From L.A. to the Capitol: FutureMedLA Helps Medical Students Find Their Voice

More than 20 medical students from Los Angeles traveled to Sacramento this month to take part in CMA’s 52nd Legislative Advocacy Day, representing LACMA and stepping into one of the most important dimensions of physician leadership: advocacy.

Their participation was made possible with funding from FutureMedLA and the Cooperative of American Physicians.

For these students, the experience was about far more than a day at the Capitol. It was a chance to see firsthand how laws and public policy shape the future of medicine, influence patient access, and affect the communities they hope to serve. Surrounded by physicians, residents and fellow students from across California, they witnessed the strength of organized medicine and the importance of speaking up for patients and the profession. CMA said more than 400 physicians, residents and medical students attended the April 8 event to advocate directly with lawmakers on issues affecting patient access, physician practices and emerging healthcare challenges. 

Throughout the day, attendees met with legislators on key priorities including patient safety, automatic downcoding, AI deepfakes in healthcare, and opposition to expanded naturopathic scope of practice. Just as important, they heard a clear message from physician leaders: advocacy is not separate from medicine. It is part of it. CMA leaders emphasized that physician engagement remains one of the most effective tools in shaping policy and protecting patients. 

That is why this matters.

FutureMedLA is committed to helping medical students grow not only as future clinicians, but as future leaders. By supporting these Los Angeles students, FutureMedLA helped open the door to an experience that will stay with them long after medical school, one that showed them their voice matters, their perspective is needed, and their leadership can make a difference.

This is the kind of investment that shapes the future. Not only for the students themselves, but for the patients and communities they will one day serve across Los Angeles.

"This past Legislative Day was my first opportunity to meet with legislators, and the experience was invaluable to me because I felt like I was able to amplify my past patients’ voices and share their stories and perspectives with policymakers. Additionally, I deeply valued the opportunity to connect with fellow healthcare professionals from all over California to exchange our personal experiences and consider the impact of certain policies through others’ lenses. I hope to continue attending similar legislative advocacy events throughout my professional career. I am grateful to the FutureMedLA Foundation for being willing to sponsor some funds for this year’s California Medical Association’s Legislative Day.

-Courtney Situ

College of Osteopathic Medicine of the Pacific, Class of 2029 Western University of Health Sciences