Health Professional Outreach

PSR is committed to advancing our values throughout the health professional community.  We seek to activate a broad cross-section of leaders concerned about the fate of our world.  One important aspect of this work is our ongoing effort to promote the use of medical resolutions on PSR’s key issues. These medical resolutions are significant in validating our message to key lawmakers on our core issues. With local PSR chapters and public health associations nationwide, we aim to pass resolutions that establish and reinforce positions that are critical for our public health, like the de-alerting and abolition of nuclear weapons, clean air and water and health-protective energy solutions.

Health care professionals have a unique and credible voice in our democracy.  When they speak collectively—as in resolutions passed by health professional organizations—that voice is amplified.  It is more important than ever that the call be heard for a healthy environment, the elimination of nuclear and other weapons of mass destruction and the reduction of gun violence. Having health professional organizations pass resolutions on key issues is one important way to get our message to the greater public and political establishments.

Each medical association or medical society will have a slightly different process for the consideration and adoption of resolutions.   The following highlights the basic steps required to get a PSR related resolution adopted. 

Step 1: Determine the process for submitting a resolution for consideration – Most medical associations have formal procedures for the consideration of member resolutions at their meetings.   Most will require that the resolution be submitted in advance, although many have an alternative mechanism for the consideration for “late-breaking” resolutions.   Most likely your state medical association will accept resolutions co-sponsored by any five physicians in the state regardless of whether they are members of the state medical society.  

Step 2: Make sure that the resolution conforms to the proper format for consideration by the organization – Many organizations have specific stylistic or substantive requirements that must be met for consideration of a resolution.  In addition, you may want to make certain changes to reflect the special nature of the organization with which you are working.   Furthermore, it may be that the simplest way to get a PSR resolution adopted is to link it to another related resolution. 

Step 3: Identify members of the association who could be influential in helping to persuade the association to adopt the resolution – You will have to demonstrate some general support for your message, and it never hurts to have help doing the administrative “legwork” needed to get your resolution adopted.   In addition, if you can recruit a local member of the society, preferably a leader or delegate, to support your resolution, chances of getting it passed increase dramatically.

Step 4: When the state medical association meets to consider your resolution, “pack” the room – Arrange for a respectable number of supporters to attend the meeting and ask them to speak in favor of the resolution, usually any licensed physician can speak at state medical meetings.   Make sure that your speakers have the information necessary to make an effective presentation.   Use materials in the PSR Voter Education Toolkit to inform your arguments.

Step 5: Be sure to inform PSR of your efforts and progress.   We may be able to offer assistance or put you in touch with other PSR members or other groups who are involved in similar efforts in your area.