VP Advocacy: What to Know! by SMSS

VP Advocacy: Overview

smssvpcommunications — 2025-01-21 19:57:53 UTC

The VP Advocacy is responsible for being involved Role Description: The VP Advocacy is responsible for being involved in advocacy efforts regarding community engagement and working to improve the advocacy skills students are introduced to in the curriculum. The VP Advocacy leads the advocacy division and assists any of the division members with their specific responsibilities. The Advocacy Division includes: Global Health Liaisons, Global Health Advocates, Government Affairs and Advocacy Committee, Indigenous Health Representatives, Environment and Sustainability Representatives, an Equity/Diversity/Inclusivity Representatives. VP Advocacy is intimately involved in different avenues of advocacy within the college and is encouraged and expected to be involved in and have an understanding of some of the following: the Global Health Committee, the Government Affairs and Advocacy Committee to help plan the Provincial Day of Action, the College’s EDI Committee, community engagement-based student groups (ex/ WÎcihowin- IRRHG, SHIRP, GEM, PHSG, IRH, etc) or community-based organizations. Beyond providing support to themembers of the Advocacy Division, attending their events (Global Health Conference, Provincial Day of Action, etc), and supporting other student community advocacy efforts. VP Advocacy is expected to plan a mandatory Advocacy Workshop for all SMSS Council members with an option to expand it to all CoM students. The goal is to find novel approaches to improve the presence of advocacy skills within the curriculum so all USask CoM students are equipped to safely and effectively advocate for our patients and communities.

Broad Responsibilities

smssvpcommunications — 2025-01-21 20:01:30 UTC

Meetings:

– SMSS Council (at least one per term)

– SMSS Executive Council (bi-weekly, Tuesday at lunch)

– SMSS-UGME (once a month, Wednesday at lunch)

– SMSS-Dean’s (once a month, first Tuesday of the month at 7:30am)

Duties:

– Chair the Advocacy Division of the SMSS (at least one division meeting per term)

– Organize Advocacy Division Events (meeting as needed to prepare events)

Events VP Advocacy Oversees

smssvpcommunications — 2025-01-21 20:05:07 UTC

Global Health Conference (annual conference, topic determined by Advocacy Team)

Multicultural Potluck (annual)

National Day of Action (annual)

Provincial Day of Action (annual)

Advocacy Lunch Talks

And More!

Position Timeline

smssvpcommunications — 2025-01-21 20:09:17 UTC

Given the learning curve and the oversight of a large division with multiple representatives, the Executive has decided that the elected candidate will continue as VP Advocacy for the 2025–2026 academic year.

*If you are in second year, this would mean continuing VP Advocacy duties during clerkship in third year, attending bi-weekly lunch meetings, monthly UGME meetings, monthly Dean's meetings, Advocacy Division meetings, SMSS council meetings, and potentially conferences such as CFMS AGM and SGM.

Please note that the SMSS plans to present a motion at the SMSS General SGM later in 2025, to add a VP Advocacy Jr. position, and to permanently move this position’s election to the Fall Election cycle, allowing effective turnover and mentorship between the Senior and Junior VPs. Should this motion pass, the Junior VP would be elected in the fall ‘25, and the Senior would complete their term at the end of the 2025–2026 academic year.