A single letter helped Wayne State student step into public health advocacy

For Wayne State University student Lynessa Asplund, advocacy began with a simple act: writing a letter.

Inspired by what she was learning about health care disparities, the Global Health course taught by Dr. Jonathan Stillo and a media advocacy workshop through Stop TB USA, the Wayne State student decided to take action. She wrote a letter to the editor of The Daily Sentinel, her Colorado hometown newspaper. Her published letter advocated for increased federal funding for clinical research trials.

With aspirations of becoming a physician, Asplund is already finding ways to combine her passion for science and community service. A sophomore student in the Irvin D. Reid Honors College and College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, she is majoring in nutrition and food science with a minor in biology. She is also just one of 10 scholars in Wayne Med-Direct, a highly competitive program that offers a pathway to admission consideration at Wayne State's School of Medicine.

Writing that letter challenged Asplund to move beyond learning about public health issues in the classroom and contribute to a broader conversation about them. Seeing her words published reinforced the idea that students can play a role in shaping public dialogue around health care, even early in their academic careers.

"Sometimes meaningful advocacy can begin with something as simple as spending 20 minutes writing a letter," Asplund said. "Wayne State and Detroit have allowed me to expand my perspectives culturally, economically and socially," she said. "Exposure to health care disparities, barriers to care and advocacy opportunities has challenged me to think more critically about how health care systems can better serve patients."

Stillo, a medical anthropologist and associate professor of anthropology and public health, said Asplund's action reflects what's possible when students choose to engage.

"What Lynessa accomplished shows the impact Wayne State students can have when they use their voices beyond the classroom," he said. "She recognized an important public health issue and found a way to bring that conversation into her own community."

Through her involvement with Science Policy Network-Detroit, Asplund has explored how scientific research intersects with public policy. The experience introduced her to advocacy tools such as letters to the editor, public storytelling and community engagement strategies designed to help bridge the gap between research and public understanding.

"My goal is not just to become a physician," Asplund said. "I want to become someone patients trust, someone who advocates for their care, listens to their stories and works to improve access to health care and treatment opportunities." Now, she plans to continue combining medicine, research and advocacy and hopes to encourage other students to find their voice along the way.

"I would encourage students to start by identifying issues they genuinely care about and then look for organizations or communities already doing advocacy work in those areas," she said. "Writing a letter, attending a meeting or even starting conversations with peers are all meaningful forms of advocacy. You do not need to be an expert to begin speaking up."

By Darlene A. White