Medical schools, academic health systems and teaching hospitals transform the lives of Americans every day. Whether it’s by developing cutting-edge treatments, providing world-class patient care, training tomorrow’s health workforce, or creating jobs that strengthen communities, academic medicine touches us all.
The AAMC is leading national efforts to advocate for policies that strengthen academic medicine. Your local action is critical to amplify this work and show policymakers the real-world impact academic medicine has on their own communities. This toolkit includes user-friendly materials and resources that AAMC constituents can use to advocate for and help others understand the value of academic medicine.
If you have any questions about these resources, please contact Cate Shockey, AAMC senior director of enterprise communications, at cshockey@aamc.org.
From investing in graduate medical education to making medical school more accessible, hear what members of the academic medicine community want policymakers to know in our new video. Encourage members of the academic medicine community to share their stories with Capitol Hill here.
America’s teaching hospitals, academic health systems and medical schools form the foundation our health care system is built on. The AAMC has refreshed our Value of Academic Medicine website with updated data, stories, videos and more to show how academic medicine is improving the health of people everywhere.
Academic medicine is at a turning point. Proposed federal actions could disrupt research, physician training, & patient care — but there’s still time to act. On June 11, the AAMC released a report calling on policymakers to protect the health of our nation. The report examines the cumulative impact of federal actions proposed by Congress and the administration on academic medicine.
As part of Academic Medicine Week, the AAMC produced a new short video that spotlights several of the many medical breakthroughs and treatments that have emerged from academic medicine, asking the viewer to imagine a world without them.
View the video
From cancer research that has saved 3.1 million lives since 1991 to pediatric ICU units serving our most critical patients, medical schools, academic health systems and teaching hospitals are improving the health of people everywhere.
We need your help to show policymakers and the public why investing in academic medicine is critical. Share how your institution is providing expert patient care, making new research discoveries, innovating in medical education, creating jobs or serving your community. Use these key messages help ground your story.
Local media coverage makes the value of academic medicine personal and tangible. By telling stories about how medical schools, academic health systems and teaching hospitals are improving the health of people everywhere, you can help build public support and influence policymakers who are paying close attention to what's happening in their districts.
You can help build public support and influence policymakers by:
Pitching a story to local newspapers, TV, or radio about how academic medicine plays a pivotal role in the U.S. health care system and economy — emphasizing that academic medicine contributes $728B to the economy annually and supports 7.1 million jobs
Highlighting real patients, providers, or families whose lives or livelihood are impacted by academic medicine. Share compelling, personal stories that illustrate what medical schools, academic health systems and teaching hospitals make possible—from innovative cancer care to clinical trials to treat Alzheimer's and related dementias
Writing an op-ed or letter to the editor that explains the real-life consequences of funding cuts to medical schools, academic health systems and teaching hospitals
Inviting journalists to visit a medical school or teaching hospital, giving them a chance to meet frontline staff and patients
Local stories matter, especially to elected officials watching their districts closely.
Academic medicine exists to serve patients — those fighting cancer, managing chronic illness, or seeking hope through clinical trials. The videos below reveal how academic medicine is improving the lives of patients and communities. Click to watch and share.
The sample social media posts below are designed to be easy-to-use and customizable for storytelling by your institutions. Be sure to tag your elected officials—and the AAMC—so we can help amplify your messages through our advocacy and communications channels.
Suggested hashtag: #StartsInAcademicMedicine
Twitter/X
Advances in patient care. Breakthrough treatments. Training tomorrow's doctors. It all #StartsInAcademicMedicine. At [INSTITUTION NAME], we are [DESCRIPTION/LINK ABOUT ACADEMIC MEDICINE].
From clinical trials to treat Alzheimer's disease to cancer research that has saved 3.8 million lives since 1991 — it all #StartsInAcademicMedicine. Learn how [INSTITUTION NAME] is [INNOVATING/RESEARCHING]: [LINK].
#DYK Academic Medicine supports 7.1 million jobs across the country? Not only do our nation’s medical schools, academic health systems & teaching hospitals serve patients; they drive the economy forward, too. #StartsInAcademicMedicine
Academic Medicine contributes $728 billion to the economy annually, creating jobs that support American families and benefit local schools and businesses. #StartsInAcademicMedicine
64% of pediatric ICU beds are at teaching hospitals. What #StartsInAcademicMedicine saves millions of lives, including our most vulnerable patients.
From Level 1 trauma centers to pediatric ICUs, academic health systems & teaching hospitals provide care patients can’t get elsewhere. Learn how we are serving patients: [LINK] #StartsInAcademicMedicine
With 99,000 students enrolled in MD programs, medical schools are training the doctors who will meet the needs of the American people today and tomorrow. A strong physician workforce #StartsInAcademicMedicine.
When policymakers invest in academic medicine, they invest in the future of our physician workforce. Learn more: [DESCRIPTION/LINK]. #StartsInAcademicMedicine
LinkedIn/Facebook
Advances in patient care. Breakthrough treatments. Training tomorrow’s doctors. Our nation’s medical schools, academic health systems and teaching hospitals — collectively known as academic medicine — improve the health of our communities and even serve as vital economic engines, generating 7.1 million jobs and adding $798 billion to the nation’s economy.
At [INSTITUTION NAME], we're [DESCRIPTION/LINK about your work].
Better health #StartsInAcademicMedicine.
Download ready-to-use graphics for Instagram, LinkedIn, and Twitter/X to share across your institution’s channels.
How to download: Right-click on any image and select "Save image as..." to save it to your device.
Medical Research
Twitter/X and LinkedIn:
Instagram:
Economic Contributions
Patient Care
Medical Education
Visit the AAMC’s grassroots action page to send a message to your member of Congress about policies that have a wide-ranging impact on academic medicine.
An infographic on the intertwined missions of academic medicine
A data snapshot on clinical benefits of nonprofit academic health systems
Video excerpts from our Congressional community benefit briefing
An opportunity to share stories that showcase the vital role of nonprofit academic health systems and teaching hospitals in communities nationwide
A webpage about the unique role nonprofit academic health systems and teaching hospitals play in their community
The AAMC’s reconciliation priorities letter (February 2025)
Clinical reconciliation key messages (April 2025)
Medicaid financing position statements (April 2025)
The AAMC joined a letter in coalition with the Federation of Associations of Schools of the Health Professions (March 2025)
The AAMC joined a letter with the Public Service Loan Forgiveness coalition (April 2025)
United for Medical Research’s 2023 Update: The NIH’s Role in Sustaining the U.S. Economy
2022 Economic Impact of AAMC Medical Schools and Teaching Hospitals
AAMC Research Policy and Priorities (includes links and more resources)
The AAMC remains steadfast in its commitment to confront critical challenges to academic medicine. Explore the resources below to learn more and take action.
Student Aid and Medicaid
AAMC Statement on Proposed Changes to Student Aid in House Budget Reconciliation Bill
Federal Student Aid - AAMC Action
AAMC Statement on Proposed Cuts to Medicaid in House Budget Reconciliation Bill (May 12)
AAMC Statement on the President’s Budget Request Preview (May 2)
Indirect Costs
National Organizations Announce Joint Effort to Develop a New Indirect Costs Funding Model
Medical Research Funding
AAMC Statement on the President’s Budget Request Preview
AAMC Statement on Amicus Brief Filed in NIH Grants Termination Lawsuit
AAMC Lawsuit Results in Nationwide Temporary Restraining Order on Proposed Drastic Cuts to NIH Funding
AAMCNews: How uncertainty around cuts to scientific research is impacting the future biomedical research workforce
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