From the Clinic to Capitol Hill: A Psychiatrist’s Journey in Advocacy

Reflections on bridging psychiatry, policy, and prevention

By Dr. Aishat Mamman

This past month, I had the privilege of stepping out of the clinic and into the heart of policymaking in Washington, D.C., for my advocacy rotation. As a psychiatrist in training, I’ve always known that our work extends beyond the individual patient encounter. But walking the marble halls of Congress, engaging directly with legislators and their staff, made the influence of politics and policy on patient care strikingly real. One of my main focuses was advocating for increased funding for Teaching Health Centers and community clinics. These centers are lifelines for underserved populations often the only access to care for those burdened by environmental hazards, poverty, and systemic inequities. For me, seeing these institutions through the lens of eco-psychiatry and single-payer healthcare underscored how prevention, equity, and mental health are deeply interconnected.

Building Coalitions and Connecting Communities

Before going to Washington, much of my advocacy rotation happened closer to home with MichUHCAN—Michigan Universal Health Care Access Network. Here I learned that coalition work isn’t just logistical; it’s deeply relational. Convincing someone to join a cause means listening to their experiences, understanding their priorities, and connecting the work we’re doing to their values. That lesson came to life in Washington, where we applied strategies like the “path to yes,” focusing on shared goals, emphasizing preventive care over reactive treatment, and framing discussions around positive outcomes rather than conflict. I helped strategize an approach on recruiting new members.

Social media became an essential tool to engage students and professionals, raising awareness and expanding our network. I also attended a Students for a National Health Program (SNaHP) meeting at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where I connected with like-minded individuals passionate about universal health coverage. These conversations reminded me that advocacy begins with community.

Conversations That Shape Perspective

During my rotation, I also had the opportunity to speak with leaders who embody the principles I aspire to carry forward. One particularly memorable conversation was with Dr. Aisha Harris a Flint, Michigan physician who provides direct care without insurance intermediaries and strongly advocates for single-payer healthcare. Her insights reinforced my understanding of how policy, or lack thereof, directly shapes patient care and outcomes especially for Medicaid recipients and those excluded from traditional insurance structures. Medicaid funding was a recurring topic in these discussions. Cuts to Medicaid not only threaten access to care for vulnerable populations, but also undermine the very preventative strategies that can reduce long-term mental health burdens. Conversations like these reinforced why Teaching Health Centers and community clinics are critical, and why physicians must advocate for policies that prioritize prevention over reactive treatment.

Psychiatry Beyond Medication

My advocacy work is inseparable from my approach to psychiatry. Medication saves lives, but true mental health care goes beyond the prescription pad. Prevention through safe housing, access to care, environmental protection, and community resources is psychiatry at its most powerful. Policy and advocacy are tools to create those conditions.

Deepening Perspective Through Psychoanalysis

At the same time, I’ve started a fellowship in psychoanalysis, which reminds me that every statistic represents an individual story. Advocacy teaches us to shape systems; psychoanalysis teaches us to listen deeply. Both are essential. Understanding suffering at both the personal and systemic level allows us to intervene more effectively and ethically.

A Call to Action

Reflecting on these experiences, I realize that physicians’ responsibility doesn’t end with diagnosis and treatment. We are witnesses to suffering, but we are also stewards of justice. From coalition-building in Michigan to walking the halls of Capitol Hill, I’ve seen how physicians can engage communities, shape policy, and transform the conditions that perpetuate illness. As I continue my training, I am committed to weaving together clinical care, psychoanalysis, advocacy, and coalition-building. The path ahead is not just about treating illness, it’s about preventing it, addressing inequities, and creating healthier communities. That, to me, is the true calling of medicine.

Dr. Mamman is a psychiatry resident at Authority Health’s Graduate Medical Education Teaching Health Center Program.