AASLD Preparing for the Second Annual Liver Capitol Hill Day 

|

By Erika Miller, Cavarocchi - Ruscio - Dennis Associates, LLC, Consultants to AASLD

AASLD members engaged in research or in clinical practice may not spend much time advocating for increased funding for liver related research, changes that would affect their practices or other issues related to liver disease. However, as participants in last year’s first annual Liver Capitol Hill Day learned, if AASLD and other concerned organizations do not advocate on Capitol Hill, members of Congress and their staff do not understand the impact of liver disease on public health. AASLD needs your help to educate Congress.

Last year, AASLD sponsored Liver Capitol Hill Day and raised issues important to our members and patients in over 50 Congressional offices. Along with members of the American Liver Foundation, the Asian Health Foundation, the Hepatitis B Foundation, the National Viral Hepatitis Roundtable, and the PBCers Organization, AASLD members advocated for increased NIH and CDC Division of Viral Hepatitis funding and health reforms that would improve the quality of life of liver patients. It was an eye opening and energizing experience for those who participated.

AASLD has strengthened its commitment to public policy, and Liver Capitol Hill Day is one way members can become more effective advocates. By giving your time to come to Washington, you can put a face on liver disease for members of Congress. The experiences you have with patients and in the lab resonate in a way that facts and figures cannot. More importantly, by advocating before Congress, AASLD members have an opportunity to build a relationship with their Senators and Representatives in which a member’s staff will use AASLD members as a resource for any issue relating to liver disease. 
   
We are in the process of preparing for the 2010 Liver Capitol Hill Day on Tuesday, March 16. Again, AASLD will be teaming with other liver related organizations to build on last year’s success and continue raising the profile of liver disease on Capitol Hill. However, this event can only be successful with strong participation by AASLD members. If AASLD does not educate Congress about the burden of liver disease, we cannot expect someone else to do the job for us.

Be an advocate and register for the 2010 Liver Capitol Hill Day. If you can participate, please consider bringing a patient with you. On the night before Liver Capitol Hill Day, we will be sponsoring a dinner for all participants where you will meet your advocacy teams. Before you attend your Capitol Hill meetings on March 16, you will be briefed on the advocacy issues developed by AASLD that you will be discussing. An invitation to this event will be in the eNews and more details will be available. However, if you have any questions about participating, please email me at emiller@dc-crd.com.

This electronic newsletter is a bi-weekly publication of AASLD and replaces the former bi-monthly print newsletter and weekly e-news. Members are welcome to submit articles and may send suggestions to aharan@aasld.org.