Healthcare Students Practice Advocacy with HIMSS Government Relations Team During D.C. Trip Hosted by Arizona Chapter

The HIMSS Arizona Chapter recently hosted a cohort of students studying healthcare at Bryan University on a trip to Washington, D.C., for an inside look at policy and advocacy.

The students visited the HIMSS office in Virginia to learn about some of the current public policy priorities being led by the HIMSS Government Relations team. Arizona Chapter Advocate Marjorie Rosen organized the trip as part of the HIMSS Chapter Advocacy Program, which leverages HIMSS’s reach and resources to influence public policy to advance healthcare and population health for all.

Marci Little, a health administration student at Bryan University, class of 2025, wrote the following summary of her experience.

The healthcare students from Bryan University were given the opportunity to be in Washington, D.C., for a week from April 12-18. We were invited to participate in the school’s Paralegal Program trip. We got the chance to see memorials, monuments, The Supreme Court, Capitol Hill and so many other sites.

For me, I was so glad to be able to see the monuments and memorials, but what I wasn’t prepared for was the amazing experience of advocating through HIMSS. This was the best most memorable part of the week for me!

For three nights of the trip, we were given the basics of what advocacy is, how it works and what to expect by Marjorie Rosen, Program Director of Healthcare. Everyone had the opportunity to ask questions regarding advocacy and how it works. I knew about advocacy as I had to do a PPE in advocacy to get my associate’s degree. I started to see myself advocating after that assignment.

My love of advocacy was fueled during this trip! We attended a meeting with HIMSS in D.C. They showed us everything they possibly could about advocacy. It was beyond amazing! I fell in love with advocacy. We met some amazing people and even got to take a few photos with them. Questions were asked and answered while each of us took notes, mentally or written. We had the chance to see Marjorie teach alongside the HIMSS group regarding what the MATCH IT Act is and how we could help.

For our advocacy day on Capitol Hill, we were split into groups. Our job was to meet with our representatives and get them on board with the MATCH IT Act. I had the pleasure of being the speaker of our group at each of our meetings. I am not a great speaker, but I found my voice in advocating. If I took anything from this trip, it is that advocacy is needed to change things, whether it’s in healthcare, government or in your own life.

I am so grateful for the opportunity we had to be a part of this during that week. If given the opportunity again, I would gladly take it!