A maximum capacity group of members — including more than 40 residents – convened in Washington, D.C. March 17 – 18 for the 2026 AAO Professional Advocacy Conference.
The conference included over 60 meetings carried out by participants in U.S. House and Senate offices on Capitol Hill. Participants shared with lawmakers and their teams AAO perspectives on evidence-based patient health and safety concerns relating to mail-order orthodontic treatment models, responsible artificial intelligence innovation, small business challenges, the Ensuring Lasting Smiles Act (ELSA), and student loan debt concerns.
Prior to the conference, the AAO Council on Government Advocacy (COGA) and the AAO Political Action Committee (AAOPAC) Board met on March 16 and 17 for 2026 AAO policy priority strategic planning, and to ensure the AAOPAC continues to fuel AAO’s advocacy success in Washington, D.C. and in states throughout the country.
The Advocacy Conference began on March 17 with a welcome from AAO CEO Trey Lawrence, AAO Vice President of Advocacy Nathan Mick, Conference co-chairs Dr. Ryan Frost and Dr. Steven Robirds, and AAO President Dr. Steven Siegel. The greetings were followed by a keynote address by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Chief Counsel Sean Keveney, “Insights from the FDA: Patient Safety, Innovation, and Medical Device Regulation.”
Panels Address Key Advocacy Topics
Following the keynote address, attendees gained greater insight into advocacy topics through a series of panels and a presentation by Kevin Knopf, an Internal Revenue Service expert on Healthcare Spending Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs).
Panels included:
“AAO Advocacy Voices for the Future: Resident Perspectives: Conversations on Artificial Intelligence and Student Loan Debt Challenges”
Moderator: Dr. Erik Klintmalm, CONYM Co-Liaison (AAOPAC) from UNC-Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Resident Panelists:
- Dr. Lake Seymour, Harvard (Cambridge, Massachusetts); and
- Dr. Tommy Lau, The Ohio State University (Columbus, Ohio)
AAO Advocacy Team Panelist:
- Kim VanVeen, AAO Specialist, Grassroots and Digital Advocacy
“Power of AAO’s National Advocacy Network (NAN) + Member Grassroots Engagement: AAO Conversations About Grassroots Strategy and State Efforts”
National Advocacy Network Panelists:
- Dr. Yuna Park, AAOPAC Captain, New York
- Dr. Lance Pittman, Component Advocacy Liaison, West Virginia
- Dr. Ty Saini, AAOPAC Captain, Maryland
- Kim VanVeen, AAO Specialist, Grassroots and Digital Advocacy
“AAO State and Provincial Advocacy Updates and Action: Current Insights on 2026 Legislative and Regulatory Action”
Introduction: Dr. Valerie Martone, Chair, AAO Council on Government Advocacy
AAO Advocacy Panelists:
- Vice President of Advocacy Nathan Mick
- Advocacy Manager Gianna Nawrocki
- General Counsel Adam Braundmeier, and
- Legal and Advocacy Staff Counsel Dan Ta
AAOPAC Hosts 28 Members of Congress at Conference Hotel
A late afternoon reception on March 17, hosted by AAOPAC, brought 26 bipartisan U.S. House Members and 2 U.S. Senators * to the Capital Hilton North Gate Grill. Advocacy Conference participants enjoyed engaging with the federal elected officials and building stronger relationships through AAOPAC.
AAOPAC Chair Dr. Edward Davis and the AAOPAC Board hosted a dinner recognizing all 2025 AAOPAC contributors and publicly honoring contributors who gave $2,500 or more in 2025. View the list of 2025 AAOPAC contributors recognized by giving category.
Tuesday programming concluded with a nod to St. Patrick’s Day, featuring Murder Mystery Co. (as seen on Shark Tank), which led an interactive dinner experience titled “Unlucky Charms.”
The following morning, Advocacy Conference participants who opted out of receiving their $400 travel stipend were recognized during remarks by Advocacy Manager Gianna Nawrocki. As the breakfast session continued, guest speakers included U.S. Congressman Wesley Bell (D-MO – representing Missouri’s first district, where AAO headquarters is located), and U.S. Department of Education Assistant Secretary for Postsecondary Education, David Barker. Assistant Secretary Barker addressed implementation of the new Federal Student Loan caps that will begin in July 2026.
A morning session panel included University of Alabama resident Dr. Heath Padgett, state legislative captain for the AAO National Advocacy Network (NAN) in Alabama, who discussed how the NAN is being developed in the state, and AAO General Counsel Adam Braundmeier, who highlighted a recorded-setting year for AAO Resident Legal Courses in-person and virtually throughout the United States and Canada.
Following final review of Capitol Hill logistics and AAO federal legislative priorities, and a practice Congressional meeting demonstration by Ms. Nawrocki and Alex Campau of the AAO’s federal lobbying firm, Cozen O’Connor Public Strategies, attendees formed groups and departed 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 in 2026. It only takes a few minutes to complete your contribution now at AAOPAC.org, using your e-mail address associated with your AAO membership.
* Congressional Representatives and Senators Who Attended the AAOPAC Reception
Rep. Brian Babin (R-TX)
Rep. Troy Balderson (R-OH)
Rep. Chris Deluzio (D-PA)
Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-TX)
Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC)
Rep. Vicente Gonzalez (D-TX)
Rep. Maggie Goodlander (D-NH)
Rep. John Joyce (R-PA)
Rep. Grace Meng (D-NY)
Rep. Carol Miller (R-WV)
Rep. Raul Ruiz (D-CA)
Rep. Kim Schrier (D-WA)
Rep. Adrian Smith (R-NE)
Rep. Lori Trahan (D-MA)
Rep. Lauren Underwood (D-IL)
Rep. Beth Van Duyne (R-TX)
Rep. Roger Williams (R-TX)
Rep. Haley Stevens (D-MI)
Rep. Aaron Bean (R-FL)
Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Rep. Morgan McGarvey (D-KY)
Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO)
Rep. Wesley Bell (D-MO)
Rep. Maxine Dexter (D-OR)
Rep. Andy Harris, MD (R-MD)
Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ)
Sen. Ed Markey (D-MA)
Sen. Dan Sullivan (R-AK)
