Department of Pediatrics Advocacy Committee, Dell Medical School, University of Texas at Austin

Thank you for supporting the work of the 

Department of Pediatrics Advocacy Committee at Dell Medical School!

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The mission of the committee is to achieve optimal physical and mental health and well-being for all Central Texas children and families through a coordinated, collaborative effort that works synergistically across multiple pediatric specialties and disciplines. 

The committee has 5 domains of work: 1) Patient/Family, 2) Community, 3) Health Care Team/Workforce, 4)Health Care Systems and 5) Health Policy and Public Affairs.

Each domain has various projects that engage medical students, residents, fellows, and faculty in advocacy efforts aimed at meeting the needs of children in our community. Examples of the projects include working with community partners to support children in nature; providing educational seminars for the medical staff of Gardner Betts Juvenile Center; implementing various pediatric injury prevention programs; supporting and working with community partners to meet the social driver of health needs of our patients and families; developing a hospital resource to address food insecurity for our patients and families; and developing educational programs for medical students, residents, and all Dell Children's Medical Center associates.

OUR TEAM

Funds will be used by each domain to support their projects. Anticipated expenses includes providing remuneration for community members who dedicate time providing input and consultation on our efforts; supporting educational advocacy programs for hospital associates and community partners; hosting recruitment events; funding medical student attendance at national advocacy conferences sponsored, for example, by the American Academy of Pediatrics; and providing seed money for a potential hospital food pantry.