At the first EPO Summit, attendees expressed their desire to be policy advocates on behalf of their patients and community. At that Summit, they took their first collective advocacy step: an expression of their deep concern at the direction health care reductions were taking in Los Angeles.

Participants at the second Summit arrived at the afternoon workshop after a spirited discussion of the Connerly (Racial Privacy) Initiative. Many of the participants were surprised to learn of the potential adverse effect the Initiative could have on their communities.

The Workshop was attended by representatives from 13 ethnic physician organizations.

The Workshop began with a presentation by Dexter Louie, MD on his advocacy work in the area of diabetes and obesity in children. Dr. Louie became a member (and chair) of his local school board. He mentored and encouraged students to look at and address the issues of nutrition and obesity and the impact of food choices in the school. His advocacy work eventually spread to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors and testifying in the California Legislature. His advice to the group:

1. Seek opportunities for your advocacy work
2. Be prepared for any opportunities that present themselves.
   
3. View serving the community as a personal adventure

The Workshop participants identified several assets physicians can bring to the table when involved in advocacy work:

1. Physicians are viewed as credible witnesses.
   
2. Physicians have clinical knowledge necessary to back up many public policy positions.
   
3. Legislators look to physicians for good ideas for legislation.
   

While many of the workshop participants are involved in policy advocacy, others indicated they lacked the time to become as involved as they would prefer. They expressed the need to get involved and work with other organizations. Others expressed questions of how they could come together with other physicians with similar policy issues interests.

There was a general consensus that the Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations should take on policy issues as soon as possible - "we need action not talk." The group agreed that the Connerly Initiative would be a good issue for the Network to address. Their recommendations for action included:

1. Develop Talking Points for media and community presentations.
   
2. Develop a "Portable" Presentation Kit and an Information Kit on the Initiative.
   
3. Provide additional information on the PRI's "medical exemption".
   
4. Develop buttons physicians could wear that say: "Ask me about the Connerly Initiative".
5. Take the Resolution of the Summit participants to oppose the Initiative back to all EPOs for endorsement.
   
6. Prepare a press release on behalf of the participants at the Summit to be included in the Information Packet.