Medical students ‘call’ on lawmakers not to repeal Affordable Care Act

A group of Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine (HWCOM) students spent their lunchtime Monday on the phone. They were calling Florida congressional and state representatives as part of the grassroots Protect Our Patients movement.

Medical students across the country took part in similar phone calls, reading from prepared scripts that called on lawmakers, Democrats and Republicans, to oppose repeal of the Affordable Care Act, and demand a bipartisan effort to improve it.

Among those placing calls, first-year medical student Michael Delgado, who left a message for Congressman Dennis Ross of Central Florida.

HWCOM student Amara Fazal organized the makeshift phone bank, which also included a couple of physician assistant students. She held a sign that read “Health care means everyone can afford to live.” Later, on the group’s Facebook page, Fazal reported that the HWCOM students made a total of 157 calls to lawmakers.