In 1980, Sarah Lawrence established the nation’s first master’s degree program in Health Advocacy. It has provided a leadership role in defining this new field and in educating professionals to improve health care and ensure access to an increasingly complex system. The program, usually completed over four semesters and one summer, leads to a Master of Arts (or a Master of Professional Studies for students who have a previous M.A.) degree and meets the educational requirements for challenging and rewarding careers in this emerging field. Opportunities for cross registration between Health Advocacy and Human Genetics can be explored by students interested in both curriculum areas.

Health Advocacy graduates work in direct care as patient representatives, ombudsmen, educators and health advisers. In addition, they may help patients and families to navigate the health care system and to ensure that their medical and health needs are met. As educators and health information specialists, advocates work to empower others. Health advocates work collaboratively with other health care providers to mediate conflict and facilitate positive change.

As health policy advocates, graduates work in legislative and organizational areas. They advocate for patients and consumers from positions in government agencies, disease-specific voluntary associations, grassroots and national health policy organizations and the media. They protect and enhance patients’ rights and are often agents of change in the health care system.

The interdisciplinary Health Advocacy Program provides the flexible curriculum necessary to encompass this fast-changing field. Besides teaching the theory and practice of advocacy itself, the program includes course work in physiology, history, law, economics, health policy and ethics, and understanding the experience of illness. Three fieldwork placements are required and students receive on-site supervised training in a variety of settings: hospitals; health maintenance organizations; local, state and federal government agencies and departments; community health services; not-for-profit advocacy groups; and public-interest organizations.

An outstanding faculty is drawn from the College and throughout the New York area. Health care experts from the New York medical and academic community complement the program with guest lectures on current topics. Students are encouraged and enabled to take advantage of conferences and advocacy activities throughout the metropolitan area and the region.