October 2, 2024
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine student Colin Wilson has been accepted as a 2024/25 Gene A. Copello Health Advocacy Fellow . Doctors for America announced that he is one of 16 leaders selected for the program, which is open to medical students, residents, practicing physicians and retirees who have a willingness to learn and the desire to make a difference in health advocacy.
Wilson, a student on the college's Cleveland Campus, has completed his clinical rotations at Cleveland Clinic Akron General, where he served on the First Generation Medical Professional Committee and oversaw their mentorship program. Wilson is also involved with the Rural and Urban Scholars Pathway at the Heritage College, a program dedicated to preparing medical students for careers serving underserved patient populations in both rural and urban settings.
Through his advocacy work, Wilson has served as a student organizer for Ohio Physicians for Reproductive Rights,
focusing on the passage of Ohio’s constitutional amendment to protect reproductive rights. He is also engaged ingun violence research with Akron Children’s Hospital and hopes to continue his advocacy in these areas. While
Wilson has not yet decided on a specialty, he is leaning towards family medicine.
As part of the Copello Fellowship, Wilson and his fellow participants will meet monthly to learn from national experts
and each other about advocacy, community organizing, media relations, writing and giving testimony and
impactful engagement with legislators.
Wilson has chosen to support the work of Doctors for America’s Community Health and Prevention impact area during his fellowship. Each fellow will also work on a specialized project, showcasing their work through a special presentation at the end of the fellowship.