Preparing surgeons for advocacy: A framework for trainees

The need for surgical advocacy has never been greater. Consequently, there is a critical demand for a structured framework to cultivate competent surgeon-advocates. Effective surgeon-advocates require intentional training and education not only in clinical settings but also in political settings, where key advocacy skills such as legislative petitioning, public speaking, and multimedia communications are critical to success. Early exposure to health policy, health disparities, and system-based interventions further enhances this preparation. Aspiring surgical advocates need opportunities to translate research findings into tangible advocacy efforts, using data-driven approaches to develop impactful interventions. Furthermore, the training of surgeon-advocates requires social capital gained through collaborative partnerships with communities. By cultivating these skills in surgical trainees, the next generation of surgeon-advocates will be better positioned to enhance the integrity of our discipline and address ever-increasing public health crises. The University of Chicago Surgical Advocacy Fellowship was designed as a model that could be applied more broadly to surgical training programs committed to and educating trainees to pursue careers in surgical advocacy.