Daniel Murphy is making history as the first osteopathic medical student to earn the coveted role of legislative affairs director for the American Medical Students Association. The second-year medical student will spend the next year on Capitol Hill lobbying some of the top political leaders on issues that impact medical care in the United States.

Having spent 15 years as an advocate—many of those for AIDS-related causes—Murphy knew that he wanted to apply for this position. But he always thought he’d wait until he finished medical school. However, when Congress shifted to a Democratic majority after last year’s elections, he decided to move up his timeline. “I realized that if I want to make a difference, this is the time to do it,” he says.

Since accepting the fellowship in February, Murphy has already started booking meetings with legislators. And he can’t wait to get to Washington, D.C., this June to really start working.

One of his first acts will be forming a policy team and setting a legislative agenda, which is sure to include global health issues and student debt. “We’re going to decide what issues we can win and then go win them,” the NYIT student says.

In his new role, Murphy will also teach medical students about policy advocacy, which will have him traveling throughout the United States to different medical schools and conferences. He already plans on making sure NYIT is on the short list.

“It’s really an honor to receive this position,” says Murphy. “Previous recipients have gone on to serve as state health commissioners and congressional advisors on health policy, and to receive the Robert Woods Johnson fellowship.”

NYIT’s vice president of health sciences and medical affairs, Barbara Ross Lee, D.O., was the first osteopath to receive the Robert Woods Johnson fellowship, and, Murphy says, it was her leadership role that inspired him to come to NYIT.

A California native, Murphy plans to return to NYIT to complete his degree and then apply for an infectious disease medicine fellowship. ”