Advocacy Skills for Neurologists: Legislative Engagement and Public Communication*
Date: October 18, 2026
Time: 7:30 am to 9:00 am
Room: Coral 1
Track: Professional Development Workshop - Early Career & Early to Mid-Career Level
Session Description
Neurologists increasingly face policy, regulatory, and public communication challenges that directly affect patient care, research funding, workforce sustainability, and health equity. This session will equip participants with practical advocacy skills to effectively engage legislators, influence health policy, and communicate clearly with the public and media. Participants will learn how to translate clinical and scientific expertise into compelling, policy-relevant messages; build productive relationships with policymakers and institutional leaders; and confidently represent the field of neurology in public and media settings.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this session, attendees will be able to:
- Define the neurologist’s role in patient, professional, and systems-level advocacy.
- Identify effective strategies for communicating with institutional leaders, policymakers, media representatives, and community stakeholders.
- Apply advocacy frameworks to address barriers to neurological care, improve access, and advance health equity.
Speakers
- (Chair) Mary Alissa Willis, MD, FAAN, FANA
- (Co-Chair) Jennifer Orthmann-Murphy, MD, PhD
- (Speaker) Amy Guzik, MD, FAHA, FAAN, FANA
- (Speaker) Jason Sico, MD, MHS, FANA, FAAN, FAHS, FAHA, FACP
- (Speaker) Divya Singhal, MD, FAAN
Legislative Engagement and Public Communication
Description
Neurologists and other healthcare professionals play an important role in shaping public policy, advancing access to care, and improving the health of the communities they serve. Yet many clinicians are unsure how to effectively engage with legislators, communicate with the public, or translate their expertise into meaningful advocacy. Understanding the fundamentals of legislative engagement and public communication can help healthcare professionals amplify their voices and drive change on issues that affect patients, providers, and the healthcare system.
This presentation will explore practical strategies for turning advocacy goals into action through legislative engagement and public outreach. Participants will learn how to identify policy priorities, develop effective relationships with elected officials and stakeholders, and communicate key messages that resonate with decision-makers and the public. The session will also highlight opportunities for engagement at the local, state, and national levels, including legislative visits, grassroots advocacy, media interactions, opinion writing, and social media engagement. Real-world examples will illustrate how clinicians can influence policy, raise awareness, and advance initiatives that improve neurologic care and patient outcomes.
Attendees will leave with a greater understanding of the advocacy process and practical tools to engage policymakers, communicate effectively with diverse audiences, and become stronger advocates for their patients, profession, and communities.
Making Your Pitch: Knowing Your Message, Knowing Your Audience, Knowing How to Make it Count
Description
Whether advocating for research funding, institutional support, policy change, or new initiatives, the ability to deliver a compelling message is an essential leadership skill for academic neurologists. Effective advocacy requires more than a strong idea—it depends on understanding your audience, communicating with purpose, and presenting evidence that inspires action.
This presentation will provide practical strategies for crafting persuasive advocacy messages by identifying audience priorities, tailoring communication to different stakeholders, and using the right evidence to strengthen your case. Participants will learn how to frame their message for maximum impact, anticipate questions and concerns, and deliver pitches that resonate with institutional leaders, policymakers, funding organizations, and collaborators. Topics will also include techniques for communicating with confidence and adapting messaging to achieve specific advocacy goals.
Attendees will leave with actionable tools to develop clear, compelling messages, engage diverse audiences effectively, and make persuasive pitches that advance their professional objectives and strengthen advocacy efforts within academic neurology.
Why Neurologists Must Advocate: A Wellness Lens
Description
Dr. Singhal will make the case for why neurologists are uniquely positioned — and needed — to advocate not only for patients, but for the well-being of the workforce that cares for them. Drawing on her leadership of national wellness initiatives and the AAN’s Women in Neurology section, she will explore how burnout, workforce sustainability, and health equity are advocacy issues requiring neurologist voices at every level, from institutional leadership to federal health policy.
This interactive session will use panel discussion to practice translating personal and professional wellness concerns into effective advocacy conversations with institutional leaders and policymakers. Attendees will leave with hands-on experience framing wellness-focused advocacy messages and the confidence to apply these skills in their own institutions.
