Advocacy & Policy

Advocacy & Policy

Congressional Advocates Program

AGA’s Congressional Advocate Program creates a national grassroots network of engaged gastroenterologists interested in advocating for our profession and patients.

Participation in AGA’s Congressional Advocates Program can include a wide variety of activities, ranging from creating educational posts on social media to meeting with members of Congress. Congressional Advocates are mentored and receive year-round advocacy training by AGA leadership and staff. New members are accepted on a rolling basis. Sign up to become a Congressional Advocate. AGA staff will contact you with next steps. 

Overview

This program plays a critical role in driving GI’s legislative agenda forward on Capitol Hill. Through the program, our national network of gastroenterologists: 

  • Represent AGA’s position on important issues through direct, personal communication with a legislator or congressional staff.
  • Develop a relationship with their lawmaker’s office by meeting locally with the lawmaker or serving as a trusted source of information for the lawmaker’s staff.
  1. Strengthen AGA’s voice and political capitol on Capitol Hill.
  2. Match a committed gastroenterologist with every member of Congress, with a strategic emphasis on members of the House Energy and Commerce, Ways and Means, Education and Labor, Appropriations and Senate Finance, Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, and Appropriations committees.
  3. Promptly establish significant gastroenterology contacts with new members of Congress.
  4. Increase member engagement, foster local relationships, communicate more consistently to members, expand members’ knowledge of GI advocacy and encourage participation in AGA PAC.

Advocates must complete the following activities within one year of acceptance to the AGA Congressional Advocates Program:

  • Represent the position of AGA to legislators and their staff by sending emails or making telephone calls when alerted by AGA.
  • Participate every month in at least one of AGA’s monthly advocacy opportunities reflected in the monthly newsletter and on the annual advocacy calendar.
  • Develop a constituent relationship with a member of Congress by meeting with them in their district/state at least once every year.
  • Write about a policy-related issue of your choice:
    • Publication opportunity in AGA eDigest.
    • Author an editorial piece.

Become a Congressional Advocate

Policy Communication and Op-ed Writing

In-district meeting sign up form

Share your story

Program participants will receive the following benefits throughout their time in the program:

  • CV or LinkedIn language to display engagement and leadership role in our profession.
  • Close mentorship and training by AGA leadership and AGA staff.
  • Entrance into the AGA PAC reception at DDW.
  • Invitations to meet with policymakers and staff locally.
  • Breaking GI-specific policy and advocacy news.
  • Top advocates will have the opportunity to attend AGA’s annual Advocacy Day in Washington, D.C.

Participating members will be recognized via:

  • AGA Congressional Advocate Program Certificate.
  • Advocate ribbon at DDW.
  • AGA website.

Adjoa Anyane-Yeboa, MD
Akinbowale Oyalowo, MD
Alexander Podboy, MD
Andrew Rhim, MD
Avi Ketwaroo, MD
Chioma Ihunnah Anjou, MD, MPH
Danny Issa, MD
Folasade May, MD, PhD, Mphil
Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, AGAF
Julie In, PhD
Latha Alaparthi, MD, AGAF, FACG
Miguel Malespin, MD
Nice Bertha Toriz, MD
Peter Liang, MD, MPH
Richa Shukla, MD
Sadeea Abbasi, MD, PhD
Sarah Ordway, MD
Shawn Shah, MD
Shazia Siddique, MD
Shrikant Anant, PhD, AGAF
Simon Mathews, MD
Sonia Kupfer, MD
Syed Hussain, MD
ThienLuong Domi Le, MD
Vaibhav Wadhwa, MD
Yamini Natarajan, MD

Adjoa Anyane-Yeboa, MD 
Akinbowale Oyalowo, MD
Alexander Podboy, MD
Andrew Rhim, MD
Avi Ketwaroo, MD
Chioma Ihunnah  Anjou, MD, MPH
Danny Issa, MD 
Folasade May, MD, PhD, Mphil
Jonathan Rosenberg, MD, AGAF
Julie In, PhD
Latha Alaparthi, MD, AGAF, FACG
Miguel Malespin, MD
Nice Bertha Toriz, MD
Peter Liang, MD, MPH
Richa Shukla, MD 
Sadeea Abbasi, MD, PhD
Sarah Ordway, MD
Shawn Shah, MD
Shazia Siddique, MD
Shrikant Anant, PhD, AGAF
Simon Mathews, MD
Sonia Kupfer, MD
Syed Hussain, MD
ThienLuong Domi Le, MD
Vaibhav Wadhwa, MD
Yamini Natarajan, MD

Questions?

For more information about the program and advocate responsibilities, contact Sarah Heckman, senior manager, political affairs and advocacy, at sheckman@gastro.org.