When putting “pen to paper” to write this article, the U.S. was still days out from the Presidential Election. As you read the published piece, the election will have passed. Some will be happy, some will not.. and that is if we know the results.
A few weeks ago, my daughter was talking about the election and asked, “Mom, what do you do when the person you want to win doesn’t win?” It was an easy response, “You find a way to keep moving forward. All you can do is ‘do your part’; whether that is voting, campaigning, volunteering or something else. And, if it doesn’t work out like you want, you figure out how to manage the outcome — personally, professionally and emotionally.”While that may seem like lofty parental advice or an “easier said than done” approach, it holds true for our work at the College. ACPM put this approach into a proactive practice. Without knowing the election outcomes, the advocacy team (staff and committee volunteers) has been working for months on transition documents for the incoming Administration and Congress – for both parties. While the dynamics in Washington, D.C., may (or may not) shift, the message remains the same and is framed in the opening paragraph:
“In a world with ever-changing risks to public health, it is critical that prevention and preparedness are incorporated into health systems to safeguard population wellness and resilience. The adage ‘an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure’ captures the scientific and economic proof that preventive measures can save lives and money.”
Regardless of the outcome, ACPM advocacy efforts are positioned to ensure preventive medicine and public health have a voice in the policymaking process. We will continue to advocate for the specialty, emphasize the need to fund PMR programs, educate on the importance of upstream healthcare and raise awareness of preventive medicine.
While the College opens the playbook for 2025, know our voice is amplified when our members join the effort. As I said to my daughter, know “you did your part” — in this case, maybe you join the Advocacy Committee, become an ambassador to champion the This is Preventive Medicine campaign, tap into the campaign toolkit to help educate your legislators, or engage in the Advocacy Action Center when it’s time to make our voice a little louder!
Melissa Ferrari, CAE
Interim CEO
Regardless of the outcome, ACPM advocacy efforts are positioned to ensure preventive medicine and public health have a voice in the policymaking process. We will continue to advocate for the specialty, emphasize the need to fund PMR programs, educate on the importance of upstream healthcare and raise awareness of preventive medicine.
While the College opens the playbook for 2025, know our voice is amplified when our members join the effort. As I said to my daughter, know “you did your part” — in this case, maybe you join the Advocacy Committee, become an ambassador to champion the This is Preventive Medicine campaign, tap into the campaign toolkit to help educate your legislators, or engage in the Advocacy Action Center when it’s time to make our voice a little louder!
Melissa Ferrari, CAE
Interim CEO