PACH Advocacy Curriculum

The Pediatric Advocacy Community Health (PACH) Rotation

University of Michigan Categorical Pediatrics, Med-Peds, Child Neurology and Combined Pediatrics-Medical Genetics residents all rotate on the Pediatric Advocacy and Community Health rotation during their residency. During the Pediatric Advocacy and Community Heath blocks, residents engage with community partners such as WIC and Food Gatherers, learn from child advocates in our community such as the Pediatric Advocacy Clinic at the University of Michigan Law school, and gain experience giving presentations to community members on pediatric health topics in Mom Share at The Women's Center of Southeastern Michigan.

As child health experts, pediatricians are in a uniquely able to advocate for patients families and communities. It is important that pediatricians develop advocacy skills to address concerns that impact child's health at the individual, community and population health levels. 

To develop residents' advocacy skills, residents participate in our PACH Advocacy Curriculum during their PACH 2 rotation. This website is the home-base for the tools you will need to successfully develop your advocacy skills. You will choose a local community partner and a pediatric advocacy issue to research. Then you will chose at least one of three main advocacy skills to learn about. You will then take one advocacy action. 

Please navigate to our subsections to learn more about the Michigan AAP and tools to improve your advocacy skills. 

Learning activities in our PACH2 advocacy curriculum: 

• Meet with Dr. Naughton or Dr. McLaughlin (PACH Ed Leads)

• Complete scavenger hunts to explore the AAP websites 

• Choose a children's health issue to advocate about. Consider aligning with one of our local community partners

• Following completion of the above activities, choose at least one of three main advocacy skills to learn about: social media advocacy, contacting a legislator, or writing Op Eds.  Then, watch a lecture/view PPT on your chosen topic and browse the associated resource bank. 

• Take one action corresponding to your chosen advocacy skill. Options include: 

  • Write an Op Ed 

  • Contact an elected official 

  • Create a social media post 

  • Other advocacy project approved by Dr. Naughton or Dr. McLaughlin

• Present your project at the Advocacy wrap up at the end of the rotation

• Submit your projects using this Google form https://forms.gle/k7Q5a4kt7gM2C3m26

TL;DR

Everyone works through the "AAP Advocacy" tab and chooses a community partner and pediatric advocacy topic

Everyone works through at least one of the tabs "Talking to Legislators," "Writing an Op Ed," or "Social Media."

Everyone produces something and submits what they have produced via the Google Form https://forms.gle/k7Q5a4kt7gM2C3m26

Everyone presents their project at the end of the rotation to their co-residents and faculty Education Lead.

Hint: You can ⌘F "Required" in each section to search for required activities.