Standing Strong Together March 4, 2025

For over six decades, Physicians for Social Responsibility has spoken boldly to protect human life from the gravest threats to our health. Generations of PSR health professionals have struggled for peace, justice, a healthy climate, and a healthy democracy. 

Over the past six weeks, PSR’s staff, board, and members have been outraged by the dangerous actions of the Trump administration and the Congress. At this moment, we rise once again to sound the alarm at the many ways health is under attack:

• Attacks on federal employees, agencies, and programs that protect public health, preserve our national parks and forests, monitor extreme weather, safeguard nuclear security, enforce environmental protections, and provide care to the most vulnerable across the globe.
• Attacks on science and facts – defunding critical medical research, deleting public health and climate data, and undermining the freedom of the press through intimidation and misinformation.
• Attacks on the rights and the dignity of historically disenfranchised communities, stoking hatred and division by targeting immigrants, asylum seekers, transgender Americans, and others.
• Attacks on Medicaid and SNAP programs, harming the poorest Americans to give tax cuts to businesses and billionaires.
• Attacks on global peace and diplomatic stability, increasing the threat of nuclear annihilation, with constant warnings of impending WWIII.
• Attacks on the health of our democracy itself, as the President and the world’s richest man recklessly defy the checks and balances of Congress and the Courts.

The flood of executive orders is creating not just disruption, but pain, suffering, and death. Meanwhile, the President is seizing power while the public is feeling panicked and powerless. 

Now more than ever, we need groups like PSR to help us channel our outrage into action and summon the courage to speak with a fierce commitment to our values. As health professionals and allies, we have a duty to act in this critical moment. We must raise our voices for the health of our patients, our communities, and our planet. And that is precisely what PSR is doing.

The pictures here are from today. As the President prepares to address Congress, nearly 100 health professionals are gathered in Washington, DC. PSR members and our partners are meeting with Senators and Representatives, calling them to defend federal funding for clean energy, climate resilience, and environmental justice. 

Dozens of PSR members are also at the United Nations this week, joining with activists from around the world in support of the Treaty for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. This afternoon, we are co-hosting an event celebrating the leadership of cities working for nuclear abolition. Even as the federal government is in chaos, we continue to speak truth to power, and we continue to work for peace, justice, and a healthy climate locally and globally. 

We’re energized to be together this week, and we invite you to join us. You are the power of this movement, the trusted and credible health voices who stand with those who are most vulnerable, speaking with authority to the public and decision makers. PSR is here to support you with resources and information, encouragement and inspiration, and above all, a sense of community. The best way to fight your sense of despair is by taking action and doing it with others. We are thousands strong and growing, and now is the time to stand with us. 

What can you do?

Speak up: Reach out to your members of Congress today, so they’ll receive phone calls and emails along with visits from our health advocates on Capitol Hill. Sign up for PSR emails and action alerts so you can take action again.

Support PSR: Your contributions help fund our amazing staff who equip you with the resources to make a difference, our Emerging Leaders Program for students and young professionals, and our work with powerful PSR chapters and grassroots partners across the country.

Connect with other health professionals: Talk with colleagues who are looking for community and opportunities for action. Forward them this email and introduce them to PSR. Join a PSR chapter in your state or city. If there’s not a chapter near you, we can even help you get organized. We need solidarity with others right now.

Share your story: You have tremendous influence as a health provider. Now is the time to share your story on social media, write an op-ed, attend a town hall meeting, or just talk with friends and neighbors. 

Take care of yourself: Change will not be quick or easy, so we must sustain ourselves for the long haul. Take breaks from breaking news. Spend time outside. Plan time for the people and things that bring you joy. 

Stand with us. Speak out today. No effort is too small, no voice too weak. We are the change-makers. We are the ones who must rise to meet this moment.

Sincerely,

Brian Campbell, PhD
Executive Director

Mark Vossler, MD
President