“Decisions are made by those
who show up.”

As health students, you have more power than you realize to effect change. Why wait until you’re out of school to have a positive impact on the health of your community?

At HealthSTAT, our non-partisan advocacy work is driven by the principle that we all suffer the consequences of a public health failure. It is inspired by our shared enthusiasm to improve the health of all Georgians through intelligent public health policy. Health care and public health need sympathetic leaders who advocate for their patients and communities, not their own professional interests.

Getting involved is easy, and can be done at any level of commitment you choose. Health leaders and voices are needed in neighborhoods, school districts, city councils, state legislatures and even congress. Your community is probably in need of volunteers at its free clinic. Or maybe you enjoy the outdoors? Organize a community garden or help bring a playground to children that need a safe place to exercise.

But before you begin, think about the significant influence health policy has on our daily lives. Getting the approval to construct a neighborhood playground involves getting the support of stakeholders and making changes in policy. These tasks take commitment, patience and compromise.

Health care is a complex, coordinated delivery of important services. If you don’t consider health care activities at the level of policy, you may overlook how policy affects both health care and individuals downstream. Policy is the root where health care change begins.

For more information on any of our advocacy efforts, email act@healthstatgeorgia.org.