Advocacy Editor - Lily Jung, MD, FAAN

Most of us went into medicine because we enjoyed helping people. Somewhere along the way, life happened (mortgage payments, kids' college tuitions, alimony, insurance paperwork, rising overhead) and suddenly the practice of medicine became less fun. If we go back to our roots—our idealism as young, wide-eyed medical students—we remember how we wanted to take care of patients unfettered by issues of insurance coverage, deductibles, and referral paperwork. Until health care reform occurs, however, that ideal is unlikely to become reality any time soon. However, we CAN make a difference today by learning to advocate on behalf of our patients and our profession.

The AAN has taken a leadership role among medical professional organizations by investing time, money, and staff into advocacy. AAN members can now pick and choose how to actively support issues that are important to their patients and themselves through a variety of opportunities: from membership in the Legislative Affairs Committee to participating in the Palatucci Advocacy Leadership Forum, or lobbying legislators at Neurology on the Hill to responding to Vocus email alerts on critical neurologic issues as they come to the forefront of Congress.

I've had colleagues say that they're not interested in politics, or that they don't have the time to invest in learning about the issues or traveling to Washington, DC. So the AAN makes it easy by developing position statements on topics such as securing necessary neurologic care for combat veterans with traumatic brain injury, or stem cell transplants. These statements are easy to read, and well-balanced, so that regardless of your political inclinations, you can learn about the issues and decide where you stand. And if you can't come to Washington, DC, you can go to your state capitol with your patient advocacy groups to meet with legislators about the issues which would make your work more rewarding. You become a resource to your legislators, your patients appreciate the time you spend on their issues, and you get more referrals to your practice. It's a win-win situation.

My hope as we develop the Advocacy section of AAN.com is to be able to introduce you to some of the everyday heroes in neurology. People like Dr. John Booss, who was recently featured on PBS News Hour, advocating on behalf of combat veterans with traumatic brain injury and the importance of ensuring adequate neurologic and rehabilitation coverage for them. And Drs. Maureen Callahan and Jessica Lee, who are bringing neurology patient advocacy groups in Washington state to the table to talk about common themes in which they can speak with one loud voice. I hope also to introduce you to the staff in the AAN's Center for Health Policy; bright, motivated individuals who have tremendous depth of knowledge and are incredible resources to all of us who are lucky enough to have the opportunity to work with them. I also hope that we will interest you in issues relevant to your practice and, dare I say, enjoyment of neurology, and ultimately inspire you to participate at whatever level of advocacy with which you feel most comfortable.

So join me on this wonderful, exciting trip on which we are about to embark.