WVU medical students meet with legislators to discuss key healthcare policies at national medical advocacy conference
A group of West Virginia University medical students recently attended a national medical advocacy conference, where they had the opportunity to meet with West Virginia’s congressional representatives to discuss several important pieces of legislation related to healthcare in the state.
The Medical Student Advocacy Conference (MAC) is an annual event hosted by the American Medical Association (AMA) that aims to equip medical students with advocacy skills and firsthand experience in engaging with legislators.
Fourth-year medical student at the WVU School of Medicine’s Eastern Campus Sarah Hughes first attended the MAC in 2024. She said she was drawn to the conference by the way it emphasized the ‘patient’ in ‘patient care.’
“When I began working more closely with patients during my third year of medical school, it wasn’t long until I encountered the systemic challenges patients face in the healthcare system, particularly in rural areas,” she said. “This sparked my passion for advocacy, and the Medical Student Advocacy Conference seemed like an ideal way for me to learn how I could help make a difference.”
The 2025 AMA MAC was held in Washington, D.C., from March 6-7, where Hughes served as the West Virginia State Lead. Joined by six of her fellow WVU School of Medicine classmates, she met with state legislators to discuss several pieces of legislation related to key healthcare issues in the state, including medical residency funding, payment cuts to Medicare and supporting maternal health. See the full list of WVU medical students who were in attendance below.
- Armen Aprahamian, MS3
- Emma Coyne, MS3
- Nick Coyne, MS3
- Gigi Grillo, MS3
- Sarah Hughes, MS4
- Roushni Manjunath, MS3
- Tatiana Henriksson, MS3
Hughes explained that advocating for increased funding for residency positions benefits both trainees and patients alike, as it expands educational opportunities across the state while also addressing physician shortages and the need for care across the region. She also highlighted the importance of the policies in support of Medicare and promoting maternal health, which are each aimed at addressing healthcare barriers that affect key patient demographics in West Virginia and beyond.
Hughes said she was honored by the opportunity to represent the University and the state by attending this conference and reflected on the advocacy skills she has learned through these experiences.
“One thing I’ve come to realize through my experiences with medical advocacy is that stories are everything,” she said. “Personal stories bring the human element to policy discussion, making issues relatable and urgent. It takes a collective effort and many voices to stand up for those who need it most. I hope that others are inspired to use their voices to advocate for change because together we can make a significant impact on improving healthcare for all.”
The WVU School of Medicine promotes medical advocacy through the Student Advocates Impacting Decisions on Healthcare (SAIDOH), a student-led organization at the University focused on the role of advocacy in medicine. Several of the students who attended the 2025 AMA MAC serve as student officers for SAIDOH, which is also supported by faculty advisor Lisa Costello, M.D., MPH.