Social Justice and Advocacy

Fourth Year Justice Elective: OMED-503

Instructor: Eileen Moore, MD: moorees@georgetown.edu

Contact: Office of Medical Education: medicaleducation@georgetown.edu

Location: Washington, D.C. area

Duration: Four Week Elective

Max Number of Students: Six students/ block

Description: This is an elective externship based at either an issue-based advocacy organization in the greater Washington, D.C. area or with the office of an elective official actively engaged in health and social policy legislation.  A listing of available placement sites is kept with the Office of Medical Education; alternative sites may be possible with permission from the course director.  The objective of this elective is to expose the student to the process of issue advocacy from either a legislator or advocacy organization’s perspective.  The student is expected to work with designate staff at the organization on a specific issue that is relevant to their interests.  Specific duties may include conducting background research, meeting with constituencies and key stakeholders, developing and/or implementing a communications strategy, and drafting a report, analysis, or model legislation.  The GU curriculum specific to this elective consists of three 1 hour sessions (at the beginning of the rotation, midway, and at the end) to orient the student to different aspects of physician advocacy, discuss nuances of different advocacy and lobbying approaches, and to review the elective experience.  Students are also required to submit a 3 – 5 page report at the end of the rotation.  Eligible students must have completed the MS I,II Health Rights course or have completed equivalent advocacy coursework.  Adequacy of course preparation will be subject to the discretion of the course director. **This elective is NOT available to visiting students.

Applications must be submitted 5 weeks prior to the start of the block. Please email Dr. Eileen Moore: moorees@georgetown.edu and Office of Medical Education: medicaleducation@georgetown.edu (put in subject line: Advocacy Elective Application).