UMass Medical Students Advocate for Health, Justice Reform on Beacon Hill

BOSTON — Today, March 25, from 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., 21 medical students from the Population-based Urban & Rural Health (PURCH) program at UMass Chan Medical School – Baystate will gather at the Massachusetts State House to participate in PURCH on the Hill 2025, an initiative designed to teach future healthcare professionals the importance of advocacy in shaping public policies that impact social determinants of health.

The gathering in Room 437 of the State House will include state Sen. Adam Gomez, state Rep. Lindsay Sabadosa, and staff from UMass Chan Medical School, Baystate Health, the Public Health Institute of Western Massachusetts, Clean Slate Massachusetts, Greater Boston Legal Services, Men of Color Health Awareness, the Massachusetts Food System Collaborative, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, and Revitalize Community Development Corp.

PURCH on the Hill 2025 will focus on clean slate legislation and increased funding in the FY 2026 budget for the Healthy Incentive Program. Students will engage with legislators and policy experts to advocate for these public-health measures.

The PURCH track is a community-centered, patient-focused, team-based program emphasizing population health and health equity. Students in the PURCH track receive all their clinical learning at UMass Chan Medical School – Baystate. Today’s event at the State House is designed to teach medical students how to engage in advocacy efforts with legislators to help shape public policies related to the social determinants of health.