Overview
Global Doctors for Choice (GDC) produces unique training resources for physician advocates. Designed by GDC physician-experts, these resources facilitate the learning of knowledge and skills necessary to position doctors to be effective advocates for reproductive health and rights.
These training resources will help learners:
- Acquire, refresh, and deepen knowledge of topics relevant to reproductive health advocates.
- Apply new knowledge and assess understanding through interactive exercises, including case studies.
- Access research-based strategies and techniques that are immediately applicable to advocacy work.
Our Learning Formats
Online Learning: Learning is just a click away with courses designed to meet learners’ needs. Our free online courses are:
- Self-paced, enabling learners to complete them in their own time.
- Accessible 24/7, 365 days a year and can be stopped and started as needed for shorter learning sessions.
- Include interactive elements, videos, and quizzes designed to check for understanding and fully engage learners.
Webinars: Learners will meet with GDC experts and other learners in our live discussions and seminars. Some of our courses are hybrid and will feature both self-paced and webinar experiences.
Minimum System Requirements
- Our online courses are optimized for any internet-enabled device, such as desktop and laptop computers, as well as mobile devices such as tablets and smartphones.
- Audio and video capabilities for webinars.
- An updated browser.
- A stable internet connection.
If you are looking for a specific resource not listed here or would like to report a technical issue, email us at [email protected].
Copyright Notice
- You may print or download extracts for your personal and non-commercial use only
- You may copy the content to individual third parties for their personal use, but only if you acknowledge the website as the source of the material
A Guide to Physician-Led Advocacy Series
Global Doctors for Choice (GDC) has developed an innovative and interactive physician’s advocacy training curriculum focused on the knowledge and skills needed to be an effective physician-advocate for reproductive health and rights. This training has been successfully delivered face-to-face in a variety of settings worldwide and has now been adapted into a four-part self-paced online course. This course is introductory and is designed to prepare doctors who are new to reproductive health advocacy. Learners who complete all four courses in this series are eligible to receive a certificate of completion. In order to receive the certificate, learners must complete the certificate registration at the end of each course. Certificates will be processed within two weeks of submitting the final registration form.Part 1: Introduction to Advocacy
Description
In this course, we will define the concept of advocacy, and examine its essential elements and the stages through which it is conducted. We will explore how physicians can play a unique role as collaborators in advocacy related to abortion and other reproductive health and rights issues. We will describe how to develop a political map to analyze and understand the main actors who can affect the course of action of an advocacy campaign.
Target Audience: Doctors who are new to advocacy work or seeking a refresher on the topic
Prerequisites: None
Duration: Approximately I hour
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course learners will be able to:
- Describe policy advocacy for sexual and reproductive health and rights.
- Distinguish policy advocacy from physician activities involving patient care, improving services, and health education, or from being an “advocate” for individual patients.
- Describe physicians’ unique contributions to policy advocacy.
- Use the concept of political mapping to analyze local political context, actors and institutions.
Part 2: Evidence and Data in Reproductive Health and Rights Advocacy
Description
In this course, we examine the importance of scientific evidence, data and research in the sexual and reproductive health policy-making process. We highlight the role of physicians as credible experts who can convey scientific data and clinical observation to make compelling arguments supporting abortion and other sexual and reproductive health care policies. We also describe how to select appropriate data to frame issues so they will attract greater support
Target Audience: Doctors who are new to advocacy work or seeking a refresher on the topic
Prerequisites: Introduction to Advocacy
Duration: Approximately 45 minutes
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course learners will be able to:
- Explain why data and research are important in making policy for sexual and reproductive health
- Explore ways to use data to identify and select sexual and reproductive health policy issues for advocacy action.
- Develop strategies for using data and evidence to frame issues to attract the greatest support.
- Describe the role of the physician as a conveyer of scientific evidence data and clinical observation within the context of abortion and other sexual and reproductive health advocacy.
Part 3: Communication Skills
Description
In this course, we will focus on the communication skills necessary for physician-advocacy for safe abortion and other sexual and reproductive health issues. We will examine the essential skills for developing and delivering effective advocacy messages. We will also explore identifying appropriate target audiences for such messages, and tailoring them specifically to these disparate audiences.
Target Audience: Doctors who are new to advocacy work or seeking a refresher on the topic
Prerequisites: Introduction to Advocacy and Evidence and Data in Reproductive Health and Rights Advocacy
Duration: Approximately 45 minutes
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course learners will be able to:
- Articulate clear, concise compelling advocacy messages about safe abortion and other sexual and reproductive health issues.
- Communicate key advocacy messages from a physician vantage point to a variety of policy audiences.
- Translate technical knowledge into layperson language for collaborators and larger audiences.
- Select evidence that is appropriate for messages tailored to different policy audiences.
Part 4: Forming Successful Partnerships and Collaborative Relationships
Description
In this course, we will focus on how physician-advocates can bring their unique skills to collaborative efforts with other groups providing complementary skills (e.g., lawyers) and other resources.
Target Audience: Doctors who are new to advocacy work or seeking a refresher on the topic
Prerequisites: Introduction to Advocacy; Evidence and Data in Reproductive Health and Rights Advocacy; and Communication Skills
Duration: Approximately 45 minutes
Learning Objectives
By the end of this course learners will be able to:
- Demonstrate methods for analyzing and selecting potential coalition partners.
- Employ collaboration techniques with the legal community, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and other health professional groups to achieve success in policy advocacy for abortion and reproductive health.
- Give examples of successful collaborations that have resulted in policy changes that have improved abortion and reproductive health.
- Describe the advantages and challenges of forming an advocacy coalition.
Applying Advocacy Techniques: Two Case Studies
In this two-part series, learners will engage with two case studies to apply their knowledge of advocacy techniques and to practice their skills in authentic situations. The first case will focus on the advocacy campaign stage and the second on advocacy after victory and during implementation. If you are new to advocacy, we highly recommend that you complete A Guide to Physician-Led Advocacy Series before you attempt this case study series. These online case studies will culminate in a live online discussion with GDC experts and learners. The dates of the online discussion will be announced later.Otrobalia Case Study
This advocacy case study is based on the fictitious Latin American country of Otrobalia. After you familiarize yourself with the history, culture, demographics, and socio-political climate of Otrobalia, you will engage in a series of exercises that enable you to learn and practice skills in reproductive rights advocacy.
Target Audience: Doctors who are new to advocacy work or seeking a refresher on the topic
Prerequisites: A Guide to Physician-Led Advocacy Series
Duration: Approximately 45 minutes
Learning Objectives
By the end of this case study learners will be able to:
- Identify the key factors that affect an advocacy strategy, such as policies, demographics, stakeholders (allies, opponents and target audiences).
- Select your target audience and appropriate allies.
- Select sound population-based scientific research and data to support your advocacy efforts.
- Create a persuasive advocacy message for a specific audience.
Ireland Case Study Exercise – COMING SOON!
The purpose of this case study is to focus on advocacy after campaign objectives have been achieved. Learners will consider how advocacy changes during the implementation phase.
Target Audiences: Doctors who are new to advocacy work or seeking a refresher on the topic
Prerequisite: A Guide to Physician-Led Advocacy Series
Duration: Approximately 45 minutes
Learning Objectives
By the end of this case study learners will be able to:
- Discuss the specific contributions that medical or public health professionals offer to advocacy efforts.
- Appreciate the specific social, political and historical context in which you plan your advocacy.
- Discuss the maintenance of advocacy after you’ve succeeded in your objective during the implementation phase.
Advocating for access to safe reproductive health care for all.