This post was published at, and has been shared by the APHA Blog.
It is provided so you can find it in a search here at myAPHA.org, but you’ll need to link to the original post to read it in its entirety.
Find the link to the entire post at the end of this excerpt.
Profession – or Calling? What Do You Consider Your Advocacy Work?
The month of March 2013 brought me more opportunities than I remember in a long time to think about the reasons I do the work I do – why I have chosen my profession, what I hope to get out of it, and what drives me to want to build its success – and your success, too. Why now? Well, frankly, even though I am not Catholic, it started with the election of a new pope. Throughout the discussions leading up to the Conclave, then the election of Pope Francis, much of the emphasis was on the passion the job required; that it wasn’t just about being a leader, it was about heart and commitment. (And whether or not you care one wit about the election of this new pope, whether or not you agree with the tenets he stands for, it’s clear to see the man is a new kind of leader, and most definitely has passion and commitment.) As the pioneers who have started a movement in patient or health advocacy, it’s the same for us. We are leaders. We lead with our passion. We are wholly committed to success – both the success our clients will find in their journeys, and the success we hope to find with our practices. The “passion” aspects are very different from most professions, and it’s what makes us unique. How many other professions are rooted in passion and heart? Then Passover came along. Over the years, I’ve had many opportunities to talk about Passover with my Jewish friends. To me, one of the most important themes in Passover is the tenacity and strength of the Jews who overcame their slavery in Egypt. That tenacity and strength helped the Jews triumph – and it’s what helps us, as advocates, triumph on behalf of our clients, too. My own spiritual beliefs include Easter, and the celebration of Jesus rising from the dead to show the world how much God loves us. But we have to remember what put Jesus in that position; why it was that he was nailed to a cross. It…