Patient Advocacy
An integral part of our clinical care and medical education
A small sampling of advocacy adventures: whether testifying at the Capitol to touring a low-income community to researching how to make city streets safer for children, these out-of-the-box efforts broaden our understanding and strengthen our support for patients and families.
Dr. McKay (5th from right) was named Outstanding Child Advocate for Houston, Gulf Coast, and East Texas, by Children at Risk.
Patient advocacy is the active effort to ensure that every patient receives compassionate, equitable, and informed care by amplifying patient voices, addressing systemic barriers, and advancing policies that improve health outcomes. The Department of Pediatrics offers intentional and extensive training and opportunities in this vital component of holistic care, which aligns with the mission of McGovern Medical School at UTHealth Houston.
McGovern Medical School has a robust program to introduce a variety of skills to teach the physician trainee to be an effective advocate for their patient, colleague, and community. Associate Professor and award-winning Vice Chair of Advocacy Sandy McKay, MD, FAAP, leads many of these vital efforts along with a group of dedicated faculty and staff from across the Department. Together, this team strives to stay current on the most important policies and events affecting the pediatric population, then strategizes to most effectively champion their cause.
The Advocacy Committee also leads important community-education initiatives for injury prevention, volunteering their time in schools and centers across Greater Houston to give families the resources and information they need to keep their children safe. There is no shortage of opportunities to show up and support the injury-prevention team as they fit bike helmets, certify car seats, teach water safety, promote safe sleep, and more, connecting directly with children and families to yield better outcomes for all.
Advocacy Committee
Mary Aitken, MD, MPH, FAAP
Autumn Atkinson, MD
Wan-Hsuan "Sherly" Chen, DO
Sheela Gavvala, DO, FAAP
Ashley Gibson, MD
Monica Kodakandla, MD
Arezo Nasrazadani, MD
David Weisoly, DODirector of Neonatal Advocacy and Governmental Affairs
Prajakta Yeragi, MD, FAAPDirector of Simulation
Co-Director of Mobile Simulation Unit