Health Care Justice Gathering
December 26, 2011-January 2, 2012
A gathering at the beautiful Gesundheit! Institute in West Virginia with programs over New Years.
Wild wigs and clown noses, talks by Patch Adams and his team of doctor-dreamers, imaginations that span the sky, sunrise hikes in West Virginia hills, music and dance, organic nourishment, and most of all, inspiration to change the world of medicine! If any of the above pique your interests, read on, dear friends! We are looking for 30 health justice activists nationwide to join together for an inspiring and unforgettable gathering at Patch Adams' Gesundheit! Institute in Hillsboro, West Virginia.
The Healthcare Justice Gathering is an activism-oriented meeting of students, physicians, medical professionals, clowns, and community-builders, whose programming is organized and created by its participants. Initially started in 2005 by the Direct Action Interest Group at AMSA, the HCJG is going on its seventh year and has expanded to include a workshop-based gathering at Patch Adams' Gesundheit! Institute in Hillsboro.
Past conferences have included workshops on: Building Novel Model Health Clinics, Coalitions, Liberation Medicine, Body Language and Greetings, Medical School Curriculum, Laughter Yoga, Diversity and Racism, Permaculture and Land Sustainability, Media Tools for Activism, and the Economics of National Healthcare. Patch Adams, Susan Parenti, John Glick, Lanny Smith, Margaret Flowers, Paul Glover, John Stang, Andru Ziwasimon, and many other physician-activists have participated and presented.
The theme of the gathering is Activism in Healthcare: Visions and Strategies. The conference will provide opportunities to meet with current healthcare activists and to develop individual action strategies to help you continue to practice activism when you return to your community. We encourage participants to brainstorm about their own interactions with and knowledge of activism and to consider leading a workshop at the gathering.
This organic conference has reached out to participants from Canada to Mexico, students from allopathic, osteopathic, and naturopathic institutions, Ph.D. candidates in hospital administration programs, nurses, physicians, residents, and high-school students. The meeting draws strength through building a lasting community. Students from past conferences organize the gathering for future participants to experience, allowing for continuity and evolution of the project.
We ask everyone to pitch in $ for food and housing - the love and life changing part is free of charge!
Questions? Email Elisa!
