How YOU Can Raise Your Voice for Family Medicine in 2025
UAFP is preparing for what may be one of the most impactful legislative sessions yet. Now more than ever, we need Utah family physicians to learn how to speak out on behalf of their profession, their patients, and public health. UAFP has a number of ways you can be engaged:
- Join the UAFP Legsilative Advocacy Committee
- The committee holds zoom calls to go over newly released bills, discuss positions, and determine the positions–either for or against– UAFP will take as it conducts its legislative advocacy work. Calls are scheduled for one evening each week of the session (cancelled if nothing to discuss), and committee members occasionally weigh in on policy discussions throughout the year. Get involved — your input is critical and helps UAFP be strong voice on the Hill for Utah family physicians!
- The committee holds zoom calls to go over newly released bills, discuss positions, and determine the positions–either for or against– UAFP will take as it conducts its legislative advocacy work. Calls are scheduled for one evening each week of the session (cancelled if nothing to discuss), and committee members occasionally weigh in on policy discussions throughout the year. Get involved — your input is critical and helps UAFP be strong voice on the Hill for Utah family physicians!
- Stay up to date on the bills we are tracking, a summary of each bill, and whether UAFP supports, opposes or will remain neutral on. View our bill tracker online here.
- Want to be a part of the legislative session action? Sign up to accompany UAFP CEO and primary lobbyist, Maryann Martindale, for a visit to Capitol Hill. Attend a personalized advocacy training at the capitol.
- Watch a committee hearing or a floor debate
- Meet with your legislators
- Follow all the action of the session
- Get the inside scoop on all things legislative!
- Learn about policy and advocacy at your own pace with our online Healthcare Advocacy Training Are you interested in healthcare advocacy and want to learn more? We’ve created some easy-to-follow training modules. These are modules that can be watched sequentially or in any order of interest.
- Intro to Advocacy – if you’re new to advocacy or need a quick refresher.
- UAFP Advocacy – this module explains the three pillars of UAFP advocacy with examples of policies UAFP has successfully advocated for.
- Legislative 101 – for those looking to advocate with legislators, this module will walk you through the details of legislative advocacy.
- Express Yourself – looking to write an opinion piece or a letter-to-the-editor? Module 4 explains the process with all the necessary details to write and submit your letter.
- Getting in the Game – this module is for those ready to engage with opportunities for involvement and action items to follow.
Engaging with legislators is a key part of UAFP’s work during the session, and we encourage family medicine residents, as well as all member types, to join us on the hill. Last week, we were pleased to welcome Dr. Branden Buffington, a third-year resident at St. Mark’s Family Medicine Residency. Dr. Buffington (pictured right) is shown with his representative, Rep. Grant Miller (H-24).