A new bill that goes into effect in Maryland on October 24 will greatly expand access to health insurance for Maryland families, regardless of the applicant’s immigration status.

The successful passage of the bill — co-sponsored by state senator and Johns Hopkins physician Clarence Lam — got a notable boost through the advocacy of Ria Arora, now a second-year medical student at Johns Hopkins.

Coordinating with other legislative efforts and student groups on campus, Arora rounded up medical and public health students from both Johns Hopkins and the University of Maryland to offer written testimony in support of the Access to Care Act.

A letter she wrote to the Senate Finance Committee had 119 cosigners — 86 of whom were Johns Hopkins medical students. The statement featured 30 written testimonies from medical students sharing their own experiences witnessing or experiencing the lack of access to healthcare. 

“Ria’s efforts represent exactly the type of activity — and exactly the type of future physician — we are trying to develop in this school: a healer and leader who will leave their mark in a positive way on the profession and on the world,” says Roy Ziegelstein, vice dean for education.