February 2026

This month, I keep hearing the same thing from physicians across the country: my patients are afraid. Afraid to seek care. Afraid to ask questions. Afraid that doing the right thing—for their health or their family—could put them at risk.

 

Fear is not a side effect of policy. It is a public health crisis. And when fear enters the exam room, it changes everything.

 

Across exam rooms nationwide, physicians and medical trainees are seeing the consequences in real time: delayed visits, worsening chronic disease, and preventable emergencies driven not by neglect, but by fear—of immigration enforcement, of reproductive or gender-affirming care restrictions, of systems that no longer feel safe or trustworthy. At the same time, clinicians are experiencing profound moral distress, caught between their duty to care and policies that punish evidence, compassion, and professional judgment.

 

Doctors for America exists for moments like this. When fear threatens to silence patients and clinicians alike, DFA works to restore stability grounded in evidence, ethics, and solidarity. Through litigation, coalition leadership, and practical tools—like our Healthcare Advocacy for Undocumented Individuals Toolkit—we equip clinicians with concrete ways to protect access, build trust, and care for patients safely and ethically. But no organization can meet this moment alone. We need physicians and trainees to speak out, to use these tools, and to show up together for their patients and communities. Fear may be powerful—but when physicians and medical trainees lead with clarity, courage, and compassion, it does not get the final word.

This event will focus on advocate resiliency and addressing moral injury in an increasingly challenging health policy landscape. Participants will explore what moral injury is and how it affects physicians and health advocates, while learning practical strategies to sustain long-term engagement. Through a “Small Wins” framework, attendees will develop personal approaches to ethical and moral persistence and gain tools to apply these frameworks to effective voter advocacy as we look ahead to the 2026 midterm elections.

As part of the Doctors for America community, your voice plays an essential role in strengthening our shared work to protect patients and advance health equity. We invite you to take a few minutes to complete our user experience and satisfaction survey. Your feedback helps ensure we’re building an advocacy community that truly supports and empowers physicians to lead meaningful change. Please share your thoughts by February 8th.

Access to Affordable Care (AAC) - Join us in the fight for affordable healthcare! Don’t miss our monthly call on Tuesday, February 3rd at 8pm ET!

Sexual and Gender Health - Join the Sexual and Gender Health subcommittee team for Public Comment Power Hour to get guidance on how to write a public comment, as well as workshop a comment responding to the CMS proposed rule to limit Medicare/Medicaid funding and coverage for the provision of evidence-based gender-affirming care to those under 18 on Monday, February 9th at 8pm ET.

Health Justice and Equity (HJE) - Join the HJE Subcommittees to work on issues of gender-affirming care, reproductive rights, and immigrant health justice on Sunday, February 22nd at 8pm ET!

Community Health and Prevention (CHP) - Join the CHP Subcommittees to work on issues of substance use disorders, gun violence prevention, and public health on Monday, February 23rd at 8pm ET!