishift.com

Contributors

Elisa Choi, MD, FACP – Co-host

Branden Barger – Co-host

Ankita Sagar, MD, MPH, FACP – Guest

Zoe Tseng, MD, FACP – Guest

Joanna Jain – Editor/Assistant Producer

Alexandra Babakanian – Production Assistant

Ann Truong – Production Assistant

Likitha Aradhyula – Production Assistant

Reviewers

Marianne Parshley, MD FACP

Dirk Gaines, MD, ACP Member

None of the contributors or reviewers for this educational activity have relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Release Date:  December 15, 2021

Rerelease Date: December 15, 2024

Expiration Date: December 14, 2027

CME Credit

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of the American College of Physicians and the DEI Shift.  The American College of Physicians is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The American College of Physicians designates each enduring material (podcast) for 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

ABIM Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Points

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 0.5 medical knowledge MOC Point in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program.  Participants will earn MOC points equivalent to the amount of CME credits claimed for the activity. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

How to Claim CME Credit and MOC Points

After listening to the podcast, complete a brief multiple-choice question quiz.  To claim CME credit and MOC points you must achieve a minimum passing score of 66%.  You may take the quiz multiple times to achieve a passing score.