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For 26 students from ��ɫ��Ƶ’s Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine (CCOM), was an opportunity to make their voices heard on national healthcare policy. The annual event gathers hundreds of osteopathic students and physicians from across the country to meet with lawmakers and advocate for key legislation.

The students traveled to Washington, D.C., in late March for the ’s DO Day on the Hill. Faculty support came from Teresa Hubka, D.O., Chair, Clinical Education, Kim Huntington-Alfano, D.O., Medical Director, MWU Family Practice Clinic, and Angelique Mizera, D.O., who joined students in congressional meetings.

“This year’s DO Day was a tremendous success, bringing together more than 470 osteopathic physicians and students from 44 states to advocate for our future profession and our patients,” said Anisa Ciaciura (CCOM ’29). “Together, we met with 233 U.S. House offices and 88 Senate offices, 321 congressional offices in total. That level of engagement sends a strong and unified message to Congress about the importance of supporting osteopathic medicine.”

Students focused on three main legislative priorities: strengthening Medicare through physician payment adequacy (), expanding graduate medical education with more residency slots ( / ), and reforming step therapy ( / ), a process that can require patients to try and fail insurer-preferred treatments before accessing the care originally prescribed by their physician.

Medical Students’ Perspectives on Advocacy

For Miranda DeBot (CCOM ’28), a second-time DO Day attendee from Wisconsin, the experience connected national policy to her rural community. “People in my community are often the first to experience the holes in healthcare policy. Advocating for policies that open more rural residencies and increase Medicare payments so small-town practices can stay open will directly benefit members of my community,” she said. “During medical school, we are always taught to advocate for our patients. Attending DO Day, we can positively impact thousands of patients by helping implement stronger healthcare policies.”

Jackson Sweeney (CCOM ’28), also attending for the second time, noted the broader lesson for future physicians. “DO Day made it clear to me that medicine is not just what happens in the hospital or clinic, but also what happens at the policy level that determines how we can actually care for patients. It pushed me to think beyond just being a good clinician and toward being someone who actively advocates for better systems for my patients,” he said.

Bryan Liu (CCOM ’29) emphasized the educational value of the event. “I participated in DO Day because I wanted to better understand and engage with health policy at the highest level. Directly working on advocacy at DO Day is the best learning opportunity, as I gained firsthand experience researching and speaking on policies with my representatives that could affect millions,” he said.

For Rhea Akhaury (CCOM ’29), the chance to connect personal experiences to policy was key. “By participating in advocacy, not only can med students learn about current health policies, but also how it directly impacts their community, practice, and patients,” she said. “Meeting with representatives gives students an understanding of what has been done in the past, projections for the future, and what can be done in the present to move bills along.”

Vani Ganesh (CCOM ’27), attending for her third year, described the cumulative impact. “Participating in advocacy and learning about healthcare policy is vital to our future careers as physicians because caring for our patients goes beyond the medical diagnoses alone. Each year, I learn more about advocacy and healthcare policy and see more new students form a passion for advocacy on a national scale,” she said.

Building Future Leaders

The trip also highlighted leadership opportunities within CCOM’s Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) chapter. Newly elected chapter president Jeremy Jin (CCOM ’29) and National Liaison Officer (NLO) Stuti Ganatra (CCOM ’29) represented students at the Spring Convention, voting on policy resolutions. CCOM also celebrated Jackson Sweeney’s election as National Research Director for National SOMA and Vani Ganesh’s service as National Public Relations Director. 

The entire experience reinforced the broader impact that medical students can have in shaping policy. “Engaging with representatives who express similar commitments to healthcare reform is both energizing and affirming,” said Anisa. “We are uniquely positioned to cultivate meaningful relationships with policymakers, elevate the challenges facing osteopathic physicians and trainees, and champion innovative solutions that not only protect access to care but also promotes a more sustainable system for future providers.”

CCOM Students at DO Day on the Hill (Home State and Graduation Year)

• Rhea Akhaury – Illinois, CCOM ’29
• Noah Ben-Isvy – Illinois, CCOM ’28 
• Aditya Bhatt – California, CCOM ’29 
• Emma Bednarek – Missouri, CCOM ’29 
• Katie Brinkley – New York, CCOM ’29 
• Sharon Chow – California, CCOM ’29 
• Anisa Ciaciura – Illinois, CCOM ’29 
• Anjali Devabhaktuni – Illinois, CCOM ’29 
• Miranda DeBot – Wisconsin, CCOM ’28 
• Matthew Degnan – Illinois, CCOM ’29
• Kiana Fazeli – California, CCOM ’29 
• Vani Ganesh – Missouri, CCOM ’27 
• Stuti Ganatra – Maryland, CCOM ’29 
• Ella Fujikawa – California, CCOM ’29 
• Yincheng Jin – Wisconsin, CCOM ’29 
• Anish Kakarla – Illinois, CCOM ’29 
• Bryan Liu – Illinois, CCOM ’29 
• Mit Patel – Florida, CCOM ’29 
• Sydney Katz – Maryland, CCOM ’29 
• Jackson Sweeney – Indiana, CCOM ’28 
• Priya Sharma – North Carolina, CCOM ’29 
• Emma Smith – California, CCOM ’29 
• Rafay Siddiqui – Illinois, CCOM ’28 
• Ismihan Uddin – Illinois, CCOM ’27 
• Kennedy Van – Illinois, CCOM ’29