Doctors & Political Advocacy: Tips to Get You Started

Ms. Givens said social media platforms are accessible, cost effective, easily shared and able to reach wider audiences with rheumatology messages. “Let us help you sign up. All you need is an email address to get started.” Some doctors expressed concerns about loss of privacy and becoming targets for online confrontations, but Ms. Givens said social media have varied privacy settings. Some participants opt to separate their activities for different purposes, for example, using Twitter for professional communications and Facebook for more private personal messaging.

Recommendations to help you avoid common mistakes:

• Don’t mention fundraising when meeting in the representative’s office to discuss substantive issues;
• Don’t argue, lose your cool or attack anyone’s political beliefs;
• Don’t air personal grievances or appear to be focused merely on self-interest;
• Don’t forget state-level advocacy opportunities, where many important decisions are now being made;
• Don’t forget the “ask”—what you specifically want them to do about the issue that matters to you;
• Always be respectful, and keep your message short and sweet; and
• Remember that posts with photos or videos will be better received.

Get started by sending an email to [email protected].

Larry Beresford is a freelance medical journalist in Oakland, Calif.

References

1. Fewer U.S. doctors bother to vote. The Washington Post. 2007 May 18.
2. Straus JR, Glassman ME. Social media in Congress: The impact of electronic media in member communications. Congressional Research Service. 2016 May 26.