Congressional Advocacy Day (CAD) will be held in conjunction with the Mid-Year Forum from April 25 to 26 in Washington, D.C.  CAD is a unique opportunity to lobby members of Congress on the issues that affect your practice and patients. More than 350 Eye M.D.s attend meetings on Capitol Hill with their senators and representative and/or legislators' staff to present the concerns and positions of the profession. View the Preliminary Program for the schedule, session topics and more.

Plan now to join us in Washington, D.C. for the 2012 Congressional Advocacy Day (PDF 532 KB) from April 25 to 26.  Registration for CAD is free and is now available.

• To prepare members for their April 26 appointments on Capitol Hill, participants will be briefed regarding the Academy's top legislative issues during the CAD Dinner on Apr. 25 from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.*
• The briefing will include background information and talking points on the issues, as well as tips on effective lobbying -- everything you need to make your meetings on Capitol Hill successful.

*For the CAD Dinner Briefing on April 25, dinner will be served between 7 p.m. and 8 pm. Meals cannot be guaranteed for late arrivals.

The Academy’s advocacy arm benefits the average member in many ways, whether it’s fighting for better Medicare reimbursement, fighting scope of practice battles with the optometrists, or securing better funding for research projects through the NIH or the NEI. It’s important for the Academy to have a strong voice in Washington and the state capitals to ensure quality eye care for our patients. 
Sonny Goel, MD, Baltimore, Md.

Read first-hand reports and perspectives from Congressional Advocacy Day 2011 in the Academy’s online community. Join the conversation today.