The AAO 2023 Professional Advocacy Conference co-chaired by Dr. Dale Anne Featheringham and Dr. Mike Durbin hosted a maximum capacity blend of AAO advocacy veterans and more than sixty orthodontic residents in Washington, DC (February 28-March 1).
Grassroots advocacy engagement remained the dominant theme throughout a range of topics on the programming agenda, followed by action on Capitol Hill. The AAO delegation carried out over sixty meetings in U.S. House and Senate offices to share our evidence-based policy priorities, including patient health and safety concerns relating to mail-order orthodontic treatment models; workforce shortages and small business challenges; and pervasive student loan debt concerns, with the average debt at $567,000 for an orthodontist after completing residency.
The AAOPAC Board hosted a bipartisan reception and dinner at the Hamilton Hotel, where Professional Advocacy Conference attendees represented AAO Members and AAO Advocacy policy priorities directly with the following Members of Congress in attendance:
- Senator Todd Young
- Congressman Don Bacon
- Congressman Brett Guthrie
- Congresswoman Virginia Foxx
- Congressman Jerry Carl
- Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick
- Congressman John Joyce
- Congressman Jodey Arrington
- Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks
- Congressman Michael Burgess
- Congressman Brian Babin
- Congresswoman Beth Van Duyne
- Congressman Bill Johnson
- Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi
- Congresswoman Kim Schrier
- Congressman Randy Feenstra
- Congressman Bob Latta
- Congressman Jeff Van Drew
- Congressman Pat Fallon
Members of Congress were grateful to connect with AAO Members in this informal setting. Our AAOPAC Pillars of Giving are working, and AAO’s advocacy influence continues to grow through AAO Member grassroots engagement.
The programming agenda for this year’s conference attendees was built by the AAO Legal & Advocacy Team to cover a variety of topics with executive-level overviews that will be complemented by a new virtual series offered throughout the coming year to AAO Members to continue grassroots engagement and conversations focused on issues ranked most important by AAO Members taking the annual AAO Public Policy Survey.
Highlights from the 2023 Professional Advocacy Conference
- AAO 2023 Advocacy Insights and Action in States across the U.S.
- Day One Keynote Address by Dr. Natalia Chalmers, Centers for Medicaid Services (CMS) first Chief Dental Officer
- Introducing opportunities to lead and join AAO’s new National Advocacy Network
- Workforce Challenges discussion, including updates from Michigan ( John Monticello) and New York (Dr. Renée Pompei)
- Key Insights from Orthodontic Residents as our Advocacy Voices for the Future (featuring Katie Garrett-McCormack, Beatrice Williams, Alauna Martinez, Davide Greene, and Andrew Larkin)
- AAOPAC Reception and Dinner and direct interaction with eighteen Members of Congress
- Optional Night Tour of the National Mall (including the Lincoln Memorial, Korean Memorial, and Vietnam Veterans Memorial)
- Day Two breakfast kick-off with AAO CEO Lynne Thomas Gordon
- AAOPAC fueling AAO Advocacy roundtable with Clark Colville, Phil Mansour, Mike Durbin, and Dale Anne Featheringham
- Day Two Keynote Address by Congresswoman Robin Kelly (IL)
- AAO/ADA collaboration: updates from ADA Congressional Affairs Director Chris Tampio
- Center for Telehealth and eHealth Law (CTEL) updates from CTeL Legislative Policy Director Ben Steinhafel
- Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies Team + AAO Legal and Advocacy Team send-off to Capitol Hill for over sixty Congressional meetings in the U.S. House and Senate
AAOPAC: Please help keep this incredible advocacy momentum going by making your 2023 contribution at AAOPAC.org now!
SAVE-THE DATES: Mark your calendar to join us for the next AAO Professional Advocacy Conference in Washington, DC: February 27-28, 2024. AAOPAC contributors and Residents are eligible to receive invitations. Space is limited!