Six Years of Advocacy: How the WeEmbody Lab Trains Emerging Health Educators to Become Advocates

Abstract

Health advocacy is a critical yet underemphasized competency in public health education, with significant barriers limiting its integration into U.S.-based academic programs. Although advocacy is a cornerstone of public health practice, challenges such as faculty capacity, knowledge gaps, and curricular limitations hinder its inclusion in accredited public health curricula. In response, the WeEmbody (WE) Lab at the University of New Haven’s School of Health Sciences developed a Health Advocacy and Equity Fellowship Program to address these gaps. Established in 2019, the WE Lab initially focused on engaging undergraduate and graduate students in research aimed at health equity. However, recognizing the absence of advocacy training in the university’s public health programs, the WE Lab expanded its focus to include advocacy. The fellowship program provides hands-on training in research-to-policy translation, enabling students to effectively communicate evidence-based information to policymakers. Fellows participate in advocacy training through opportunities such as the SOPHE Advocacy Summit and engage with policymakers to address pressing health issues. Reflections from current and former fellows highlight the program’s impact on their professional growth, critical thinking, and advocacy skills. These experiences underscore the value of integrating advocacy into public health training. The paper calls on faculty and administrators to adopt similar programs and leverage partnerships with professional organizations to overcome financial and institutional barriers. The WE Lab’s model offers a scalable framework for enhancing advocacy education, fostering health equity, and preparing the next generation of public health leaders.