CUIMC Students Travel to Albany to Meet State Legislators

For the fourth consecutive year, students from all four CUIMC schools traveled to Albany to deepen their understanding of the New York state legislative process and advocate for health policies they personally value.

On Feb. 10, the contingent of 23 Columbia students met with more than half a dozen assembly members and state senators and several other officials, including Chloe Coffman, senior health policy advisor to Governor Kathy Hochul, and James V. McDonald, New York State Commissioner of Health.

Before the trip, all students attended mandatory training on advocacy and developed a series of policy advocacy documents. In Albany, the students presented their positions to elected officials, representing themselves and not the institution, on topics ranging from the New York Health Act, scope of practice for nurses and dentists, mental health response, and reproductive health.

Some students arranged their own meetings with elected officials, and many attended the Legislature’s annual budget hearing on health spending and policy.

As he has done each year, New York State Senator Robert Jackson kindly hosted the Columbia group, allowing the students to use his office as home base for the day, and spent time discussing health policy and advocacy with the students.

“When students step into the halls of the Capitol not as spectators, but as advocates, democracy grows stronger,” Jackson said. “I was proud to welcome these future physicians, nurses, public health leaders, and dental professionals as they engaged directly in the legislative process. Their preparation, their clarity, and their courage to speak remind us that policy is not abstract—it shapes lives.

“New York’s future depends on leaders who understand that healing communities requires both clinical skill and civic responsibility. These students embody that calling, and our state is better for their voices.”

Students from all four schools left “Albany Day” energized by their conversations with legislators and policy makers:

• "As a second-year public health student who is incredibly interested in policy advocacy, implementation, and development to advance maternal and child health, Albany Day was an opportunity for me to learn about what policy looks like on the state level. From observing the budget hearing to meeting with changemakers in New York State, Albany Day solidified my interest in working in policy to advance health equity." — Jade Chan, Mailman School of Public Health
• “I learned so much and developed a new appreciation for all the work that goes into each and every piece of legislation that is passed. As a nurse and a future provider, this experience was invaluable. Being able to speak directly with those who ultimately hold the power to vote ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ and sign off on the bills/policies that have rippling effects (positive or negative) across communities was empowering.” —Dasha Efremov, School of Nursing
• “As a third-year medical student, Albany Day was an invaluable opportunity to learn about the legislative process while becoming directly involved in important health policy issues. It was inspiring to see how accessible elected officials and the legislative process can be. The experience left me feeling empowered to advocate for patients and motivated to integrate advocacy into my future career.” —Frances Morris, Vagelos College of Physicians and Surgeons
• “Many of the students who traveled to Albany are actively seeing patients and were able to share powerful, firsthand accounts of the barriers their patients face. Listening to them speak about delayed care, insurance limitations, patient mistrust of the health care system, and lack of emergency mental health providers made the impact of policy feel tangible and urgent. While I previously did not understand what it takes to turn an idea into actual policy, Albany Day showed me that meaningful change begins with advocacy and engagement… [and] that policy is not distant or inaccessible, but shaped by individuals willing to speak up.” —Gianna Crescenzo, College of Dental Medicine.

Ross Frommer, vice president of government affairs at CUIMC, said Albany Day is about more than specific policy debates. “It is important that students know that they have a voice,” he said. “Through experiences like Albany Day, they can learn how to use that voice to advocate for themselves, their communities, their professions, and their patients. At the same time, policymakers enjoy and benefit from hearing from our students.” 

 “This was my first Albany Advocacy Day, and I left deeply inspired,” said Gregory Alexander, Centennial Professor for Health Policy and director of the Center for Health Policy at the School of Nursing. “Watching our students come together with a shared purpose reaffirmed the power of interprofessional advocacy. They were not simply attending meetings; they were prepared, strategic, and confident.

"They knew the legislation, articulated clear talking points, and made thoughtful, specific policy asks of senators, assembly members, Department of Health leaders, and the commissioner. Their preparation transformed conversations into influence. In those rooms, our students were not just learners, they were emerging health policy leaders shaping the future of care in New York State.”