Becoming informed and developing advocacy skills are first steps. As students you can do both by participating in opportunities on campus and off.
Maryland Action Coalition Summit
The Maryland Action Coalition (MDAC) serves as one of the driving forces for transforming state health care. Recognizing the important work already underway in Maryland and with a goal of improved health outcomes for its residents, the Maryland Action Coalition leads innovation in the health of the population through efforts that build and sustain a culture of health.
President's Panel on Politics and Policy Speaker Series
This speaker series examining issues important to the UMB community that are likely to be affected by the new presidential administration and the new Congress.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing Student Policy Summit
The American Association of Colleges of Nursing (AACN) hosts its annual Student Policy Summit in Washington, D.C., typically in March. The two-day conference is open to baccalaureate and graduate nursing students enrolled at an AACN member institution, and UMSON typically selects and sponsors several students from both the Baltimore and Universities at Shady Grove locations to attend. The application process is competitive and requires submission of an essay. The call for applications is promoted annually, usually in the fall, through The Elm.
Students who attend the summit are immersed in didactic program sessions focused on the federal policy process and nursing’s role in professional advocacy. They have the opportunity to engage directly with speakers, who are leaders in the policy arena; AACN staff; and U.S. representatives and senators. Participation in the summit offers students the tools to advocate for issues that truly matter to them, their patients, and their communities. Students can also meet, connect, and network with a diverse group of fellow nursing students from across the country.
Utilize these resources to stay abreast of policy issues.
American Association of Colleges of Nursing
American Nurses Association
Commonwealth Foundation
Kaiser Health News
Kaiser Family Foundation
Health Affairs