In the popular imagination activism and medicine sound like two very different endeavors. Activism is all about marching, protesting, civil disobedience, and speaking truth to power. Medicine is all about diagnosis, imaging, pharmaceuticals, surgeries, and rehabilitation. In the popular imagination, there’s miles of empty space between the two.

But what if we’re wrong about all of this? What if activism and medicine are natural allies? What if activism is actually a powerful pro-health orientation? What if activism–done properly–actually makes the human organism stronger? And what if we could unite these two domains under a single orientation for the human animal?

At this moment in history, this is precisely what we need. As the planet lurches towards ecological collapse, we need entire populations to engage in system change. At the same time, millions–even billions–of people are struggling with psycho-physical afflictions that are often resistant to conventional treatments. If we could build a bridge between these two realities, we might well move the needle on the world.

objectives

• Explore the connections between inner and outer forms of activism

• Normalize the practice of engagement

• Encourage and promote lives of relevance

• Help activists deal with the challenges of stress and burnout

• Integrate activism into modern medical practice

• Build relationships and offer support to the activist community