Oral

This section includes presentations examining various aspects regarding improvement of health through politics and policy change. Presentations will discuss advocacy processes in internet cancer communities; an assessment of state cervical cancer prevention efforts by various measures; the relationship between physicians' race/ethnicity and their perceived importance on health policy priorities for Congress; a comparison of two cancer treatment programs and how advocacy, gender issues, and health and legislative policy have played a role in their development and funding; and an analysis of 2007 state of the state speeches in regards to the most frequently-mentioned public health issues across all states and how those issues are framed in a way to generate public support.

Session Objectives: At the end of the session, the participant will be able to: (1) Recognize the role of physicians in policymaking and advocacy; (2) Prioritize contemporary health issues to be addressed by Congress; (3) Assess the impact of physicians’ racial/ethnic differences effects on policy, advocacy, and patient health; (4) Improve their understanding of how policy can affect the development of public health programs for special and vulnerable populations; (5) Describe the most politically feasible public health policies.

CE Credits: CME, Health Education (CHES), Nursing