Getting the press involved

Hi there.  My name’s Catherine, and I’m one of the interns who’s been involved in helping organize RDASH.  One of my tasks has been to get the word out to the press so that even more people can become informed about the bills we support and about pediatric advocacy in general.

Thankfully, I’ve had a lot of help from the public affairs office at MGH.  Thanks to them, we’ve sent a press release to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Boston Metro, Beacon Hill Times, and channels 4, 5, 7, Fox 25 and NECN.  Very exciting.  Here’s the press release:

Boston, MA – On April 8, 2008, over sixty pediatricians in training will be gathered at the State House to advocate for children’s healthcare. Children’s mental health, childhood obesity, and booster seat legislation will top the agenda of the 3rd annual Residents Day at the State House, sponsored by the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics.  Residents and other pediatricians from all over the Commonwealth will hear from speakers such as Dr. Jack Shonkoff, Director of the Center on the Developing Child at Harvard University, and John McDonough, D.P.H., former State Representative and current Executive Director of Health Care For All, who will lead these young physicians in bringing their patients’ needs to the forefront of the legislative agenda.   “Children can’t vote, so they are often overlooked in the legislative process. We as pediatricians must speak for them,” asserts Massachusetts General Hospital for Children (MGHfC) resident Anna Rosenquist, who helps organize the annual event. She will be joined by residents and other physicians from Baystate Medical Center, Children’s Hospital Boston, MGHfC, Tufts-New England Medical Center, and UMass Memorial Children’s Medical Center.  The event will familiarize these child health experts with the legislative process and connect them with their legislators during afternoon meetings. The event will be held from 9am to 4pm on Tuesday, April 8th in the Great Hall at the Massachusetts State House.