The Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA), Physicians for a National Health Program (PNHP), White Coats for Black Lives (WC4BL), and Student Physicians for Social Responsibility (SPSR) tabled in the Harold Alfond Center for Health Sciences to punctuate the importance of voting. Secretary for SOMA, Jenna Wozer, OMS-II, states, “in general people trust doctors; however, the turnout for physicians and medical students at the polls is considerably low. There is a huge potential for physicians to be effective and engaged in their communities, and the aim is to educate the student population of the responsibility and importance of being involved and leading by example.”
Jenna and second-year student, Sam Culver, current President of the student chapter of SOMA, volunteered their time and provided the resources to help medical students register to vote and make casting absentee ballots easy and accessible. According to Sam, “absentee ballots are a real barrier for students.” She quotes a recent study that asserts that millennials are not voting because they don’t know where to buy stamps to send absentee ballots. “Politically speaking,” she continues, “the November election will bring on many changes, no matter your party affiliation. It is important for students and physicians to educate themselves on local elections and research what the issues are and decide who they want to vote for.” Both Sam and Jenna are hoping that students will choose to become more involved with their local environment.
WHITE COATS TAKE ON CIVIC RESPONSIBILITY
COM students outside Senator Susan Collins’ office in Biddeford, ME