An Op-Ed Writing Curriculum for Medical Students to Engage in Advocacy Through Public Writing.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Op-ed writing can be a powerful and accessible advocacy tool for physicians, but training is lacking in undergraduate medical education.

Aim

To train and engage first-year medical students in op-ed writing.

Setting

Midwestern research-intensive medical school.

Participants

All students in a required first-year health policy course in 2021 and 2022.

Program description

For their health policy course's final assignment, students could opt to write an op-ed on a healthcare issue of their choice. All students received written instruction on op-ed writing. Additionally, they could access a seminar, coaching and editing by peers and faculty, and publication guidance.

Program evaluation

Of 179 students over 2 years, 105 chose to write op-eds.

SUBMITTER: Krishnamoorthi VR 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11074088 | biostudies-literature | 2024 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature