LEWISBURG, W.Va. (WVDN) – A student at the West Virginia School of Osteopathic Medicine (WVSOM) will participate in a prestigious national program that will immerse her in the process that establishes federal health care legislation.
Jacqueline Shoemaker, of WVSOM’s Class of 2027, is one of two students nationwide selected for the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine’s (AACOM) Osteopathic Health Policy Internship. AACOM is a nonprofit organization that supports the 44 accredited osteopathic medical schools in the U.S.
The program allows osteopathic medical students to deepen their understanding of federal health care and higher education policy. Starting in February, Shoemaker will spend eight weeks working with AACOM’s Government Relations department, participating in legislative and regulatory processes, monitoring public policy issues, learning and implementing advocacy techniques and developing networking skills.
In short, Shoemaker said, the internship will provide hands-on exposure to the process that transforms ideas into policy and the way advocates can influence legislative outcomes.
“I’ll draft briefs, prepare talking points and support AACOM’s advocacy efforts by translating complex policy issues into actionable recommendations,” she said. “The program may also include meeting with congressional offices, attending stakeholder sessions and helping track legislation as it moves through various stages.”
A lieutenant colonel in the Air National Guard, Shoemaker has served as the guard’s legislative liaison at the Pentagon, where she advocated for defense health policy initiatives. She also contributed to national public health efforts as a member of the White House Global Vaccination Committee during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those experiences taught her the importance of clinicians having a voice in policymaking, she said.
“I was able to see how legislation influences military medical access and how advocacy can directly shape health policy and the multibillion-dollar military budget. Serving in the military and leading statewide public health responses during COVID showed me how policy decisions can either strengthen or hinder the ability to serve communities effectively,” she said.
Shoemaker also serves as the national president of the Student Association of Military Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons and is immediate past president of WVSOM’s Student Government Association.
She said the AACOM internship will help her to further hone her leadership skills and position her to play a role in ensuring the osteopathic profession is represented legislatively.
“For osteopathic medical students and physicians, engaging in policy ensures our whole-person, community-centered approach is protected, recognized and incorporated into national health care decisions,” she said. “Gaining an insider understanding of the process will strengthen my ability to lead in future roles in military medicine and the osteopathic profession. I also want to build relationships with leaders who are shaping the future of medical education and workforce development. Ultimately, I want to leave the program better equipped to drive positive, systemic change.”
