Arianna Doss (’27)

This summer I had the honor of working as a maternal health intern on Capitol Hill. Working with health policy staff, I assisted in writing co-sponsor recommendations, authoring briefing memos, and drafting talking points for proposed amendments.

I also worked closely with the Congressional Black Maternal Health Caucus and learned more about its flagship bill, the Black Maternal Health Momnibus Act. The Momnibus Act is a 14-bill package that invests in community-based organizations, maternal mental health, and data collection, amongst other comprehensive solutions to our nation’s maternal health crisis. I updated the bill’s one-pagers and created event blueprints that can be used to promote Momnibus priorities.

As a premed student who is deeply interested in health policy and equity, this experience was truly transformative! Not only did it provide context for the historical political time that we’re living through, but it also offered a firsthand look into how advocacy, lobbying, and political will influence policymaking.

In my journey toward becoming a physician, I will take with me the many lessons I’ve learned on the Hill. There is a growing need for strong relationships between healthcare workers and legislators, and I look forward to fostering this relationship as I look to enact policies that will contribute to a healthier, more equitable society for all.