Mission
In UAEM (Universities Allied for Essential Medicines), we promote global access to medicines and health technologies, change practices in academic patenting and licensing to prioritize public interest, and empower students to advocate for equitable biomedical R&D systems. Guided by principles of non-partisanship, democracy, transparency, solidarity, and respect, we are a non-profit organization driven by the passion and commitment of our members. We are a social justice and advocacy organization serving the New Haven community and the global community more broadly, hoping to make prescription drugs more affordable and accessible for those who need them most.
Student Leaders
Qinyi Wang – Coordinator/President
Activities
Lobby legislators Advocacy or Activism Yale UAEM plans on taking a group of students to Hartford, where they can advocate for accessibility to medicine bills. Community Conversation on High Drug Costs Advocacy or Activism We will invite New Haven community members, Yale professors, and Connecticut patient advocates to discuss local challenges that residents face in accessing and affording life-saving medications. We especially hope to bring other Yale student organizations into the fold, building a coalition. We plan to moderate the panel and propose our state advocacy strategies for discussion. Op-Ed Writing Workshop Advocacy or Activism We plan to train UAEMers and interested advocates on writing op-eds and letter to the editor to bring awareness to the high cost of essential drugs in Connecticut, while proposing our policy solutions for the upcoming legislative session. Access 2 Medicines Week – Movie Monday Advocacy or Activism Our activities for Access 2 Medicines week are part of a larger effort established by UAEM?s North American collection of chapters: They Work For Us?Student Eyes on What Universities Hide (TW4U). TW4U calls attention to the pivotal yet often unseen role that universities play in the pharmaceutical industry. With universities serving as incubators for breakthrough medications, student vigilance is essential in holding these institutions accountable for ethical practices. On Movie Monday, UAEM Yale will be screening Pay or Die (2023), a documentary discussing the ongoing insulin price and access crisis. Through this event, we are hoping to recruit more members, as it is crucial we get as many students to participate in an inherently student-led advocacy organization. Access 2 Medicines Week – Teaching Tuesday Advocacy or Activism Our activities for Access 2 Medicines week are part of a larger effort established by UAEM?s North American collection of chapters: They Work For Us?Student Eyes on What Universities Hide (TW4U). TW4U calls attention to the pivotal yet often unseen role that universities play in the pharmaceutical industry. With universities serving as incubators for breakthrough medications, student vigilance is essential in holding these institutions accountable for ethical practices. On Teaching Tuesday, we will set up a pop-up stand on Cross Campus to recruit new members and educate the general community on our two main goals. Our goals for this advocacy event include two parts: we foremost aim to publicize UAEM’s white paper on university licensing to raise awareness on how the group was founded in 2001, when Yale patents blocked citizens in South Africa from buying and accessing medications for HIV and AIDS. This will allow the organization to become re-involved in university licensing to advocate for change in the near future. Additionally, we aim to advocate for racial equity in clinical research and treatment regimens. Access 2 Medicines Week – The Movement Thursday Advocacy or Activism Our activities for Access 2 Medicines week are part of a larger effort established by UAEM?s North American collection of chapters: They Work For Us?Student Eyes on What Universities Hide (TW4U). TW4U calls attention to the pivotal yet often unseen role that universities play in the pharmaceutical industry. With universities serving as incubators for breakthrough medications, student vigilance is essential in holding these institutions accountable for ethical practices. On The Movement Thursday (World Diabetes Day), we will livestream a panel hosted by Georgetown’s Intellectual Property and Information Policy Clinic (iPIP). Champions’ Reception at Mory’s for UAEM and T1-International, College Diabetes Network at Yale Advocacy or Activism UAEM and the College Diabetes Network at Yale are partnering to hold a Champions? Reception at Mory?s on Saturday, December 7th. Attendees will include state and federal Senators and Representatives, as well as members of the office of the Governor and Comptroller. This is an unparalleled opportunity for student advocates to meet face-to-face with policymakers as we gear up for the legislative session, which begins in January, and to pitch crucial policy ideas in time for them to be drafted and proposed in the coming months. Global Health Panel Advocacy or Activism We will invite experts to discuss current events on healthcare access, i.e. the assassination of RFK Jr and the broad issue of healthcare affordability. Specific topic to be decided. Healthcare Access Panel Advocacy or Activism We will invite speakers who have expertise in the US domestic healthcare system to speak in light of ongoing events that have caused uncertainty among the public health sector and the public. We will also ask for their advice on how student organizations at Yale can most effectively take action to make change. Community Conversation on Current Events in Public Health Advocacy or Activism We will host an informal conversation with the student body as a platform to share opinions and concerns on current events, especially as many of us contemplate how they will influence our organizations’ missions and our personal goals. Op-Ed Writing Workshops Advocacy or Activism The National Institute of Health is reissuing its Intramural Research Program Access Planning Policy to strengthen alignment with administration priorities and ensure equitable patient access to products developed from NIH patents. We would like develop an op-ed that calls on Yale to take action: ?NIH?s IRP program implemented the AAP. What?s next for Yale?? Advocacy kickoff meeting Advocacy or Activism For our first meeting of the year, we introduced the goals and mission of our organization, and provided new members with information on our specific action plan for the semester. We pitched our state advocacy plan to push a drug affordability bill through the Connecticut General Assembly. Access to Medicine Week Advocacy or Activism This event will be a tabling on cross campus that Global Health Discussion Panel Social/Cultural/Team-Building It has been a key events of UAEM to host one or two speaker panel every semester where we invite a faculty to discuss an ongoing public issue. It will be a fireside chat moderated by one of our members. This event is open to all.
How Others Get Involved
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