Marsha Hurst, PhD¹, Rachel N. Grob, MA¹, Constance Peterson, MA², and Laura Weil, MA³. (1) Health Advocacy Program, Sarah Lawrence College, 1 Mead Way, Bronxville, NY 10708, 914 395 2371, rgrob@slc.edu, (2) New York Presbyterian Hospital, 525 East 68th Street, New York, NY 10021, (3) Beth Israel Medical Center, First Avenue at 16th Street, New York, NY 10003

The seminal 2002 Institute of Medicine report, Who Will Keep the Public Healthy?, recommended eight new content areas for public health: Informatics, communication, community-based participatory research, global health, ethics, genomics, cultural competency, and policy/law. This session will showcase approaches to graduate professional education developed by the Sarah Lawrence College Health Advocacy Program (HAP) that address the intersection between advocacy and these new content areas. Participants will acquire hands-on experience applying “transdisciplinary” advocacy themes to public health practice, and consider systemic implications of this approach for population-based action.

HAP’s multi- and inter-disciplinary curriculum model the ecological approach to analysis and practice recommended by the IOM. Thematic perspectives on advocacy – including voice in advocacy, and a rights-based approach to advocacy – have utility not just in the traditional arenas of policy and law, but as central tenets undergirding public health theory, education and practice. Our session will highlight these curricular themes, demonstrating for participants HAP’s pedagogy, including our academic/practitioner team-teaching methodology. For example, participants will be introduced to the concept of “voice” in advocacy as the experiences and perspectives, needs and strengths, history and aspirations individuals bring to bear on their health and their health care. Through case study exercises, participants will analyze the ways “voice” is heard, silenced, ignored, and answered within the care systems and social structures that frame health and illness. Finally, participants will discuss and define the importance of voice for IOM practice areas including communication, community-based participation, cultural competency, policy and law, and genomics.

Learning Objectives:

• Participants will acquire hands-on experience applying “transdisciplinary” advocacy themes -- including "voice" in advocacy, and a rights-based approach to advocacy -- to public health practice, and consider systemic implications of this approach for population-based action.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: Employed by Sarah Lawrence College