Advocacy Toolkit

Student Chapter Organizing

Holding a Grand Rounds Lecture

If your chapter is affiliated with a hospital, consider organizing a grand rounds lecture. It is a great way to introduce health and human rights to third and fourth year medical students, residents and interns, and other health professionals at the hospital. As you choose a speaker for the lecture, consider how the speaker will frame his or her presentation within the framework of health and human rights. When planning a grand rounds lecture, consider the following:

• The presentation should be medical in nature.  It might address, for example, the health impacts of landmines (i.e. how to deal with landmines injuries and amputations) or torture (i.e. the mental, physical and social impact on the individual's well-being).
  
• A strong presenter will also describe the social, environmental, and political influences upon health and well being, and how these factors relate to human rights.
  
• Faculty or deans might sponsor a grand rounds speaker's presentation and cover all of the related costs. Approach your deans and faculty to inquire about the process of organizing a grand rounds lecture.  Keep in mind that sometimes these lectures are planned many months in advance.