Voter Mobilization: A Powerful Tool for Health Equity

As voiced by the late Congressman John Lewis, “The vote is the most powerful nonviolent tool we have to make change in a democratic society.” For health care professionals, it is also a powerful tool for helping our patients and their families make change in their communities. Together, we must empower our colleagues and patients to vote. Voting and health are inherently linked, as discussed by Gordon in his 2016 Academic Medicine article, “How Can Physicians Educate Patients About Health Care Policy Issues?” In this article, Gordon notes how voting is our primary means of selecting the government leaders whose decisions shape health policy. He also argues that providing patients with some basic health policy education is our duty as health care providers. His ideas, published just before the 2016 election, were prescient. Fast-forward 4 years and our nation is facing seemingly unprecedented events—from the COVID-19 pandemic, to a national reckoning with racism, to record-setting wildfires. Now more than ever, it’s clear that our elected officials shape innumerable issues that impact our health—from research funding, to policies that reduce poverty and address racism, to environmental regulations. Thus, health care providers must build on Gordon’s 2016 call to action and view voter mobilization as both our civic and professional duty. This is especially important given the United States’ chronically low voter turnout and disparities in who votes. Ph...
Source: Academic Medicine Blog - Category: Universities & Medical Training Authors: Tags: Featured Guest Perspective health equity patients voter moblization Source Type: blogs