From Practice to Policy: Using Strategic Storytelling to Advocate for Health

Thursday, September 10, 2026, 12:00 PM - Thursday, November 19, 2026, 1:00 PM, A Hybrid Activity

Nurses, physicians, pharmacists, and other health professionals are among the most trusted voices in American society. Yet across a wide range of urgent health challenges—from healthcare access and reproductive rights to immigration and health, climate change, and other threats to population health—the lived experiences of clinicians and patients are often missing from public debate and policy decision-making.

Many of today’s most pressing health issues require collective action and policy solutions. Effectively communicating why these issues matter, who is affected, and what must be done requires more than data alone—it requires compelling, values-based storytelling that connects personal experience to shared purpose and urgent action.

This educational activity introduces participants to narrative leadership, grounded in the organizing framework developed by Marshall Ganz: story of self, story of us, and story of now. This approach equips health professionals to translate their frontline experiences into clear, ethical, and motivating narratives that resonate with the public, policymakers, and the media—especially in polarized or high-stakes environments.

Health professionals routinely witness how policy decisions shape patient outcomes, health system capacity, and community well-being. Learning how to communicate these realities through narrative practice can help elevate the health voice, strengthen public understanding, and build support for equitable, evidence-based solutions.

In this educational activity, Stanford University, People Power Health, and Climate Health Now will teach participants to:

• Develop narrative leadership skills using the “story of self, us, and now” framework to connect personal clinical experience to shared values and urgent calls to action

• Translate frontline health experiences into compelling narratives that illuminate the human stakes of complex health and policy issues

• Strengthen the role of health professionals as trusted messengers in public discourse, media engagement, and policy advocacy across a range of health challenges

• Apply narrative practice to advance collective action and policy solutions that promote health, equity, and community well-being

Join the interest list HERE. 

Date & Location: Virtual Classes on Thursdays 3:00-4:00pm ET /12:00-1:00pm PT:

Sept 10, 2026
Sept 17, 2026
Oct 1, 2026
Oct 15, 2026
Oct 29, 2026
Nov 12, 2026
Nov 19, 2026

In the weeks alternating with live group sessions, there will be asynchronous individual homework, as well as highly recommended, but optional, office hours with coaches.

AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ (7.00 hours), ANCC Contact Hours (7.00 hours), Non-Physician Participation Credit (7.00 hours)

1. Develop narrative leadership skills using the “story of self, us, and now” framework to connect personal clinical experience to shared values and urgent calls to action
2. Translate frontline health experiences into compelling narratives that illuminate the human stakes of complex health and policy issues
3. Strengthen the role of health professionals as trusted messengers in public discourse, media engagement, and policy advocacy across a range of health challenges
4. Apply narrative practice to advance collective action and policy solutions that promote health, equity, and community well-being

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Stanford Medicine, People Power Health, and Climate Health Now. Stanford Medicine is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 
 
Credit Designation 
American Medical Association (AMA) 
Stanford Medicine designates this synchronous and asynchronous activity for a maximum of 7.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits^TM.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) 
Stanford Medicine designates this synchronous and asynchronous activity for a maximum of 11.5 ANCC contact hours.

Cancellation Policy
Live Activities: Cancellations received in writing no less than 20 days before the course will be refunded. No refunds will be made on cancellations received after that date. Self-paced Activities: No refunds will be made on cancellation requests after a learner accesses any part of the course content. Any cancellations refunded will less a 20% administrative fee. Please send cancellation requests to [email protected].

Stanford University School of Medicine reserves the right to cancel or postpone this program if necessary; in the event of cancellation, course fees will be fully refunded. We are not responsible for other costs, such as non-refundable airline tickets or hotel penalties.

Accessibility Statement
 Stanford University School of Medicine is committed to ensuring that its programs, services, goods and facilities are accessible to individuals with disabilities as specified under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Amendments Act of 2008.  If you have needs that require visual, auditory, cognitive, or mobility accommodations, including dietary concerns, please contact the CME office.

Cultural and Linguistic Competency
The planners and speakers of this CME activity have been encouraged to address cultural issues relevant to their topic area for the purpose of complying with California Assembly Bill 1195. Moreover, the Stanford University School of Medicine Multicultural Health Portal contains many useful cultural and linguistic competency tools including culture guides, language access information and pertinent state and federal laws.  You are encouraged to visit the Multicultural Health Portal: https://laneguides.stanford.edu/multicultural-health

For activity related questions, please contact
     Name: Laura Corbett
     Title: Compliance Manager
     Email: [email protected]

For CME general questions, please contact 
     Email: [email protected]

Mitigation of Relevant Financial Relationships

Stanford Medicine adheres to the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education.
The content of this activity is not related to products or the business lines of an ACCME-defined ineligible company. Hence, there are no relevant financial relationships with an ACCME-defined ineligible company for anyone who was in control of the content of this activity.