June 2024 – Health Advocate Insights

Health Advocate Insights

Welcome to the fifth edition of the Social Mission Alliance’s Health Advocate Insights where we examine and report on the most recent developments in health workforce and education issues.

Last month saw a dramatic rise in student protests against Israel’s invasion of Gaza and a subsequent violent pushback from university authorities and the police. This month, major universities have begun to experience the fallout of their actions, including UCLA, UC Santa Cruz, and UC Davis academic employees striking in support of Pro-Palestinian protestors which the union notes constitutes protected protest activity. Elsewhere, organized labor flexed its muscle against administrators. The University of Washington student employees went on strike after they were unable to reach an agreement with the university on pay increases. Both parties note that they are seeking a good faith agreement and have implied that they hope the issue is resolved in short order.

In spite of the pro-labor activity that has been occurring nationwide, elsewhere, universities have continued to infringe on expressions of free speech and good governance. At Harvard University, the interim president announced that the university would stay neutral on matters not related to the university’s core mission. Although the new policy does not limit specific research centers for issuing statements relevant to their own work, the university as a whole will not take official stances on social issues. Elsewhere, there has been pushback against faculty governance with multiple states seeking to get rid of the power of faculty over university decisions.

Image via Wikimedia Commons

What's going on in Washington, DC?

The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pension (HELP) committee recently held a hearing titled “What can Congress do to address the severe shortage of minority health care professionals and the maternal health crisis?” Featuring testimonies from practicing clinicians, as well as representatives from the National Medical Association and Morehouse School of Medicine, the hearing began with a discussion of the financial burdens of education and how racial concordance between physicians can enhance the patient’s care experience. The Senators went on to note key legislation that could help solve the crisis including: aligning GME slots with needs of underserved communities; increasing enrollment at HBCUs; passing the Momnibus Act; boosting funding for WIC; and increasing funding for the National Health Service Corps. Read more information on the hearing.

The White House released a request for information (RFI) seeking input on how federal agencies can improve public engagement processes and community engagement. The RFI noted that this may include information to “broaden the kinds of people and groups reached; expand government knowledge and consideration of the range of lived experiences and perspectives; increase, improve, and embed participation and engagement across agency functions; better understand how community participation aligns with federal laws and executive priorities; identify when to effectively involve the public in decision-making processes; and build on successes and model new efforts for participation and engagement.”

Dr. Jaines Andrades, DNP, AGACNP-BC, speaks at the Senate HELP Committee, May 2, 2024. Image via Senate.gov

What's going on in the states?

It was only several years ago that California had a significant budget surplus to the tune of over ten billion dollars. At the time, the state responded by expanding the Cal-Grant program which is the state’s largest financial aid program for students who meet GPA and parental income requirements. The program, which subsidizes up to 40% tuition and fee costs for eligible students, is now under threat due to the state’s $27 billion budget deficit. The legislature has so far proposed ending proposed expansions of the program which currently benefits approximately 300,000 students. In addition to ending the Cal-Grant expansion, the proposed budget includes a $510 million cut to the state’s Middle Class Scholarship which also provides significant financial aid to students pursuing higher education in the state. Also dealing with the budget woes are California’s healthcare workers. Expecting a minimum wage increase under the state’s recently passed SB 525, the implementation of the wage increase is now delayed as the state deals with the budget crisis.

Elsewhere, the Governor of Iowa signed legislation to further restrict DEI programs in the state’s colleges and universities. While the Board of Regents had previously banned all DEI functions that were unrelated to accreditation standards, the legislation goes further by expanding the definition of DEI and providing stricter punishments for those found to be in violation of the law. Of further concern is that the law adds two of the state’s lawmakers to the Board of Regents, thereby giving politicians additional oversight over the state’s education system. In response, Democrat House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst (D-Windsor Heights) noted that “It clearly is a bill that creates more inefficiencies, increased costs, reduces services, and puts the accreditation of our region’s institutions at risk.”

Perspective Highlight: Duke University mirrors national trend with troubling retreat on DEI

Social Mission Alliance student researcher, Nadia Bey, published an op-ed this month in NC Newsline, discussing the repeal of a scholarship formerly reserved for Black students at Duke, pre-existing concerns about campus climate and Black enrollment, and how additional recent changes to Duke’s merit scholarship structure will negatively impact who has the ability to enroll.

University of Missouri. Image via Wikimedia Commons

What else are we reading?

What can you act on today?

Refer a friend! Send someone this email or our our sign-up for the Health Advocate Insights newsletter so they can stay in the know. Together, let’s amplify our voices and create a healthier, more equitable health workforce community!
Share your story for how the anti-DEI movement has impacted you – The Chronicle of Higher Education has been tracking efforts to ban DEI from college campuses. Administrators, faculty, staff, and students: What effect has the political campaign to rid colleges of DEI efforts had on college life? How have college leaders interpreted new anti-DEI laws and policies? Have they changed DEI practices in response to political pressure?
Get Involved in Promoting Civic Engagement Through The Civic Health Alliance Student Ambassador Program – Civic Health Alliance Student Ambassadors are emerging leaders in the space of civic engagement and health. The Civic Health Alliance offers multiple webinars and training sessions throughout the year to teach students how to participate in advocacy. Students are also provided with one-on-one mentorship with CHA team members to help them with their advocacy efforts. As a part of the program, students are asked to develop a project that can increase their civic engagement as medical professionals. Project initiatives include handing out voter information flyers, hosting postcard writing events during elections, creating online campaigns about voting, engaging formerly incarcerated individuals to participate in democracy, writing perspective pieces for academic journals and websites and more. Additionally, students will be asked to get a minimum of 20 people to register to vote or check their voter registration status. Each ambassador is given a RVote prescription with a unique QR code that pulls up a voter registration form. Students are encouraged to do this work in their community, whether that is in a clinic, online or a combination of both. Because academic commitments is a priority for students, our program allows flexibility to engage in ways that are individually tailored. Requirements include voter registration and attendance of at least 50% of the CHA events.

As we navigate the ever-evolving landscape of state and federal policies, it’s clear our mission is more important than ever. We look forward to your continued support and involvement in our journey to build a more equitable and inclusive health workforce. Together we can drive meaningful change for our communities and the future of healthcare.

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