Editorial note: Pharma often features prominently in the U.S. political news, from Trump blaming pharma for the impeachment probe to lowering drug pricing. Medicines and health technologies play an integral role in health systems around the world. Thus, it's really important that we, professional women in pharma, play a role in advocacy. We can make an impact as experts on relevant topics as well as constituents affected by policies. But as busy professionals, how do we get involved with the causes we care about? I recently met Dr. JoEllen McBride, Advocacy Director of a local women in science group; I asked her to write this guest post to help women in pharma get started in advocacy.
“Stand for something. Make your life mean something. Start where you are with what you have. You are enough.” ― Germany Kent
How I got started with advocacy
When I started my PhD program in Physics, my offer letter stated that my stipend would be $22,000 for 9 months. After classes started, I was surprised to find out that I had to pay over $900 a semester in student fees out of this stipend. During my second year, I became my department’s Senator of our graduate and professional student government and found small ways to advocate for keeping student fees from increasing. For example, the student government rallied student support to stop a $100 Athletic fee increase from being brought to the fee committees.
The next year I became Treasurer and sat on the committees that approved student fee increases. I also used my data analysis and communication skills to compile data on minimum stipends at other universities. I successfully advocated for a $1000 increase in the minimum stipend for TAs. Treasurers after me continued my advocacy work and just last year, the university started including student fees in the tuition package for graduate students. The minimum stipend has also increased several times.
Editorial note: Getting started with advocacy is just one way to gain marketable skills outside the lab!
It was easy for me to be involved with graduate student government because I was already on campus and finished most of my coursework. Although I am now a mother and full-time employee, I find ways for advocacy in the spaces I am in and use the skills I’ve gained through my graduate work and jobs. There are, in your area, groups already doing work that you can lend your experience, skills, and energy.
How you can get started with advocacy
Below, I list some ways to effectively use your energy for advocacy. These are activities that I engage in depending on my energy levels, time, and abilities. These categories work for me, at this point in my life. Everyone is different and you might find some things easier than others and that those things will change as your life evolves. That’s fine! Anything you do is effective and enough. You have skills and experiences that are useful for shaping policy—and your community—for the better.
Start with low energy, quick advocacy
These are activities that take relatively little effort and don’t require you to leave your home or workplace. You can do almost all of these things using a computer or cell phone.
- Find local advocacy groups and follow them
- Your first step can be to Google for groups in your area already doing advocacy work. For example, if you care about climate change and how it will affect the production and distribution of life-saving medications, 350.org, Citizens Climate Lobby, and Sierra Club all have local chapters. Many major cities have groups dedicated to specific issues from healthcare access to gun reform. A quick Google search will take you to their websites. For example, I live near Philly and work there; groups like Reclaim Philadelphia and PennEnvironment makes it easy to stay up to date with local policy and actions. You could also look for patient advocacy groups in your area. Many, though, have come under scrutiny for accepting contributions from pharmaceutical companies.
- Then sign up for their newsletters and follow them on social media. This will keep you up to date with the actions they are taking and where they need help. These groups have dedicated people following legislation in your state or city and will put out calls for you to write or call your representatives in response to the relevant policy. I like email because I can delete them if I don’t have time this week for advocacy or unsubscribe altogether.
- Find out who represents you and bother them
- It’s also easy to find out who your reps are at all levels of government. All states have a website where you can input your address and determine who your state-level representatives are. You can also find information about your city or town council members on your county websites. Keep a document or spreadsheet with a list of links and phone numbers for easy reference.
- In order of effectiveness, calling (most effective!), faxing, mailing, and emailing are all quick ways to engage with your local politicians. Your state-level reps will be more responsive than the federal-level ones. Postcards don’t have to pass through security inspections so go straight to your reps. Social media is also a good way to engage and keep tabs on your rep's interests and committees. Knowing the committees your reps sit on is important because you as their constituent can encourage them to consider legislation that has been forwarded their way. Resistbot is a really easy way to shoot your reps a quick message.
- Keep in mind to always mention your zip code and town. Assistants keep tabs on who calls and what they call about. Your message won’t get relayed if they don’t know you are a constituent. Therefore, always begin your spiel with your location.
- Bug companies you consume from - It can be difficult to keep tabs on all the things the companies you purchase goods from invest in. It seems like every day you find out some company is spending money on things that hurt others or advance their profits instead of people’s safety. If boycotting is not something you can do, then writing, calling, or tweeting at these companies can go a long way to effect change. Many companies are getting rid of plastic bags or telling customers they can’t open carry because of public opinion. Also, the groups you subscribe to can give your voice that much more power to effect change. A successful example of this is all major banks divesting from for-profit prison companies.
Move on to medium energy, relevant advocacy
Advocacy, for me, gets more difficult when it requires me to be somewhere at a certain time. As a mom working a full-time job, I can’t attend events during work hours or after work. But there are still ways to have an impact on relevant issues.
- Vote - Get started with advocacy and vote in your local elections. This is medium energy because it’s not easy to get out of work to vote or make sure you have childcare. It also takes effort to learn about your local elections and candidates, although the internet is making that easier. Many of the local advocacy groups you subscribe to above will endorse candidates that align with their mission. Thus, keeping tabs on who they support can help you make decisions if information is scarce. Make sure you’re registered to vote.
- Attend Town Halls - Most reps hold Town Hall meetings that you can find out about by subscribing to their updates. Many also hold telephone town halls which are another way to participate.
- Help draft one-pagers - You can also help advocacy groups draft up one-pagers on topics where you can provide your expertise. Let's say a group is advocating for better healthcare or drug access; as a pharma professional, you can provide a useful perspective on drug development, costs, and/or how doctors and patients ultimately get access. You can use your knowledge to help groups identify where they can make recommendations for change.
- Write op-eds or blogs - You can also write op-eds or explainers for your local papers or your own blog on relevant issues that overlap with your expertise.
Editorial note: Interested in showcasing your expertise in a guest blog post? Contact us at Women in Pharma Careers!
- Serve on committees or organize at work/school - Work and school are great places to organize and advocate because you are already in an organizational structure. Many companies are creating office culture and environment committees to learn from employees about what changes they should make so that work is less stressful. If your company doesn’t have a similar advocacy group, ask your managers to see if you can get one started. If you’re the manager, start one! Something I like to do is hold teach-ins during events. During the Climate Strike on September 20th, I held a teach-in for co-workers in my office where I reviewed effective ways to advocate. We also discussed things we could ask our employers to do to move quickly away from fossil fuels and be more energy-efficient.
Commit to high energy, long-term advocacy
Life changes sometimes make it possible to give more time and energy to advocacy. While I was working part-time, it was much easier to physically participate in events. You never know how your life will look in a few years, so staying in touch with your local organizations is important.
- Give money - The local organizations could really use regular monthly donations. Even just $5 a month is significant and adds up.
- On the ground advocacy - Local organizations will also put out calls for volunteers to do things like canvas before elections, meet with reps, call local voters, or attend strikes and marches. These things require time, energy, and a dedicated group of people.
- Meet with your reps
- I have successfully scheduled meetings with my representatives during my lunch breaks. They love meeting with constituents. If you are an expert in something, they love to pick your brain.
- If you can be flexible with your location, many of the advocacy groups in your area will set up meetings with your reps for you. This is a win-win for them because with you as a constituent, they get access to your rep so that you can share their message. You can also attend their lobby days and attend meetings along with the group. It’s a really great bonding experience to lobby on Capitol Hill or your state legislature.
- Take on leadership roles - You can also take on a leadership role in the advocacy groups that you join. As a leader in advocacy, you can get started by organizing your own lobby days with representatives and tracking legislation. As the Advocacy Director for 500 Women Scientists Philadelphia pod, I am organizing a lobby day hosted by PA Senator Katie Muth. We are setting up meetings with our own reps and bringing the one-pagers we’ve been working on.
- Run for office - Running for office is a huge commitment but more scientists, engineers, and technologists are doing it. Organizations will help you run for office if you are interested.
About our guest author
Dr. JoEllen McBride is a mom, science communicator, and astrophysicist whose main purpose is to make science inclusive and accessible to anyone that wants to participate. She earned her PhD in Physics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 2016. Dr. McBride was a AAAS Mass Media Fellow at Voice of America in Washington D.C. and an adjunct faculty member in the physics department at West Chester University. She currently works as communications and stewardship staff writer for Penn Medicine. She is also the Advocacy Director for the 500 Women Scientists Philly Pod, a board member of the American Helicopter Museum, and a member of the AAS Committee on the Status of Women in Astronomy.