About the Policy/Advocacy Subcommittee

The NJC Policy/Advocacy Subcommittee works to improve the policies that shape the lives of newborns and their families. Members track state and federal policy, develop advocacy strategies, write op-eds and public comments, and meet with policymakers to advance neonatal equity and justice.

The subcommittee hosts quarterly meetings on the third Wednesday of the month in November, February, May, and August. All NJC members are welcome.

Subcommittee Leadership

• Levi Funches Jr., MD – Senior Leader

• Kshama Shah, MD MPH MA – Senior Leader

• Neha Anand, MD – Junior Leader

Next Quarterly Meeting

Paid Leave Advocacy for Families Navigating the NICU and Beyond

Wednesday, November 18, 2026 at 4:00 PM ET / 1:00 PM PT

Join us for a discussion about the current U.S. landscape for paid family leave, why it matters for our patients and families, and how we can advocate together to improve paid leave policies. Our guest speaker is Sarah Ritter, Policy Manager at the Prenatal-to-3 Policy Impact Center. We will brainstorm actionable steps to collaborate on, such as writing op-eds and meeting with state policymakers.

Join the Zoom meeting

Have a question or suggestion for this session? Share it with us here.

Get Involved

Interested in joining the Policy/Advocacy Subcommittee? Join NJC here or email neonataljustice@gmail.com.