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Local Directors of Political Affairs and Position Responsibility
Omega Beta Iota, the National Osteopathic Political Action Honor Society
D.O. Day on the Hill: April 24, 2008
OPAC Scholarships
SOMA Political Action Training Course
Osteopathic Health Policy Internship (OHPI) Program
Additional helpful links
Reports from the National SOMA Director of Political Affairs
Position Responsibilities for National SOMA Director of Political Affairs
Position Responsibilities for Local SOMA Director of Political Affairs
Each SOMA chapter should have a Director of Political Affairs. The candidate can be selected either by election or appointment. Like any position, the effectiveness of this position will depend upon the person. The position is designed to be relatively low key; the vast majority of the time there will be few ‘mandated activities’ beyond what is taken on by individual. The general recommended responsibilities are as follows:
- Inform students of pertinent local political issues, events, and news. Is a politician putting on a ‘townhall meeting on healthcare’? Is there a presidential debate in town? Put on your white coats and go! Scan the local news for events like these and inform the student body of them, email or the school bulletin board is a great resource.
- All politics is local! Work with your state osteopathic society. Send them an email telling them who you are and your position. Ask them if there are any events they need volunteers for or if they would like to come speak to the student body. Examine the possibility of a state ‘DO Day on the hill’, at your state capital. What local political issues are facing your school? Ask your Dean!
- Remain in contact with national OPAC, the AOA, and the National SOMA Director of Political Affairs. Mostly we will be contacting you to let you know about events in your area or prominent AOA political people coming to your school (invite them!). However, always feel free to contact us if you have questions, issues that merit national attention, or any other reason.
- Promote the AOA’s $1000 scholarship to the most politically active student and $1000 scholarship to the most politically active chapter. Write an article about a local political event DO students attended (with pictures) and we’ll put it on this website, the SOMA newsletter, or even try to get it in the DO magazine.
- Assist the SOMA officers with DO Day on the Hill and attend if possible.
- Encourage debate and the generation of student opinion on political matters. Are all students registered voters? What issues matter to students?
- Have fun!!
The following are the 2007-8 local SOMA chapter directors of political affairs:
Omega Beta Iota, the National Osteopathic Political Action Honor Society
Background information
Outline of requirements
Student application form
Physician application form
OBI Constitution
Are you a politically active Osteopathic Medical Student or Osteopathic Physician? Get recognized! Apply to the ΩΒΙ honor society. Applications for 2008 induction must be POSTMARKED February 29, 2008. Please send completed applications to:
Dana Block, National Director of ΩΒΙ, NSUCOM, Division of Student Services, 3200 S University Drive, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33328.
For additional information, please contact your local SOMA chapter leaders or Matt Weigand, SOMA National Director of Political Affairs, at
politicalaffairs@studentdo.com.
D.O. Day on the Hill: 2009
More details will follow soon:
Student DO Day Q & A
What to Expect at DO Day
D.O. Day on the Hill is an annual event, usually held in April, where AOA leadership, osteopathic physicians, and osteopathic medical students convene in Washington, DC to lobby legislators on issues important to the osteopathic profession, physicians, students, and patients. It is an awesome opportunity for members of the osteopathic community to join together and lobby federal legislators and their staff members face-to-face.
Last year (2007) over 600 osteopathic medical students attended each year! We make quite an impact when we walk around Washington, D.C. in our white coats!
Registration: information on registration will be posted on SOMA's website when it is distributed. Check the AOA's website, www.do-online.org, under the "Advocacy" section for updates as well!
Students participating in
D.O. Day should plan to arrive
in Washington, DC on the
night of Wednesday, April 23rd to be able to participate in the
required morning legislative briefing session scheduled on
Thursday, April 24th.
Additionally, student
briefing will be held the night
of April 23rd. While participation in this event is
optional, we encourage as many students to attend as possible. We request
your support in making allowable adjustments to your academic calendar to
accommodate those students who choose to be involved. We know that the
curriculum of all our schools have varying needs and demands throughout the
academic year, but we hope that you will support your students'
involvement in D.O. Day on
Capitol Hill.
Please stay on through the weekend to participate in some of the daytime SOMA convention programs as well as SOMA social activities at night! If you would like to participate in the SOMA convention, please fill out the registration form on www.studentdo.com or ask your local SOMA chapter leaders for registration materials. This registration is separate from that for D.O. Day on the Hill.
SOMA chapters are encouraged to help facilitate student participation in D.O. Day on the Hill by fundraising, providing transportation, etc.
The particular issues to be lobbied in 2008 have not yet been determined. When they are determined, information will be made available on the SOMA website as well as www.do-online.org.
Be on the lookout for a series of power point presentations to be given (by SOMA chapters) to those students interested in attending D.O. Day on the Hill. Completion of this Political Action Training Course will place students one step closer to induction into Omega Beta Iota!
If you have any questions, please direct them to Matt Weigand, SOMA National Director of Political Affairs, at
politicalaffairs@studentdo.com or
Leann Fox, Director of Washington Advocacy and Communications in the AOA
Government Relations Office at (202) 414-0140 or lfox@osteopathic.org.
Reasons to participate in D.O. Day on the Hill (by Alfredo Rabines):
This is a chance to actively participate in democracy. You will meet with your members of congress and discuss vital information relating to health care in this country.
You will forge invaluable networks with leaders in your state, leaders in your school, leaders within the AOA, and with your fellow students from all over the country.
This is an opportunity to learn from experienced lobbyists how to be an affective advocate.
As a student you know how important funding for higher education is. You can tell your Congress member about the importance of re-authorizing the Higher Education Affordability and Equity Act (HEAEA Act).
Another benefit is that you will be an expert on the subject by the time you leave and will be prepared to discuss the issue on a local level too!
What to expect at your first D.O. Day on the Hill (by Alfredo Rabines):
Expect anything; you never know where a meeting will take place or exactly who will be there. Example: You may get an impromptu tour of the Capitol as the Legislative Assistant, aide to the Congressman, tries to find a room to meet in. The meeting may be very brief, 5-minute meetings in the hallway with your Congressman, in between their meetings is not uncommon. Expect to initially hold a meeting with the Legislative Assistant. Hopefully, you'll get to also meet with your Congressman, but their schedules don't always allow this.
Don't be intimidated by the physicians in your group. They've been at this a lot longer than you have and have more personal experience with the issues. However, that does not mean that you should just sit back and let them do all of the talking. Be proactive and jump in when you feel comfortable! Students can contribute a different perspective on the issues: how the issues will affect us in the future, how these issues might affect what specialty we decide to go into, and where we decide to practice. We are the future of the osteopathic profession and the issues that we are lobbying for now will affect us in the future. They will also affect our patients, which is another thing to keep in mind!
Make sure to be as knowledgeable about the issue at hand as you can be. This will help you to feel more comfortable. You can do this by reading the briefings from the AOA. In the case of medical liability reform, be familiar with the 6 principles that we support. Also, try to have a feel of how these issues are affecting the area that you'll be representing. Real-life examples add a lot more power to your lobbying.
You never know who will make up your group. Some groups may be all students with no physicians (this has happened in the past), so just be prepared.
If you have questions about anything, feel free to ask someone! The physicians are usually very friendly and helpful. You can find someone from the AOA and ask them questions, or you can try to find students who have attended D.O. Day on Capitol Hill before and ask them anything you want!
If you have business cards, bring them. Most people will be leaving their cards with their Senators and Representatives.
WEAR COMFORTABLE SHOES!!! You will be doing a LOT of walking!
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! Share your experiences!!!
Bring your camera!
BRING YOUR WHITE COAT! (Usually when this message is sent out, it means that there is going to be a press conference!)
HAVE FUN!!!
OPAC Scholarships
Two prestigeous scholarships offered by OPAC. $1000 for the most politically active chapter. $1000 for the most politically active student. Apply for 2008 by Wednesday 4pm on April 23rd submit to Keith via email (KStuddard@osteopathic.org) or fax (202-544-3525).
2008 Campus Scholarship
2008 Student Scholarship
SOMA Political Action Training Course (by Dana Block)
(NOTE: For the 2008 DO Day on the Hill our only confirmed lobbying subjects are Medicare reimbursement and Obesity. As of now, 4/21/08. The AOA's briefings on these subjects can be found here). - Travis)
Part 1 of the SOMA Political Action Training Course: US Government, Case Presentation
Part 2 of the SOMA Political Action Training Course: How-To Guide, Becoming an Awesome OMS-L
Part 3 of the SOMA Political Action Training Course: D.O. Day Specifics
Osteopathic Health Policy Internship (OHPI) Program
The OHPI is a program enabling two osteopathic medical students to spend one month in each of the government relations departments of the AOA and AACOM. Throughout the intern's two months, he/she will attend various meetings and hearings, conduct health policy research, and obtain hands-on experience within the federal legislative setting. A stipend is provided, and any osteopathic medical student in good standing is able to apply for an OHPI position.
For additional information, visit the OHPI website: https://www.do-online.org/index.cfm?PageID=gov_ohpi
Additional helpful links:
GOAL (Grassroots Osteopathic Advocacy Link) signup: www.capwiz.com/aoa-aoia/mlm/signup
www.everypatientcounts.org
D.O. Advocacy Action Center (write to your legislators, track Senate and House bills, review elections and candidates, etc): http://capwiz.com/aoa-aoia/home/
Join OPAC (osteopathic political action committee) Student Chairmen's Club here.
Sign up for AOAI here.
Reports from National SOMA Director of Political Affairs
April 2008 Political Affairs Report to Chapters
September 2007 National Political Update and SOMA political survey results
July 2007 National Political Update
July 2006 National Political Update
October 2006 National Political Update
July 2006 Report to Chapters
October 2006 Report to Chapters
Position Responsibilities for National SOMA Director of Political Affairs:
Be familiar with all issues and projects relating to national legislation that has potential impact on SOMA, osteopathic medicine, or osteopathic medical students in general. Inform SOMA members of such issues.
Coordinate letter-writing, phone, or other lobbying efforts in support of or against any federal legislation affecting the above, as determined by National SOMA and/or the SOMA House of Delegates.
Lead any program in which SOMA is legislatively involved at the federal level. Contact Chapter Presidents so that local SOMA members can be informed of and assist in these matters.
Work directly with the AOA Washington Bureau office to stay informed of current osteopathic political topics. Communicate monthly with this office to inform them of SOMA's national activities promoting political development. Attend monthly AOA conference calls (3rd Monday of every month).
Promote the osteopathic political affairs honor society to SOMA members nationwide. Encourage participation and involvement in the society and coordinate the induction of new members, which should be held in conjunction with D.O. Day on the Hill and the SOMA Spring Convention.
Work directly with the AOA Washington Bureau Office to coordinate the annual D.O. Day on the Hill event.
Attend the annual D.O. Day on the Hill in Washington, D.C. and encourage SOMA members nationwide to participate in the event.
Chair the SOMA Political Affairs Committee.
Work to increase student enrollment and active participation in OPAC (osteopathic political action committee), GOAL (grassroots osteopathic advocacy link), everypatientcounts.org, and other formal/grassroots political organizations dedicated to improving our osteopathic political environment.
Inform SOMA members and local chapters about the federal process of bill introduction, ratification, and passage. Keep SOMA members updated as to what they can do to write, change, or influence such legislation.
Work with other student, professional, and political organizations to enhance the political development of SOMA and its members.
Develop relationships with individuals that possess the resources that could further the progress of SOMA's Political Affairs program by acting as committee advisors.
Maintain contact with the COSGP (Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents) National Chairperson in order to work with the Council on any pertinent political issues.
Maintain contact with the AOA and AACOM so as to stay informed and work together on any pertinent political issues.
If possible, attend relevant political/legislative conferences to represent and promote SOMA and osteopathic medicine as well as to receive new and pertinent legislative information.
Suggestions, feedback, questions, speaking request??? Please contact
Matt Weigand, SOMA National Director of Political Affairs, at politicalaffairs@studentdo.com
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