Sarah Lawrence established the first master's program in health advocacy and remains the premier academic program preparing graduates to play a significant role in shaping the future of this field. The program integrates analytical discussion of issues that face the nation's health care system with hands-on experiential fieldwork assignments. Through course work in a wide variety of subjects—including physiology, history, law, health policy, and ethics—students acquire a broad background to help keep them flexible as the profession evolves. The program balances seminar-based studies with on-site supervised training in three field placements, each successive placement solidifying the student's expertise in a chosen career path. Together the seminars and field placements ready students to influence health policy at the system level and to serve individuals in need of health care advising and advocacy. Nationally recognized guest lecturers further supplement the program's offerings.