The AAO 2025 Professional Advocacy Conference took place in Washington, D.C. March 11-12, hosting a maximum capacity event with 125 attendees including orthodontists from the United States and Canada and 47 residents. Drs. Richard Williams and Ryan Frost of the AAO Board of Trustees co-chaired the meeting. 

Prior to the conference, the AAO Council on Government Advocacy (COGA) and the AAOPAC Board met on March 10 and 11 to make strategic plans for 2025 AAO policy priorities and ensure the AAOPAC continues to fuel AAO’s advocacy success in Washington, D.C. and in states throughout the country.  

On March 12, participants carried out over 60 meetings in U.S. House and Senate offices on Capitol Hill, sharing the AAO’s evidence-based policy priorities, including patient health and safety concerns relating to mail-order orthodontic treatment models, small business challenges, FSA/HSA legislative priorities, and student loan debt concerns.  The Resident Education Deferred Interest Act (REDI Act) was reintroduced (from the 118th Congress) in the U.S. House and the U.S. Senate immediately prior to AAO members advocating for support of the bipartisan legislation on Capitol Hill.

The meeting began on March 11 with a keynote address by U.S. Congressman Roger Williams (Texas), Chair of the House Committee on Small Business, and remarks by Dr. Willy Chertman of the Deputy Secretary’s Office of the Department of Health and Human Services.

A panel discussion, “AAO’s Advocacy Voices for the Future, Key Insights from Residents,” followed, with discussion of student loan debt challenges and their future impact on orthodontists.

Dr. Rachel Thorstenson, who served as moderator of the panel, is the AAO Council on New & Younger Members’ liaison to the AAO Political Action Committee and a resident at the Mayo Clinic. Resident panelists included Dr. Raurie Petrich of Case Western Reserve University, Dr. Jordan Gall of the University of Tennessee and Dr. Jenna Schneider of West Virginia University.  AAO Council on Government Advocacy Chair Dr. Valerie Martone and AAO Grassroots and Digital Advocacy Specialist Kim VanVeen also offered perspectives on this issue.

Ms. VanVeen then joined members of the AAO National Advocacy Network (NAN) in presenting “Power of AAO’s National Advocacy Network + Member Grassroots Engagement.” The panel included Dr. Bart Goldsberry, Utah AAOPAC Captain, Dr. Sheetal Patil, California Component Advocacy Liaison (CAL), Dr. Eddy Sedeno, Florida CAL, Dr. Manal Ibrahim-LaVacca, Illinois CAL Team and Dr. Meg Dombroski, Maine AAOPAC Captain.

The panel was followed by “AAO State and Provincial Advocacy Updates and Action.” AAO Vice President of Advocacy Nathan Mick and AAO General Counsel Adam Braundmeier
offered insights regarding 2025 legislative and regulatory initiatives.

An evening reception honoring U.S. Senators and Members of Congress was attended by more than 20 representatives and received a mention in Politico. The event was followed by the AAOPAC Dinner and 2024 Top Contributors Recognition, hosted by the AAOPAC Board of Directors and Dr. Deborah Lien, 2023-25 AAOPAC Board Chair. Special dinner entertainment to honor the 125th anniversary of the AAO in 2025 provided by Capitol Fools (formerly Capitol Steps).

AAO members and staff connected directly with the following bipartisan list of 28 U.S. Senators and Members of Congress in Washington, D.C. during the AAO 2025 Professional Advocacy Conference:

U.S Senator John Hickenlooper (Colorado)
U.S Senator Dan Sullivan (Alaska)
U.S Senator Rick Scott (Florida)
U.S Senator Shelley Moore Capito (West Virginia)
U.S Senator Roger Marshall (Kansas)
U.S Senator Ben Ray Luján (New Mexico)
U.S Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith (Mississippi)
U.S Senator Pete Ricketts (Nebraska)
U.S Senator James Risch (Idaho)
U.S Senator Joni Ernst (Iowa)
U.S Senator Maggie Hassan (New Hampshire)
U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn (Tennessee)
U.S. Representative Beth Van Duyne (Texas)
U.S. Representative Lauren Underwood (Illinois)
U.S. Representative Brian Fitzpatrick (Pennsylvania)
U.S. Representative Brian Babin (Texas) — Dentist
U.S. Representative David Valadao (California)
U.S. Representative Dan Crenshaw (Texas)
U.S. Representative John Joyce (Pennsylvania)
U.S. Representative Aaron Bean (Florida)
U.S. Representative Joaquin Castro (Texas)
U.S. Representative Kim Schrier (Washington State)
U.S. Representative Adrian Smith (Nebraska)
U.S. Representative Brian Jack (Georgia)
U.S. Representative Chris Deluzio (Pennsylvania)
U.S. Representative Mike Simpson (Idaho) — Dentist
U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta (California)
U.S. Representative Roger Williams (Texas)

The following morning, conference attendees had an early start with a breakfast and welcome from Trey Lawrence, AAO CEO, followed by an address by Jay Fisher, Academy of General Dentistry Government Affairs Manager, former Illinois State Senator and three-day JEOPARDY! Champion (July 2024).

The final guest speaker was White House Office of Public Liaison Senior Associate Director, Ms. Karalee Geis.

Participants then gained final Member of Congress meeting insights from Mr. Mick along with from Alexandra Campau and Meagan Foster with the AAO’s federal firm, Cozen O’Conor Public Strategies,  including a mock Congressional Office meeting featuring AAO trustee Dr. Anil Idiculla, before departing for Capitol Hill.

As the AAO focuses on advancing our priorities in Washington, DC and throughout the states, please help support AAO Advocacy priorities now by making your gift celebrating 125 years of AAO in 2025. It only takes a few minutes to complete your contribution now at AAOPAC.org, using your e-mail address associated with your AAO membership.

Save the Dates!
Future AAO Professional Advocacy Conferences in Washington, D.C. will take place:
March 17 and 18, 2026
February 22 and 23, 2027
February 28 and 29, 2028