2022 AADA Legislative Conference: FAQs
When and where will the conference take place? The 2022 AADA Legislative Conference will take place September 18-20, 2022, at the Conrad Hotel, in Washington, D.C.
What is the AADA Legislative Conference? The AADA Legislative Conference is the specialty’s foremost meeting focused on legislative, regulatory, and political issues that affect dermatology. As many as 200 dermatologists, patient group leaders, practice administrators/managers, and political insiders are expected to participate in the conference.
The conference is a unique opportunity to hear from health policy experts, discuss dermatology issues with colleagues, attend advocacy training taught by D.C. insiders, and become the trusted and influential voice your members of Congress can rely on.
All U.S.-based AADA members are welcome to participate, even if they haven’t participated in the conference previously.
What are the goals of the conference? The AADA has three main goals for the 2022 Legislative Conference:
Provide participants with a unique opportunity to learn about the AADA’s advocacy process and how health policy affects dermatology practices and patients every day.
Boost attendees’ ability to advocate on behalf of the specialty through participation in interactive training sessions.
Position participants as the experts on issues that are important to the specialty by providing the unique opportunity for attendees to meet with members of Congress.
How do I register? Online registration for the 2022 AADA Legislative Conference is now open. Visit the 2022 AADA Legislative Conference page for more information. Space is limited, so register early.
What are the costs associated with attending? There is a $100 registration fee associated with the registration form. This charge is a deposit for your hotel stay at the conference, not an additional charge, and can be refunded any time before August 15, 2022.
If you would like to attend the conference, and will not be staying at the Conrad Hotel, please email grassroots@aad.org to have your deposit waived (you must do this before registering).
What is the schedule for the conference? Attendees should plan to arrive in Washington, D.C. by 2:00 p.m. (EDT) Sunday, September 18, and leave no earlier than 4:00 p.m. (EDT) Tuesday, September 20. It is important that travel arrangements for departure are not made for earlier than 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday because the schedule for Capitol Hill visits is subject to change.
The complete agenda will be emailed to all registered participants and posted on the conference web page prior to the conference. Copies of the agenda will also be available upon arrival at the registration desk.
How much do I need to know about policy, legislative process, and the legislators before coming? You don’t need to be an expert on policy, the legislative process, or the legislators. You are meeting with legislators as an expert in dermatology and patient care. During the conference, the AADA will provide you with background materials on your legislators, a copy of the AADA legislative priorities, and a brief training on advocacy.
How do the meetings with my members of Congress work? The AADA works with its partners to schedule all Capitol Hill meetings for attendees. We use your home and office addresses to determine who your members of Congress are and then contact their offices to schedule meetings for you.
If you have an existing relationship with your elected official(s) this will help expedite the process, and could potentially lead to meeting with the senators or congressmen in addition to their staff. If this is the case, please contact grassroots@aad.org.
Before meeting with your members of Congress and their staffers, the AADA will provide you with specific information about legislative priorities, talking points, and other resources. Remember to bring plenty of business cards!
Because of the constantly changing congressional schedule, your meeting times will not be available until a week before conference. Meeting schedules are subject to change at any point before the meeting takes place. For this reason, we ask all participants to reserve 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (EDT) on Tuesday, September 20, for congressional meetings.
How will I receive materials for the conference? Materials for the conference will be available for participants on the website. In addition, the AADA Legislative Conference Web page will be updated with the agenda, and other important information, as it becomes available.
Is CME offered? Details are still being finalized. More information on CME will be provided when it is available.
What should I wear?
For the conference, business or business casual attire is appropriate. Business attire is recommended for Capitol Hill visits.
I have additional questions about the conference. Where do I go for more information?
Please email AADA staff at grassroots@aad.org.
