On November 18, 2025, AAO members, including three orthodontic residents, engaged in the third annual Ohio State Lobby Day. The event again demonstrated the strength of AAO’s growing grassroots network and the meaningful impact orthodontists can have when they engage directly with state policymakers to advance AAO priorities.

Lobby Day 2025 built on last year’s success, hosting six AAO and Ohio Association of Orthodontists (OAO) members, including three orthodontic residents, whose participation added important insight into student loan challenges and the future orthodontic workforce and access in Ohio. Also participating in the event were Ms. Gianna Nawrocki, AAO Advocacy Manager, and AAO Ohio contact lobbyists, Mr. Aaron Ockerman and Mr. Isaac Northrop.

Thank you to the following AAO and OAO leaders who attended this year’s Ohio State Lobby Day:

  • Dr. Phillip Beckwith, AAOPAC Board Liaison, Great Lakes Association of Orthodontists
  • Dr. Yeujia Deng, Orthodontic Resident, The Ohio State University
  • Dr. Henry Fields, Professor Emeritus, The Ohio State University
  • Dr. Kaitrin Kramer, AAO Trustee At-Large
  • Dr. Nicholas Jones, Orthodontic Resident, The Ohio State University
  • Dr. Tommy Lau, Orthodontic Resident, The Ohio State University

Attendees met with eight legislative offices from the Ohio House of Representatives and Senate, discussing:

  • Key issues related to the Ohio Dental Board’s potential specialty advertising rules changes;
  • Concerns surrounding mail-order orthodontics and preserving the Ohio teledentistry permit; and
  • Student loan debt challenges.

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.

AAO and OAO members thank the following state legislators and their staff for their time and great discussions about policies that are important to Ohio orthodontists and their patients.

  • Representative Michele Grim (D–Toledo)
  • Senator Susan Manchester (R–Waynesfield)
  • Representative Rachel Baker (D–Cincinnati)
  • Senator Mark Romanchuk (R–Ontario)
  • Representative Anita Somani (D–Dublin)
  • Senator Beth Liston (D–Dublin)
  • Representative Kelly Deeter (R–Clayton)
  • Senator Terry Johnson (R–McDermott)

The afternoon schedule included lunch with Ohio Dental Association (ODA) lobbyist, Mr. Adam Hewitt and ODA Director of Legal and Legislative Services, Mr. Eric Richmond. Mr. Hewitt and Mr. Richmond provided an update on the status of the specialty advertising rules, highlighting the need for consumer-oriented regulations.

“The 2025 Ohio State Lobby Day was a terrific reminder of how influential grassroots advocacy can be,” said Dr. Kramer, who in addition to being an AAO Trustee At-Large is a craniofacial orthodontist at Nationwide Children’s Hospital’s Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Clinic in Ohio. “We connected with key legislators, advanced conversations about the issues shaping orthodontic care in Ohio, and shared the everyday experiences of our practices and patients. Each meeting reinforced how important it is for orthodontists to be at the table.”

As we continue to do more advocacy work in the states, please help support AAO Advocacy priorities by making your end-of-the year 2025 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.