New Video Celebrates Launch of Georgetown’s Health Justice Alliance

Posted in GUMC Stories

April 21, 2017 — A new video about the Georgetown University Health Justice Alliance debuted Friday at John Carroll Weekend, the annual gathering of Georgetown alumni, family and friends.

Formed in 2016, the Health Justice Alliance (HJA) brings together Georgetown University Medical Center faculty, clinicians, other health care professionals, and students with Georgetown University Law Center students, faculty, and policy experts to engage in service, interprofessional education, advocacy, and research in pursuit of health, justice, and racial equity.

The video focuses on two students, Deborah Steinberg (L’18) and David Xiao (M’19), as they share their convictions about using their professional training to serve the underserved and address the underlying causes of health disparities through advocacy.

“I saw the law as a way to help people,” says Steinberg, but adds “I saw gaps in the law. I think working with as many people as possible and including as many people who care as possible is going to be the best way to make those changes.”

“I got into medicine because I wanted to help people in a meaningful way, especially those who are suffering,” says Xiao, a second-year medical student in the health justice scholars track. “Without fixing the societal issues that are upstream, it’s very hard for a patient to live the best life they can.”

While the Georgetown medical-legal partnership is just starting, Steinberg believes that they can make a difference for those in need.

“I am more confident that these partnerships will continue to grow and become a greater part of our society,” Steinberg concludes.