In 1980, Sarah Lawrence College established the nation's first—and, to date, only—master's program in Health Advocacy. Rooted in the liberal arts and professional practice, the program plays a leading role in this emerging field, educating professionals to act as change agents to improve health care and ensure access to an increasingly complex system.

In addition to teaching the theory and practice of advocacy, the program includes course work in physiology, law, ethics, illness narratives, and health policy. Fieldwork placements integrate curricular material in real world application of advocacy principles.

Some Health Advocacy graduates work in direct care as patient representatives, ombudsmen, health information specialists, educators and health advisers.Others have roles as national health policy advocates in government agencies, disease-specific and grassroots organizations, and in the media.