ADEA News Banner

ADEA/AADOCR/Friends of NIDCR Advocacy Day

2026 ADEA/AADOCR/FNIDCR Advocacy Day

Call for Participants

Thursday, May 7, 2026

On Thursday, May 7, 2026, the American Dental Education Association (ADEA), the American Association for Dental, Oral, and Craniofacial Research (AADOCR) and the Friends of the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (FNIDCR) will join forces for our 2026 Advocacy Day on Capitol Hill.

Please join us and be the Voice of Dental Education! Together, we will raise the visibility of oral health, promote investment in dental education, foster support for oral health training programs, and champion NIDCR-funded research.

With the elimination of Grad Plus student loans and cuts to scientific research funding, it is important for the oral health community to inform policymakers about how funding dental education, oral health training programs, and dental research positively contributes to the overall health and well-being of the American people. By taking part in Advocacy Day, you help show lawmakers that federal investments in dental education, oral health training, and biomedical research deliver real, measurable benefits to people in their own congressional districts and states.

Advocacy Day training and congressional meetings will be held in person, in Washington, DC.

Wednesday, May 6 | ADEA Headquarters, Washington, DC

Legislative Briefing and Advocacy Training Session  

On Wednesday, May 6, 2026, at the ADEA Headquarters, registered participants will receive a legislative briefing and advocacy training session featuring speakers from various federal agencies, including the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) and the National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR).

Thursday, May 7 | Capitol Hill, Washington, DC

Meetings on Capitol Hill with Congressional Offices

Thursday, May 7, 2026 will be dedicated to meetings on Capitol Hill with congressional offices, including meetings with participants’ own elected officials and their staff.


Ready to Take Action?

Register today, and we’ll see you in May in Washington, DC!

There is a flat $30 per person registration fee for Advocacy Day. This fee helps offset operational costs associated with the event.


Program

Event Details

Wednesday, May 6 | ADEA Headquarters, Washington, DC
Legislative Briefing and Advocacy Training Session

Thursday, May 7 |  Capitol Hill, Washington, DC
Meetings on Capitol Hill with congressional offices, including meetings with participants’ own elected officials and their staff. 

Questions

Questions?

Bridgette DeHart, ADEA Director of Federal Government Relations and Advocacy, at DeHartB@adea.org

Colin Donnelly, ADEA Legislative Analyst, at DonnellyC@adea.org

Advocacy Day

  May 7, 2026

  Capitol Hill

  Washington, DC

Register

There is a flat registration fee of $30 per person for Advocacy Day to offset operational costs.