A Medical Student’s Perspective on Gun Violence as a Public Health Emergency

Eugenia Asipenko

As of the writing of this article, there have been an estimated 6,052 deaths in the United States from gun violence (1). This means that 116 people have died every day this year from a firearm-related cause. These numbers do not even include the injuries that occur from firearms. Therefore, to say that gun violence is a public health threat in this country is an understatement. Despite it being shown that gun safety laws reduce gun violence deaths, last year was the first time in ten years that major federal legislation was passed regarding this problem (2). Although there are many individuals and groups that have done incredible and impactful work to improve gun safety, more work clearly must be done. The disconnect between the severity of this problem and the response to it is partially what drew me to focus on it as a realm of advocacy.

For the past three years I have co-led an optional elective at the UMass Chan Medical School: A Public Health Approach to Treating Gun Violence. In this elective, speakers are invited who approach the topic of gun violence prevention from a variety of perspectives. Our speakers range from lawyers to grassroots advocates to justices to artists to physicians. They often speak of their personal experience with guns or gun violence and how it has shaped what they do. We learn strategies for discussing firearms with patients and how programs that focus on reducing gun violence help the community. Most importantly, we learn why students and medical providers should deeply care about this topic. Some students who take this elective state that this is the first time they have had the opportunity to learn about gun violence from a public health perspective. This gap in education makes discussing guns and gun violence with patients a daunting challenge. A Public Health Approach to Treating Gun Violence is highly constructive in that it provides not only information, but also specific tools that healthcare providers can utilize to facilitate these conversations. It is also impactful because the stories we hear make the topic more personal and real. Our speakers candidly share their personal experiences, and their openness creates a lasting, emotional impression for those who attend. Ultimately, the elective demonstrates the importance of educating nursing and medical students on gun violence early so that they may carry these lessons and disseminate them as they move forward in their careers. The truth is, the subject of guns can be a touchy one, and the strength of emotions that swirl around it can make it seem too intimidating or taboo to discuss. The problem is that people die from gun violence in this country every day. This is now a norm that many have accepted. Our friends, family members, neighbors, community members – we are all affected by this very real public health threat. These same people are the patients to whom we have dedicated our professional lives.

So, the question must not be whether we should do something about it, but what we should and can do. We all have the ability to advocate for ourselves and for our patients. This advocacy can begin by asking all our patients about what firearms they have in the home, how they store them, and how they feel about having those firearms. It may take the form of education about safe storage, risks of having firearms in the home, or gun buy-back programs in the area. Perhaps it could evolve into making these questions a standard practice in your institution or having your institution partner with local advocacy groups. If you are involved in medical education, you might integrate gun safety into the curriculum and encourage nursing and medical students to be advocates. You could even take your advocacy to a larger scale by contacting your local government representatives and advocating in favor of legislation that imposes stricter bans and regulations on the purchase and possession of firearms.

For one person to do all this would be a truly impressive feat, but the power of the medical field is that there is space for collaboration and connection among colleagues, specialties, and institutions. It is also important to note that many healthcare workers already focus their efforts on many of the other aspects of healthcare that are worthy of advocacy. It is possible that in this essay I have simply reiterated what you already know. However, I think the reiteration is needed. I would encourage us all to treat gun violence as a public health emergency because, in one way or another, it will touch us or our patients. This will require steadfastness and dedication, not only after tragedies occur but consistently every day. Together we can collectively turn our outrage into action. If we can all make a meaningful change in the life of at least one patient, it will be worth it.

Eugenia Asipenko is a fourth-year medical student at the University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School and co-leader of the optional elective titled “A Public Health Approach to Treating Gun Violence.”

References

1. Gun Safety Policies Save Lives. Everytown Research & Policy. (2023, January 13). Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https:// everytownresearch.org/rankings

2. Gun Violence Archive. (2023). Retrieved February 20, 2023, from https://www. gunviolencearchive.org