Advocacy Academy
Our flagship online course for training volunteer advocates
A virtual boot camp built to train volunteers on how to advocate to policymakers around health care
If you are looking to train your advocates in a way that produces results then the Advocacy Academy online course is for you.
Lessons and Instructors
In this lesson, advocates will learn:
- The definition of advocacy
- The difference between advocacy and support
- The types of patient advocacy
- The stages of advocacy
Instructor: Anne Woodbury, CEO and Founder of CURA Strategies
A 30-year D.C. veteran, Anne began her career on Capitol Hill working for the Speaker of the House. She helped start the Center for Health Transformation where she served as Chief Health Advocate and co-authored Saving Lives and Saving Money, a book on transforming American health care. For the last 17 years, Anne has been working as a consultant to health care companies and organizations to build their reputations through advocacy and public affairs programs. She helped launch 12 advocacy coalitions on a wide range of topics such as diabetes, opioid addiction, mental health and employer purchasing.
In this lesson, advocates will learn:
- The importance of the advocate’s voice in government
- Examples of advocacy in action
Instructor: Michael Lisowski, Government Relations Specialist
Michael Lisowski has over a decade of experience working on federal public policy. From drafting legislative language and passing bills to coordinating with coalition partners, planning fly-ins, advocacy days and roundtables, Michael has participated in all facets of the legislative process.
He gained in-depth knowledge of health policy while working for former Rep. Joe Heck, D.O. (NV-03), an emergency room doctor. As Senior Legislative Assistant, Michael forged bipartisan relationships to help move Dr. Heck’s legislative priorities through the 113th & 114th Congresses.
In this lesson, advocates will learn:
- How to plan their story
- The S.P.E.A.K. model for effective advocacy storytelling
Instructor: Anne Woodbury. CEO and Founder of CURA Strategies
A 30-Year D.C. veteran, Anne began her career on Capitol Hill working for the Speaker of the House. She helped start the Center for Health Transformation where she served as Chief Health Advocate and co-authored Saving Lives and Saving Money, a book on transforming American health care. For the last 17 years, Anne has been working as a consultant to health care companies and organizations to build their reputations through advocacy and public affairs programs. She helped launch 12 advocacy coalitions on a wide range of topics such as diabetes, opioid addiction, mental health and employer purchasing.
In this lesson, advocates will learn:
- How to effectively advocate for your cause to policymakers
- The basics of how Congress works
Instructor: Patrick Meade, Congressional Outreach Specialist
Patrick is a communications professional specializing in congressional outreach and advocacy, working with health care industry clients to achieve their advocacy and business goals.
After graduating from the University of Maryland with a bachelor’s degree in Government and Politics, along with Economics, and having interned for two members of Maryland’s Congressional delegation, Patrick joined the CURA team, where he performed in-depth research on the incoming Freshmen Members of the 117th and 118th Congresses for CURA’s Health Policy Profiles. Patrick supports the day-to-day government relations and communications efforts of CareDx, the Polycystic Kidney Disease Foundation and Nozin.
In this lesson, advocates will learn:
- The different types of congressional offices
- The professional titles of different positions and their responsibilities
- Whom to contact for a specific type of request
Instructor: Sydney Shepherd, Congressional Outreach Specialist
Sydney Shepherd
Congressional Outreach Specialist
Sydney has deep experience in implementing integrated grassroots/advocacy and government relations campaigns for nonprofit groups. Prior to joining CURA, Sydney worked as a Policy and Advocacy Specialist at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) on their Hospice Action Network (HAN) program. She managed the organization’s My Hospice Ambassadors Program, strengthened skills as a registered lobbyist with a focus on children’s hospice issues, served as the primary liaison for NPHCO’s Council of States, and grew HAN’s grassroots network.
In this lesson, advocates will learn:
- How to conduct a successful meeting
- How to maximize the impact of an advocate meeting
Instructors: Sydney Shepherd, Congressional Outreach Specialist
Sydney Shepherd
Congressional Outreach Specialist
Sydney Shepherd has deep experience in implementing integrated grassroots/advocacy and government relations campaigns for nonprofit groups. Prior to joining CURA, Sydney worked as a Policy and Advocacy Specialist at the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO) on their Hospice Action Network (HAN) program. She managed the organization’s My Hospice Ambassadors Program, strengthened skills as a registered lobbyist with a focus on children’s hospice issues, served as the primary liaison for NPHCO’s Council of States, and grew HAN’s grassroots network.
In this lesson, advocates will learn:
- The timeline and cycle of the appropriations process
- Steps advocates can take to help shape congressional appropriations decision-making
Instructor: Scott Leezer, Government Relations Specialist
As Senior Vice President of Government Relations, Scott provides comprehensive public affairs and government relations services. Scott’s commitment, specifically in the areas of heart disease and veteran health, earned him PR Week’s 2019 “Most Purposeful Agency Professional.” He also led the Honor the Gift coalition, to secure lifetime Medicare coverage for immunosuppressant drugs for kidney transplant patients, which received a SABRE Award for Health Care Campaign of the Year: Pharmaceutical and PRSA’s Silver Anvil for Public Affairs Campaign of the Year. Earlier in his career, Scott served as a former health aide to Senator Dick Durbin, who is currently a member of Democratic Senate leadership.
In this lesson, advocates will learn:
- How social media is used by Congress
- How social media can be used to reach congressional members
- How social media can be used to recruit other advocates
Instructor: Scott Leezer, Government Relations Specialist
Scott Leezer
Government Relations Specialist
As Senior Vice President of Government Relations, Scott provides comprehensive public affairs and government relations services. Scott’s commitment, specifically in the areas of heart disease and veteran health, earned him PR Week’s 2019 “Most Purposeful Agency Professional.” He also led the Honor the Gift coalition, to secure lifetime Medicare coverage for immunosuppressant drugs for kidney transplant patients, which received a SABRE Award for Health Care Campaign of the Year: Pharmaceutical and PRSA’s Silver Anvil for Public Affairs Campaign of the Year. Earlier in his career, Scott served as a former health aide to Senator Dick Durbin, who is currently a member of Democratic Senate leadership.
In this lesson, advocates will learn:
- Why media coverage is important
- How to write an op-ed or letter to the editor
Instructor: Erin Berst, Media Strategist
Erin is a communications professional specializing in corporate communications for companies and organizations. She is experienced across communications disciplines including social and digital media, though she is particularly passionate about writing and earned media. She frequently places op-eds in various outlets including beltway/policy, healthcare trades, and mainstream publications. Erin is part of the award-winning team who won Media Campaign of the Year for their management of the media relations for the annual Scientific Meeting for the American College of Cardiology.
Flexible
Advocates learn at their own pace at a time that is convenient for them so you never have to schedule a sparsely attended training webinar again.
effective
Prepare your advocates in advance to effectively share their story. Completion can be a requirement to ensure the advocate is committed.
time-saving
Making the course available to your advocates frees you up to focus your training on the specifics of your policy issue. Let us handle the Congress 101.
