The 2019 Professional Advocacy Conference took place February 26-27 in Washington, D.C. with 118 AAO members advocating for the specialty on Capitol Hill.  A key Washington insiders’ publication, Politico Influence, reported on the conference.
View the Politico Influence Report
(Scroll down to “FLYING IN” for the AAO item.)

Upon arrival, the conference attendees went quickly into a training session to prepare to share the specialty’s perspective on key political issues with legislators and their staffs. Issues covered included passage of the RAISE Act, strengthening health care coverage for small businesses, repeal of the Medical Device Act and easing the burden of student loan debt on residents and recent graduates.

Following the training program, attendees enjoyed dinner while listening to two congressional speakers, Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Rep. Lee Zeldin (R- NY), with five additional legislators attending a dessert reception following the dinner. During breakfast before they departed for Capitol Hill the following morning, attendees heard from Mr. Michael Graham, senior vice president of government and public affairs at the American Dental Association.