Advocacy
Community Pediatrics
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Health Equity/Social Determinants of Health
Public Health
School and Community Health
Lena van der List, DO (she/her/hers)
General Pediatrician
University of California Davis Children's Hospital
Sacramento, California, United States
Brandon Altillo, MD MPH (he/him/his)
Assistant Professor
The University of Texas at Austin Dell medical School, United States
Lauren Gambill, MD, MPA
Assistant Professor of Pediatrics
University of Texas at Austin Dell Medical School
austin, Texas, United States
Workshop
Description: “The story we tell becomes the world that we live in.” -The OpEd Project
Through op-eds, child health experts can communicate evidence and stories directly to the public and, as a result, shape the world we live in by influencing knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and policy. Through this medium, child health experts can have a tremendous impact – but when they do not feel comfortable sharing their expertise through op-eds, someone else has the floor.
This workshop empowers participants to overcome the barriers that have stopped them from sharing their expertise in the past, using a proven, hands-on group writing approach developed by the session faculty who have published dozens of op-eds in outlets across the country.
The session begins with a dynamic (and entertaining) large group discussion, exploring op-ed structure, topic selection, audience, timing, and pitching. Participants then dive into an interactive group writing activity. This method, recently published in Academic Pediatrics, has led to multiple publications in outlets across the country.
Faculty will provide materials on timely op-ed topics based on PAS 2023 themes: managing the pediatric mental health crisis, racism in research and medical care, and the effects of climate change on child health.
Participants will not only walk away from the session with a publishable op-ed draft on an important and timely topic, but with the tools, skills, and confidence to tell the stories that change the world.