[vc_single_image image=”4562″ img_size=”medium” alignment=”center”]Media Contact:
Kelly Thibert, D.O., M.P.H., National President
American Medical Student Association
Email: pr@amsa.org
Sterling, VA – January 30, 2017: The American Medical Student Association (AMSA) has a mission that is built upon our members’ commitment to advocate for the improvement of healthcare and healthcare-delivery to all people. We believe that healthcare is a human right and as such, we will always advocate for the rights of our patients; including but not limited to healthcare.
Our patients are people from all walks of life and we, as physicians-in-training, appreciate and respect that we are afforded the opportunity to enter the lives of all people to assist in achieving and maintaining good health; ultimately aiding people in their journey toward living their lives to the greatest potential. Many of the patients we see already face barriers when it comes to accessing healthcare. The attack on immigrant communities through the signing of an executive order by President Trump last week has added yet another, unnecessary, deplorable barrier to accessing healthcare.
Furthermore, we recognize that many of our peers, physicians and scientists, are members of the immigrant community working hard to provide services and skills to those who need them and to advance the health of our nation. We will work just as hard to stand in solidarity with our colleagues and offer them our full support.
AMSA recognizes that there are still issues in healthcare regarding lack of a diverse workforce and deficiency of providers, specifically in rural and low-income areas of medical need. This ban will ultimately ensure that our country impedes the resolution of these issues, essentially guaranteeing that it remains difficult to find a healthcare provider.
We urge state and local leaders to exercise their authority to regulate for the safety and well-being of all residents, regardless of their race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, religion or immigration status. We call on the Trump administration to retract their order, acknowledging that this affects the health and well-being of people around the world and we, as physicians-in-training, are prepared to stand alongside our partners to fight back against hate and discrimination.
We strongly support efforts to stand against scaremongering, profiling and other discriminatory practices, and/or messaging that denigrates and/or depicts immigrant populations in such a light that leads towards marginalization as it relates to human rights and healthcare. We recognize that the health of our patients extends beyond the exam room, as do our duties as future physicians. We are here to stand for our patients, always.
About AMSA:
AMSA is the oldest and largest independent association of physicians-in-training in the United States. Founded in 1950, AMSA is a student-governed, non-profit organization committed to representing the concerns of physicians-in-training. To learn more about AMSA, our strategic priorities, or joining the organization, please visit us online at http://www.amsa.org.
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