A special thanks to all who joined us for this event!
Join us to make a difference for the GI patient community. Share your story and let your voice be heard!
IFFGD'S Advocacy Event Details
**Please note that if you register after April 1st, we may not be able to arrange meetings with your congressional representatives. This is due to the limited time available to plan, coordinate, and schedule with their offices. We encourage you to complete your registration on or before April 1st to increase the chances of facilitating meetings with your congressional offices. We appreciate your understanding.**
IFFGD’s 2024 Education and Advocacy Event was held April 14-15, 2024. This complimentary event was designed to educate the community about access to healthcare and treatment. We aimed to guide individuals on how to best advocate for themselves in the medical field.
Due to COVID-19 protocols, the space for this event was limited.
If you have any questions about this year’s program, please feel free to email Alyssa Sutton at asutton@iffgd.org
Sunday, April 14 & Monday, April 15, 2024
Location: Beacon Hotel
1615 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington D.C. 20036
Why is Advocacy Important?
Gastrointestinal illness affects the majority of the American population, causing debilitating and sometimes life-threatening symptoms.
The ongoing battle for increased awareness, research into safe and effective treatments, and ultimately a cure, is one that requires support.
You can help!
Members of Congress play a pivotal role in addressing this challenge, by leveraging their influence to promote greater research funding, awareness campaigns, and other initiatives aimed at improving FGIMD outcomes. By joining the fight and contacting your representatives, Members of Congress can make a meaningful difference in the lives of countless Americans, while supporting key priorities in the fields of healthcare and medical research.
Each year, more than 54.4 million Americans are diagnosed with digestive disorders. The goal of this Advocacy event is to gain support from our current members of Congress. If you cannot attend this event, but want to take action, please help us by submitting a patient or provider story explaining why support from Congress is important to you, your family, or to your patients. These stories are ESSENTIAL in our efforts to build support for this legislation as they illustrate to our elected officials how this issue is affecting their constituents.
Program Agenda
Program Details
| Time | Title | Presenter | 8:00 AM-9:00 AM | Check-in\BREAKFAST |
|---|---|---|
| 9:00 AM-9:15 AM | Welcome | Ceciel Rooker |
| 9:15 AM-10:00 AM |
Breakout Session: Legislative Priorities, Access to Care Breakout Session: Legislative Priorities, Nutrition |
Presenter 1: Dr. Samir Shah Presenter 2: Erin Mckeon |
| 10:00 AM-10:15 AM | BREAK | |
| 10:15 AM-11:00AM |
Breakout Session: Legislative Priorities, Access to Care Breakout Session: Legislative Priorities, Nutrition |
Presenter 1: Dr. Samir Shah Presenter 2: Erin Mckeon |
| 11:00 AM-11:15 AM | BREAK with snacks | |
| 11:15 AM-12:00 PM |
Breakout Session: Conducting a Hill Visit Part 1 Breakout Session: Researching Your Representative |
Presenter 1: Julia Grabo Presenter 2: Ceciel Rooker |
| 12:00 PM-12:15 PM | BREAK | |
| 12:15 PM-1:00 PM |
Breakout Session: Conducting a Hill Visit Part 1 Breakout Session: Researching Your Representative |
Presenter 1:
Julia Grabo Presenter 2: Ceciel Rooker |
| 1:00 PM-2:15 PM | LUNCH | |
| 2:15 PM-3:00 PM |
Breakout Session: Conducting a Hill Visit Part 2 Breakout Session: Navigating Insurance Hurdles |
Presenter 1: Julia Grabo Presenter 2: Alyssa Sutton |
| 3:00 PM-3:15 PM | BREAK | |
| 3:15 PM-4:00 PM |
Breakout Session: Conducting a Hill Visit Part 2 Breakout Session: Navigating Insurance Hurdles |
Presenter 1: Julia Grabo Presenter 2: Alyssa Sutton |
| 4:00 PM-4:30 PM | WRAP-UP | Ceciel Rooker |
| 4:30 PM-5:00 PM | Reception | |
| 5:00 PM-5:30 PM | Gastroparesis Think Tank Recap | Presenter Details Coming Soon |
| 6:00 PM | DINNER | TBD |
Legislative Priorities: Access to Care
During this session, we will discuss the obstacles that patients face and how current legislation is designed to improve access to care for those living with gastrointestinal disorders.
Legislative Priorities: Nutrition
During this interactive session, we will discuss the frameworks and policies to enhance access to adequate and nutritional support for individuals and the obstacles that patients face.
Conducting a Hill Visit Part 1
During this session each group will learn about how to make the most of your congressional office visits by utilizing the skills and information from the day.
Conducting a Hill Visit Part 2
During this interactive session you will have a chance to practice a “mock congressional office visit” with your group for Monday. This will provide you with the tools to speak confidently about the priorities that mean the most to you
Researching Your Representatives
During this interactive session you will learn how to find information about your representatives such as who they are and what policies they support.
**During this session you will need a computer and tablet. **
Navigating Insurance Hurdles
During this session, we educate patients on navigating the complex coverage system for adequate healthcare. Afterward, we will hold a discussion to help answer questions from the patient community on the best ways to move forward to gain access to affordable care.
Sunday, April 14, 2024
Sunday’s check-in with Breakfast began at 8:00 A.M. The program began approximately at 9:00 A.M. This day’s program included multiple breakout sessions with interactive training on various ways to advocate for yourself and others in the gastrointestinal illness community.
Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.
**Please note that a laptop, tablet, or smartphone may be recommended for some sessions.**
Monday, April 15, 2024
Breakfast began at 8:00 A.M. Bus transportation was provided from the hotel to the Hill. Meetings on Monday, April 15, began at 9:00 AM until approximately 3:15 P.M EST. Lunch was provided. Bus transportation was also provided back to the hotel
To make sure that you can attend all the meetings you are scheduled for, please follow these departure guidelines:
- If you are flying out of Reagan National Airport (DCA) on Monday, April 15, please plan to book your flight no earlier than 6:30 P.M. EST.
- If you are flying out of Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) or Baltimore-Washington International Airport (BWI), please plan to book your flight no earlier than 7:30 P.M EST.
Hotel Information
Beacon Hotel
- Host Hotel Address: 1615 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington D.C., 20036
Other Hotels in the Area
- District Hotel (0.3 mi)
- 1440 Rhode Island Ave NW, Washington, DC 20005
- Comfort Inn Downtown DC/Convention Center (0.6 mi)
- 1201 13th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
- Sofitel Lafayette Square Washington, DC (0.7 mi)
- 806 15th St NW, Washington, DC 20005
- Courtyard by Marriot Washington/Downtown Convention Center (0.8 mi)
- 901 L St NW, Washington, DC 20001
- Renaissance Washington, DC Downtown Hotel (1.0 mi)
- 1400 M St NW, Washington, DC 20005
