On November 20, 2024, AAO members engaged in the second annual Ohio State Lobby Day. This event launched in 2023 in coordination with the AAO National Advocacy Network.
Lobby Day 2024 extended last year’s success, hosting 12 AAO and Ohio Association of Orthodontists (OAO) members. Also participating in the event were Ms. Riley Pierce, AAO Legal & Advocacy coordinator, and AAO Ohio contact lobbyists, Mr. Dave Battocletti, Mr. Isaac Northrop and Mr. Aaron Ockerman.
Thank you to the following AAO and OAO leaders who attended this year’s Ohio State Lobby Day:
- Dr. Phillip Beckwith, AAOPAC Board Liaison, GLAO
- Dr. Dale Anne Featheringham, AAOPAC Captain, Ohio, National Advocacy Network
- Dr. Henry Fields
- Dr. Piotr Gladysz
- Dr. Parker Heiner, Component Advocacy Liaison, Ohio, National Advocacy Network
- Dr. Kaitrin Kramer, AAO Trustee At-Large
- Dr. Ken Lawrence
- Dr. Peter Martone
- Dr. Valerie Martone, Chair, Council on Government Advocacy
- Dr. Ana Mercado
- Dr. Raurie Petrich
- Dr. Jonathan Shue, CAL Team, Ohio, Opposition Research & Innovation Captain
Attendees met with 10 legislative offices from the Ohio House and Senate, discussing key issues related to the Ohio Dental Board’s potential specialty advertising rules changes and concerns surrounding mail-order orthodontics. The event engaged AAO and OAO members in state-level legislative and policy processes while building AAO’s brand and presence at the Ohio Statehouse.
The afternoon schedule included lunch with Mr. Dave Owsiany, executive director of the Ohio Dental Association (ODA), and ODA lobbyist, Mr. Adam Hewitt. Mr. Owsiany provided an update on the status of the specialty advertising rules, highlighting the need for consumer-oriented regulations.
Attendees also met with Mr. Ian Dollenmayer, executive director of the Ohio General Assembly Joint Committee on Agency Rule Review (JCARR), and Mr. Joe Baker, executive director of the Ohio Commonsense Initiative. They discussed the role their organizations play in regulating state agencies and how AAO can engage with them on the specialty advertising rules.
The day concluded with a meeting with Mr. Corey Schaal, deputy director of the Ohio Dental Board, to discuss licensing requirements and the implementation of new legislation, including the Dentist and Dental Hygienist Compact that passed this legislative session.
Dr. Parker Heiner, Ohio Component Advocacy Liaison within the National Advocacy Network and Ohio State Lobby Day attendee noted that, “the 2024 Ohio State Lobby Day was yet again an incredible event for grassroots advocates and AAO members to interface directly with key lawmakers in Ohio, to raise awareness around issues that are important to orthodontists and our patients. We had several successful meetings and a chance to share our personal experiences as practicing orthodontists and small business owners.
“It was also a wonderful opportunity to connect with fellow Ohio AAO members, from orthodontic residents to retired orthodontists,” added Dr. Heiner. “I’d like to thank the AAO Advocacy team and Ockerman Consulting for the hard work they invested in ensuring it was a success.”
The day concluded with a tour of the Ohio Statehouse, offering a moment for members to reflect on the legislative process and the direct impact of grassroots advocacy on patient protection and the future of orthodontics in Ohio.
As we continue to do more advocacy work in the states, please help support AAO Advocacy priorities by making your end-of-the year 2024 contribution now at AAOPAC.org. AAOPAC is helping to fuel our advocacy success not only in Washington, D.C. but in states throughout the country as well. Our AAOPAC Pillars of Giving are working and the AAO’s advocacy influence continues to grow through AAO member grassroots engagement.
