Our Mission
In the past decade alone, the world of health policy has undergone drastic changes. Millions of uninsured Americans lack adequate healthcare coverage, prices for basic medical procedures have skyrocketed to unprecedented levels, and with the historic overturning of Roe V. Wade, the Supreme Court has eliminated the constitutional right to abortion for women.
Through the turmoil, we’ve all experienced deep, piercing emotion. Exasperation, resentment, and pure dread, to name a few. However, rather than accepting defeat and perpetuating complacency, we must harness this passion and intellectualism to build a better tomorrow. As the future of the United States, our words and our anger matter, which is why we created Nightingale Advocacy: an organization that actively works to empower youth to take real and decisive political action. Remember that ultimately, we are responsible for crafting the future. Let’s make every step count.
At Nightingale, we believe that political courage is not partisanship nor performative activism. Rather, it is the willingness to accept that change is necessary and that stagnancy in the face of injustice is never a viable option.
Doctors are often placed in unique policy positions, and students entering the biomedical field have a responsibility to educate themselves on such policies. Currently, 35% of physicians do not participate in any form of advocacy, health-oriented or otherwise¹, largely because the same passion they have for their profession often doesn’t extend to public policy. Similarly, lawyers are inherently bound to the principle of justice itself, and as such, ought to be informed on what that justice actually looks like.
As we, the people— or alternatively, as we, the future of the United States— slowly begin to fill these positions in the workforce, it is imperative that we equip ourselves with the necessary tools to galvanize change.
Join Nightingale to create change in the status quo: together, we can build a better tomorrow.
1. Blumenthal, David. “Public Roles of U.S. Physicians: Community Participation, Political Involvement, and Collective Advocacy.” The Commonwealth Fund.
Our Mission
In the past decade alone, the world of health policy has undergone drastic changes. Millions of uninsured Americans lack adequate healthcare coverage, prices for basic medical procedures have skyrocketed to unprecedented levels, and with the historic overturning of Roe V. Wade, the Supreme Court has eliminated the constitutional right to abortion for women.
Through the turmoil, we’ve all experienced deep, piercing emotion. Exasperation, resentment, and pure dread, to name a few. However, rather than accepting defeat and perpetuating complacency, we must harness this passion and intellectualism to build a better tomorrow. As the future of the United States, our words and our anger matter, which is why we created Nightingale Advocacy: an organization that actively works to empower youth to take real and decisive political action. Remember that ultimately, we are responsible for crafting the future. Let’s make every step count.
At Nightingale, we believe that political courage is not partisanship nor performative activism. Rather, it is the willingness to accept that change is necessary and that stagnancy in the face of injustice is never a viable option.
Doctors are often placed in unique policy positions, and students entering the biomedical field have a responsibility to educate themselves on such policies. Currently, 35% of physicians do not participate in any form of advocacy, health-oriented or otherwise¹, largely because the same passion they have for their profession often doesn’t extend to public policy. Similarly, lawyers are inherently bound to the principle of justice itself, and as such, ought to be informed on what that justice actually looks like.
As we, the people— or alternatively, as we, the future of the United States— slowly begin to fill these positions in the workforce, it is imperative that we equip ourselves with the necessary tools to galvanize change.
Join Nightingale to create change in the status quo: together, we can build a better tomorrow.
1. Blumenthal, David. “Public Roles of U.S. Physicians: Community Participation, Political Involvement, and Collective Advocacy.” The Commonwealth Fund.
Nightingale's Origins
Florence Nightingale was a prominent nurse during the 19th century who saved the lives of thousands of soldiers and revolutionized healthcare as we know it today. One of the first leaders of medical advocacy, Nightingale organized training for district nurses that aimed to provide medical services for the underprivileged, established the first scientifically based nursing school that created career opportunities for women, and spent her whole life driving social reform. The rufous nightingale bird— known for its powerful yet melodious bird call— also serves as a poignant representation of what our organization stands for. Similar to how a nightingale warbles its hauntingly beautiful song through the darkest hours of the night, Nightingale Advocacy calls for real health policy change in the turbulent political atmosphere of today.
Past Initiatives
Organization-Wide Conference
With 177 Nightingale members signing up for our inaugural conference, we held an online webinar hosting 8 experts in the field of healthcare policy. Presentations, workshops, discussions, and career planning sessions took place in order to educate students on current medical/legislative issues, talk through potential solutions, and prepare Nightingale members to be future leaders in the world of medical advocacy.
Political Email Campaign
Members had the opportunity to utilize their voice in order to influence critical policy decisions during the Nightingale Advocacy Political Email Campaign. In just two weeks, we sent over 13,000 messages to local, state, and national legislators that targeted critical healthcare policies related to reproductive rights, medication access, mental health, and other relevant healthcare policy issues.
Wellness Within Reach.
Harnessing the support of our entire chapter base in fall of 2023, we conducted the “Wellness Within Reach” fundraising initiative. Through strategized outreach, officers and members alike requested donations to support the healthcare equity and affordability efforts of PolicyLink. Thanks to their efforts, Nightingale raised over $8.1K for legislative efforts to improve our healthcare systems of today.
Battling Barriers Fundraiser.
This fall season, we mobilized our Nightingale leaders to focus on a specified cause: high drug prices. This especially placed a toll on youth and young adults with chronic illnesses, many of whom needed support from their families. Through in-person events, partnerships, and contacts, we raised $11,249 through the hard work of our youth advocates.