Students Represent at State Assembly to Advocate for Health Initiatives and a Brighter Future
On February 28, 2025, a group of students from Touro University Nevada traveled to the Nevada state capitol for Legislative Day. This experience is important for Touro Nevada to help provide expertise as bills are being moved through the legislative process and for students to gain another perspective in healthcare.
“By actively participating in legislative discussions, Touro Nevada helps shape policies that strengthen the healthcare workforce, ensuring that future medical professionals are trained and retained within the state. This advocacy also reinforces the university’s commitment to community health and medical education, making Legislative Day an invaluable opportunity for influence and change,” shared Fernando Naranjo, Medical Health Sciences student.
Nine osteopathic medicine students, and students from the programs of physical therapy, occupational therapy, physician assistant studies, and medical health sciences journeyed with Dr. Wolfgang Gilliar from the College of Osteopathic Medicine and Terry Bartmus, DNP. Students met with legislators to share their stories and offer any insight on how bills could affect them as practicing medical professionals or their future patients.
“This experience is giving students another view into healthcare beyond just the science and patient care they’ve been learning about in their education journey,” said Dr. Gilliar. “We hope they understand how important it is to have a voice for what is best beyond a treatment room.”
While at the capitol students had the special opportunity to sit on the senate floor as the legislative session recognized Touro Nevada’s attendance. Groups of students had meetings with various legislators and departments which gave them insight into how the legislative process works.
“Getting to sit on the floor of the Senate was definitely the highlight of Legislative Day for me! Seeing how the Senate meetings are conducted right in front of me was an experience I learned so much from and will never forget,” medical student Sakshi Bhatt shared.
One of the most important topics that was discussed is how crucial GME funding is as Nevada consistently ranks among the most underserved states in most areas of healthcare. With an increase in GME funding we are able to retain more of our students in state that will make a larger impact in resolving physician shortages that will only increase as our population rises.
Two DO students shared that advocating and talking about GME was the highlight of their experience. Syed Hazma Naqvi said, “talking with assembly members on why we need more residency spots felt like I was making a difference by getting a chance to explain how adding more residency spots in Nevada can help the current medical students.” Fellow classmate Matthew Ngyuen felt the saying sharing, “Touro Nevada is the largest graduator of medical students in the entire state, and we need to make sure we give our medical students a reason to stay by being involved in healthcare advocacy for the state.”
Students and faculty represented all the disciplines at Touro Nevada, ensuring that all voices are heard and represented. Occupational and physical therapy students were able to discuss how a bill about licensure compacts specifically impacts them, should it be passed would allow for more flexibility for graduates to practice in states that have this compact.
“The Legislative Day was an enriching experience that, above all else, was extremely educational for me. By seeing how things worked from the inside and learning of ways in which I can make my voice heard, it gave me a greater appreciation for the political system that is so often criticized by people from the outside looking in,” shared medical student Dakota Muth. “I think it is beneficial for us as healthcare professionals to understand how the political system works, ways we can make our voices heard, and to advocate to our political leaders about the things that are important to us and our patients.”
