As tragic mass shootings continue to dominate headlines, physicians have been told to “stay in their lane” when speaking out against gun violence in the U.S. However, many decline to conform to the naysayers. Instead, many doctors are standing tall and declaring that this is, indeed, their lane. As the fight for stricter background-check laws and better prevention tactics continues, three women in medicine are taking strong stances to protect their patients and the public from further harm.
Megan Ranney, MD
Gun violence touches every American in every community across the United States. However, Dr. Ranney, an emergency physician in Providence, believes the same resources for this epidemic that have been effective in curing every other health crisis have not been engaged. Dr. Ranney is also the chief research officer at the American Foundation for Firearm Injury Reduction in Medicine (AFFIRM), which is partnering with the AMA in its effort to restart the science of firearm-injury prevention.
AFFIRM seeks to reduce gun violence in the same way other public health crises have been defeated: through research, innovation and evidence-based practice. She believes there are ways to address this epidemic that respect the rights of all Americans. Read more about Dr. Ranney.
Hilary E. Fairbrother, MD
Medicine seemed like a natural fit for Dr. Fairbrother, an emergency physician in Houston, because she was good at science and also finds great rewards in the human interaction patient care offers. As chair of the AMA Young Physicians Section, she has helped strengthen the voice of physicians under 40. In her role, she has helped bring doctors together to advocate for DACA recipients, for the acknowledgement that gun violence is a public health crisis, and to help save graduate medical education funding in Congress. Read more about Dr. Fairbrother.
Faizah Shareef
Shareef has always been surrounded by medicine. As a second-year medical student at Boston University School of Medicine, she is making meaningful changes through her school by organizing educational events about gun violence and lowering costs in health care. She also engages with the AMA Medical Student Section to advance policy and educate her fellow medical students on various topics. Read more about Shareef.
This September, the AMA is marking Women in Medicine Month by celebrating trailblazers, advocates and leaders. Learn more about recent AMA advocacy efforts to address gun violence and firearm safety.
