In the news: Nancy Gantt, M.D., encourages advocacy from new generation of surgeons

June 13, 2023

When proposed legislation relates to medical concerns, physicians are uniquely positioned to become advocates to ensure that legislative health care changes benefit their patients, trainees, colleagues and others.

That’s one of the messages shared by Nancy Gantt, M.D., professor of surgery, in a recent interview with the Youngstown Vindicator.

Dr. Gantt discussed with the newspaper her recent presentation, titled “Leadership for Policy Change in Health Care: The Needed Role of Surgeons in Advocacy,” to the American Society of Breast Surgeons.

A breast surgeon and co-medical director of the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center at Mercy St. Elizabeth Youngstown Hospital, Dr. Gantt encouraged other physicians to tap into their leadership skills to enable them to be better advocates for their patients and themselves.

“There are so many levels of advocacy. There is advocacy when we are in Washington and go to our Congress and meet with our legislators,” she said in the interview. “But there is also advocacy at the very individual patient level and getting them the psychological support, the social work, the financial support (and) getting things in the hospital that they need so they can get a really good quality of care.”

Read Leading the Way in the Vindicator.