Educational Event Inspiration + Resources
What are your goals for your event? Education, advocacy, fundraising, training, connect with community organizations, push for national standards, or something else? This can help frame the event you’d like to organize!
These are some ideas from your fellow Chapter Presidents, with a special thanks to Mattie Renn. Let us know if you have come up with any others; we'd love to include them below!
Invite professors from your institution to speak about the ways in which firearms affect public health from multiple perspectives. This is very broad and can include many different interesting subjects, such as:
The Emergency medicine physician's perspective
Trauma surgeon or trauma specialist to talk about the impact of firearms on the human body
The economic impact of firearms on society
Law and regulations surrounding firearms
What we know: FIREARMS AS A PUBLIC HEALTH PROBLEM FACULTY PANEL
Cycles of Gun Violence: An Ecological Perspective Panel
Invite professors from your institution to speak about the social determinants underlying gun violence. This is a huge issue with many different facets; you could have a wide array of different faculty members discuss their perspectives. Some potential speaker ideas include:
Law professor: to speak about the policies and legislation shaping firearm safety
Trauma surgeon or trauma center specialist: to speak about the effects of gun violence on patients
Childhood education expert: to speak about adverse childhood events and the ways in which gun violence impacts children, schools, and communities
Community organizer: to speak about the role of community organizations and how health professionals can help
Mental health specialist: to speak about how approximately 60% of firearm-related deaths are suicide-related
Frame gun violence from an inter-professional, patient-centered lens. Put together a panel of health professionals to walk through the case as a team: medicine, ambulance driver/EMT, social work, occupational therapy, physical therapy, nursing, public health, etc. We will work to provide a case for this event.
CASE CONFERENCE
Learn how to get medical education to be a mandatory part of your school's curriculum, and have students do something about it!
- Send emails to your school's Medical School education leaders, such as the Dean of Curriculum
- Send emails to LCME, the board that oversees the medical education requirements around the country
ACTION NIGHT
Stop the bleed training
Invite Stop the Bleed to organize a training for students at your school to be empowered to act as immediate responders in instances of uncontrolled bleeding. You can contact Stop the Bleed to organize a training at (312) 202-5790:
faculty or student lecturer
Below is a standardized powerpoint slide deck that can be utilized in a faculty or student lecture.
This is something that is unfortunately rarely discussed in medical school, but is a crucial component of healthcare providers' roles in ending the firearm epidemic. This is both educational and practical, and people will walk away more competent than they came. Here are some links to resources!
DISCUSSING FIREARMS WITH PATIENTS: A PROVIDER HOW-TO
A way to hear more about your classmate and peer's perspectives on this important issue. How do firearms play a role in their lives at home and otherwise? Has their professional life been affected by firearm violence?
STUDENT DISCUSSION SECTION
DOCUMENTARY VIEWING
Watch a documentary on gun violence prevention efforts