We are excited for orthodontists and orthodontic residents from across the country to gather in Washington, D.C. on February 27-28 at the 2024 AAO Professional Advocacy Conference.  AAO members will be attending over 60 meetings with offices of Members of Congress to advocate on issues like addressing mail-order orthodontic patient health and safety concerns, workforce shortages, offering solutions to student loan debt challenges, and much more.

In celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the AAOPAC, the inaugural class of AAO members will be inducted into the AAOPAC Hall of Fame, recognizing three AAO members for their dedication to and support of the AAOPAC over the last 30th years. This week also marks the launch of the 2024 Dr. Michelle Skelton AAOPAC Resident Challenge.

Dr. Michelle Skelton, current orthodontic resident at Columbia University and Council on New and Younger Members representative to the AAOPAC Board and Council on Government Advocacy, recently launched the challenge.

All AAO student members** are invited to enter this Resident Challenge by supporting the AAOPAC and making a $10 or more contribution at AAOPAC.org by April 20, 2024. All resident programs that have 100% resident participation will be entered into a drawing for the entire program to receive a free lunch at the 2024 Annual Session in New Orleans and access to the AAOPAC lounge. Located in the Exhibit Hall, the lounge will offer free coffee, soft drinks, water, special events, snacks, WiFi and places to rest and charge your phone during Exhibit Hall hours.

In 2023, the University of Maryland and the University of Texas-Houston resident programs won the AAOPAC resident challenge and received free lunch at the AAO Annual Session plus access to the AAOPAC lounge.

Learn more about the Dr. Michelle Skelton 2024 AAOPAC Resident Challenge.

Additionally, this year, to honor of the AAOPAC’s 30th Anniversary, all AAO individual student members** who make a $30.94 or more contribution will:

● Receive a 2024 AAOPAC lapel pin.
● Receive a limited edition of AAOPAC 30th Anniversary socks while supplies last.
● Gain access to the AAOPAC Lounge at Annual Session

All AAOPAC contributors who have given $30.94 or more this fiscal year (since June 1, 2023) will have access to the AAOPAC Lounge.

A growing number of AAO members are investing in AAOPAC to help fuel our advocacy success not only in Washington, DC but in states throughout the country. Please consider making a contribution for 2024 now at AAOPAC.org to help us reach our goals for the current fiscal year by May 31.

*PER FEC RULES, ONLY AAO MEMBERS WHO ARE U.S. CITIZENS AND PERMANENT RESIDENTS CAN CONTRIBUTE TO THE AAOPAC. RESIDENTS WHO ARE NON-U.S. CITIZENS OR PERMANENT RESIDENTS MUST CONTRIBUTE $30.94 TO THE AAO FOUNDATION TO BE COUNTED. LEARN MORE and contribute AT AAOFOUNDATION.NET.