Physician, Advocate, Mother, Friend- Annie Andrews Inspires
Dr. Annie Andrews (Ped Res 2009) came to Cincinnati Children’s in 2006 for her pediatric residency training, following her graduation from the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine. Upon completing her residency, she moved to Mount Pleasant, SC, where she worked at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) as a pediatric hospitalist.
Life in South Carolina was normal- Annie was enjoying her job and loving being a mother to her three children. But, in 2018, there was a school shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, FL. School shootings were dramatically increasing, and in 2018 the number of violent incidents doubled. But this particular shooting impacted her differently, as her oldest daughter was just at the beginning of her school career.
Annie was struck with a moment of realization - she could make a difference. With this newfound determination, Annie decided to take action. She did not have a plan, she simply started going to meetings and started asking elected officials questions. Annie learned quickly that her voice, and her experiences as a pediatrician, were both welcomed and shocking to many. She became very involved with many advocacy groups, including Moms Demand Action. By 2021, Annie announced her intent to run for Congress in South Carolina’s 1st Congressional District.
When the announcement hit social media, Cincinnati Children’s alumni from across the globe celebrated! They began to shout their support over all social media platforms, and many began donating to her efforts. Annie was not surprised by the outpouring. “I have always valued the peer support and peer mentorship that came from my time at Cincinnati Children’s. Advocacy was never on my radar while I was in Cincinnati, but it was my network of other Cincinnati alumni, who have supported me in my career all along, that really gave me the courage to run for Congress.”
Annie mentioned that among all the alumni groups, those with Cincinnati connections have had the greatest impact, both from the University of Cincinnati and Cincinnati Children’s Hospital. Specifically, the residents from 2008-2009 and the other Hospital Medicine alums, such as Erin Shaughnessy, Andy Beck & Karen Jerardi, Lauren Solan, Jen O’Toole, Samir Shah, and Ndidi Unaka. She laughed “I was always ready for a reporter to question why I was receiving so many donations from the Cincinnati area for my campaign in Charleston!” The alumni network that has reached out since taking the political stage has been overwhelmingly supportive and she has made many new connections through this.
Although Annie didn't win the Congressional seat, her political experience led to a new and impactful adventure. “I finally saw behind the scenes and realized that no one was engaging in politics for the benefit of children because there is not a political organization raising money to help build this awareness and support candidates who are willing to put children first. There is a gap in the political ecosystem.” There is a misconception that the AAP has a political agenda for kids, similar to how the AARP works for the 65+ age group. This is not true because the AAP is a 501c3 organization and cannot touch politics. “We needed to create a PAC (Political Action Committee) to help raise funds to make sure there is political power fighting for kids.” Annie continued, “Kids are always left at the bottom of the political agenda because there is no money being spent. This needs to change, and pediatricians are in a unique situation to help bring forth this change.”
So, with the help of many, Annie has started a bi-partisan, non-profit advocacy organization called “Their Future. Our Vote.” Their goal is to give children a voice in Washington, D.C., by educating and empowering political candidates on important issues directly affecting the health and safety of children. They plan to address the following issues: sensible gun legislation, climate action, quality education, accessible healthcare, and reducing child hunger and poverty. Their Future PAC is it’s affiliated political organization, which will help raise funds to support candidates who have pledged to protect our kids. A call to action from this organization says: “Instead of playing politics WITH our kids, it is time to get political FOR our kids.”
Physicians wield a powerful voice that can serve as a catalyst for change. By leveraging their informed, trusted position in communities, they can inspire action and drive positive transformation. Annie shared “I believe we have a duty as physicians to use the stories we are privileged to witness in the exam room, in the trauma bay, in the ICU, to inspire our leaders to pass the laws that we need to create safe communities for our children. Physician-patient privacy and HIPPA laws are very important, but they also leave us thinking we cannot tell our stories and our experiences in a de-identified way. We internalize these experiences and often ‘leave them at the hospital.’ But these stories and these experiences need to be told. When I am sitting in meetings, on panels, giving a talk, and I share stories- in a patient privacy-protected way- about the kids who have been shot that I have cared for… there is a visible reaction. We carry these stories that are so powerful, and we have to be empowered to share them because people in state houses and Congress DC don’t have the same privilege we have, as physicians, to be at the bedside in these horrific moments.”
In addition to her new role as CEO of Their Future. Our Vote. and Their Future PAC, Annie is a Senior Advisor for Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action, which are focused on gun safety. Clinically, she is now a pediatric hospitalist at Children’s National Hospital in Washington, D.C. and a Professor at George Washington School of Medicine. Annie is also an extremely in-demand speaker, especially with physician audiences. In September, she was able to return to Cincinnati Children’s as the Pediatric Grand Rounds speaker for the annual Lyon Lecture, sponsored by the Cincinnati Pediatric Society. Her inspirational lecture was about Gun Safety, but was peppered with a call to action for fellow alumni to start looking into ways to become involved. It is one of the most viewed Grand Rounds of the year.
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