Perspective: Physician advocacy: what is it and how do we do it?

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Professionalism
• Public Health Policy

Background:

• Physician advocacy is increasingly recognized as a vital aspect of medical professionalism by numerous medical organizations.
• However, the concept of physician advocacy remains ill-defined in terms of its conceptualization, scope, and practical application within medicine.
• This ambiguity hinders its integration as a core professional obligation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To propose a clear definition for physician advocacy.
• To delineate the spectrum of physician advocacy in common practice.
• To establish a foundation for a competency-based physician advocacy training model.

Main Methods:

• Literature review and synthesis of calls for physician advocacy in medical literature.
• Development of a proposed definition for physician advocacy.
• Analysis of biographies of prominent physician advocates to illustrate the range of advocacy practices.

Main Results:

• A proposed definition of physician advocacy is presented.
• The spectrum of physician advocacy, from individual patient support to broader policy influence, is described.
• The study outlines necessary changes in medical education for effective advocacy training.

Conclusions:

• Formalizing physician advocacy requires deliberate training in medical schools and graduate programs.
• Accrediting bodies should define specific advocacy competencies for physicians.
• Integrating advocacy training and practice opportunities is essential for all physicians.