Dr. Erynn Beeson, an Internal Medicine resident at Oregon Health Sciences University (OHSU) and a member of the Oregon chapter of ACP, and Dr. Ximena Levander, an assistant professor at OHSU and Addiction Medicine specialist, reflect on important topics from previous episodes of The DEI Shift, Health Policy and Advocacy (Season 3, Episode 7) and The Breadth of Addiction Medicine (Season 3, Episode 5). In the previous episodes, The DEI Shift Producers and Co-hosts, Dr. Elisa Choi and medical student Branden Barger, spoke with Dr. Zoe Tseng and Dr. Ankita Sagar, ACP early career physician leaders in Massachusetts and New York, respectively, on health advocacy. Additionally, Producers and Co-hosts, Dr. Marianne Parshley and Dr. Brittäne Parker, interviewed Dr. Chwen-Yuen Angie Chen, associate professor, internist-addiction specialist, and ACP California Northern chapter governor, about addiction medicine.
Dr. Levander’s research focuses on how to improve care for those with substance use disorder. She is a member of the Oregon Chapter of ACP and is an ACP fellow. She is co-chair of the Oregon Chapter Council of Early Career Physicians Committee and is a member of the Oregon Chapter Health and Public Policy Committee.
Dr. Levander’s research focuses on how to improve care for those with substance use disorder. She is a member of the Oregon Chapter of ACP and is an ACP fellow. She is co-chair of the Oregon Chapter Council of Early Career Physicians Committee and is a member of the Oregon Chapter Health and Public Policy Committee.
Key Messages
- Advocacy as a physician helps to alleviate daily stress or burnout by channeling frustration with the healthcare system into lasting change.
- Access to buprenorphine via telemedicine, houselessness, and social determinants of health are among many key policy issues relevant for the care of patients with addiction and substance use disorders.
- Engagement in professional organizations can provide physicians resources and updates on current health policies at the local, state, and national level.
- Learning scripts for advocacy, similar to learning scripts for patient communications, are small learnings that physicians and trainees can bring to their advocacy work.
- Connecting with community organizations can be an easy way to engage in local advocacy: as a physician, start by asking, “How can I help?”
The conversation continues on Twitter with the #PTBGIM. For this episode, be sure to tag @theDEIShift @OregonACP. Tell us why you’re #ProudToBeGIM and share your perspectives, experiences, or tips on how becoming a physician advocate is a valuable skillset as a general internal medicine specialist.
Resources
- The DEI Shift: Health Policy & Advocacy: Show Notes and Resource List
- The DEI Shift: The Breadth of Addiction: Show Notes and Resource List
- Society of General Internal Medicine’s Leadership in Health Policy Program (LEAHP)
- American College of Physicians’ Health Policy Internship Program
- Spheres of Influence and Strategic Advocacy for Equity in Medicine from Journal of General Internal Medicine
- Advocacy: Achieving Physician Competency from Journal of General Internal Medicine
- Perspective: Physician Advocacy: What Is It and How Do We Do It?
- Health and Public Policy to Facilitate Effective Prevention and Treatment of Substance Use Disorders Involving Illicit and Prescription Drugs: An American College of Physicians Position Paper from Annals of Internal Medicine
- ACP Access to Care Resource Page ACP Advocacy | Where We Stand | Access to Care
- Racial Health Disparities, Prejudice and Violence | Where We Stand | ACP
- ACP Advocacy | Health Policy Issues and Health Care Reform
- ACP Advocate | Advocacy Newsletter
#ProudtobeGIM is a campaign from the Society of General Internal Medicine and the American College of Physicians aimed at encouraging medical students and residents to pursue General Internal Medicine. This special podcast series for #ProudToBeGIM Week, February 21-24, 2022, is sponsored by a #ProudToBeGIM honorarium and the American College of Physicians Southern California Region III Chapter. Read more about the campaign here: https://www.sgim.org/career-center/proudtobegim
The DEI Shift podcast is proud to partner with SGIM in promoting #ProudToBeGIM week. This opportunity allows multiple ACP Chapters to showcase the expertise of their leaders and to provide a fresh look into some popular episodes. We are especially delighted to have members of our production team, many of whom are pre-medical students, contribute their voices to the conversation as well.
The DEI Shift theme music is by Chris Dingman. Learn more at www.chrisdingman.com.
Credits:
Host: Dr. Erynn Beeson (she/her/hers)
Guest: Dr. Ximena Levander (she/her/hers/ella)
Producers: Dr. Sarah Takimoto, Dr. Tiffany Leung
Executive Producer: Dr. Tammy Lin
Co-Executive Producers: Dr. Pooja Jaeel, Dr. Tiffany Leung
Senior Producer: Dr. DJ Gaines, Dr. Maggie Kozman
Editor: Dr. Tiffany Leung
Production Assistants: Ann Truong, Likitha Arudhyala
Website/Art design: Ann Truong
Music: Chris Dingman
Contact us: thedeishift@gmail.com, @thedeishift, thedeishift.com
