Grassroots advocacy
More than 100 dermatologists and patient advocates representing 31 states met directly with 173 members of Congress and their staffs to discuss efforts to avert Medicare payment cuts, limit the reach of the Independent Payment Advisory Board, raise awareness about the dangers of indoor tanning, and preserve access to the full range of care that dermatologists are uniquely qualified to provide.

United voice to Congress
Keynote speaker Mark McClellan, MD, PhD, senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, greeted more than 100 dermatologists and patient advocates at the 2012 AADA Legislative Conference kickoff dinner. From left to right: Sabra Sullivan, MD, PhD; Marta VanBeek, MD; Jack Resneck, MD;  Mary Maloney, MD; Dirk Elston, MD; Mark McClellan, MD, PhD; Barbara Mathes, MD; Brett Coldiron, MD; Suzanne Olbricht, MD; Hazle Kondering, MD; and Daniel Siegel, MD, AADA president.

A new health care environment
Drawing on his experience as administrator for both the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services and the Food and Drug Administration, keynote speaker Mark McClellan, MD, PhD, reviewed the Obama Administration’s health policy agenda and the latest trends in the U.S. health care system.

AADA advocacy
Daniel Siegel, MD, president of the AADA, updated conference participants about AADA advocacy activities.

Federal perspectives
U.S. Rep. Tom Price, MD, offered his perspective on the legislative issues facing dermatologists, as well as advice about how to get the specialty’s messages heard by legislators and their staff.

Breakout sessions
Conference attendees participated in discussions about payment policy, research funding, and patient access to quality dermatologic care.

Election analysis
Paul Begala, political analyst and commentator for CNN, dissected the 2012 presidential election, offering his analysis of the campaigns, as well as the challenges that await the candidates.

Communicating strategies
Conference attendees, including AAD President-Elect Dirk Elston, MD, (center), shared ideas and strategies about how to best represent dermatology’s voice on Capitol Hill, as well as within state legislatures.

Seat at the table
SkinPAC donors met to discuss the importance of building relationships on Capitol Hill to ensure that dermatology has a seat at the table when important legislative decisions are being made. SkinPAC raised more than $1 million in the 2012 election cycle. From left to right: Chuck Smallwood (guest); Kristen Smallwood, MD; Chris Obeime, MD; and Jane Chew, MD.

SGR
Marc Boddicker, MD, (left) met with Sen. John Thune to urge him to support a permanent fix to the sustainable growth rate (SGR) formula.

Indoor tanning
John Binhlam, MD; Julie Countess, MD; and George Woodbury, MD; met with Tennessee Rep. Jim Cooper to discuss the dangers of indoor tanning, and to encourage him to support the maintenance of the indoor tanning tax.

Resident scholarships

From left to right, Terry Cronin Jr., MD; Kristen Smallwood, MD; Florida Rep. Bill Posery and residents Salma Pothiawala, MD; Christopher Spock, MD; and Nishit Patel, MD; met to stress the importance of preserving patient access to the full range of care that dermatologists are qualified to provide. In an effort to support residents’ commitment to grassroots advocacy, the AADA awarded several scholarships for residents to attend the 2012 Legislative Conference.

Medical research funding
Pointing to the economic benefits of innovation resulting from medical research, Bruce Brod, MD, (right) and Kelly Morrissey, MD, (left) met with Pennsylvania Rep. Jim Gerlach to encourage him to oppose funding cuts and to maintain funding levels for the National Institutes of Health, the Centers for Disease Control, and Federal Drug Administration.