National Leadership Conference Agenda

Friday – Building Community & Physician Power

Connect. Reflect. Prepare to Lead.

9:00 am – 4:30 pm

FDA Pre-Conference - A deep dive into the role of the FDA in protecting public health, advancing science, and ensuring safe and effective medical care.

6:00 – 8:30 pm

DFA Welcome Mixer - Meet fellow physician and trainee advocates from across the country.

Connect across specialties, regions, and career stages
Share what brought you to advocacy
Begin building the relationships that power the DFA movement

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Saturday – Meeting the Moment & Building Advocacy Skills

Morning: Understanding the Moment

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9:00 - 10:00 am

Opening Plenary: Meeting the Moment

‍A national view of the forces shaping health care, public health, and democracy.

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10:00 - 10:15 am

Framing the Work Ahead

‍Join health policy expert Dan Skinner, PhD, as he sets the stage for how physicians can turn policy challenges into action in the Impact Area breakout sessions.

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10:15 – Break

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10:30 – 11:30 am

Impact Strategy Sessions - Breakouts

Access to Affordable Care & FDA
Community Health & Prevention
Health Justice & Equity

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Sessions organized around DFA's advocacy framework:

See the Harm → Tell the Story → Name the Solution → Take Action

Participants will explore:

What is happening in this policy space
How it impacts patients
What solutions are needed
Where physician advocacy can make a difference

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11:45 – 1:30 pm

Lunch & Copello Fellow Presentations

‍Hear from DFA’s emerging physician advocates as they present projects advancing health equity, policy change, and patient advocacy.

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Afternoon: Advocacy Skills Building

1:45 – 3:15 pm

Rapid Response Training: When the Moment Comes

‍Participants attend three rapid-fire skill sessions (25 minutes each). Physicians increasingly face moments when they must respond quickly to misinformation, policy threats, or media requests.

This hands-on session prepares physicians to act when it matters most.

Participants will practice:

Delivering a 30-second media response
Sharing a 1-minute patient story
Responding to reporters
Framing messages that influence policymakers

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Sessions include:

Own the Mic: Physicians in the Media
Write to Ignite: Op-Eds That Drive Change
Your Voice, On Record: Making It Count
Inside the Room: Winning Over Lawmakers
From People to Power: Organizing That Wins

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3:15 pm - Break‍

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3:30 - 4:30 pm – Physician Action Lab: Turning Advocacy into Action

Participants work in small groups to develop real advocacy strategies around key DFA priorities. Participants leave with a 90-day advocacy plan.

Each group develops:

one media action
one policy action
one organizing action

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4:30 pm - Break

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Evening – Inspiration, Recognition & Community

6:00 pm – Reception

6:30 pm – Founder’s Awards - Celebrating physician leaders who embody DFA’s commitment to patient advocacy.

7:00 pm – Dinner

8:00 pm – White Coat Power: How Physicians Change Policy Fireside Chat - The signature session of the conference.

Physicians share how their experiences caring for patients led them to step into public leadership and change policy.

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Sunday – Organizing for Action

7:30 am - Board Meeting

Board Meeting with Breakfast (Board / IA Leaders / Staff)

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9:00 - 10:00 am – The Power of Physician Storytelling

How doctors change public opinion and influence policy.

Physicians are among the most trusted voices in society. When they share real stories from the frontlines of care, they translate policy debates into human consequences that shift public opinion and influence decision-makers.

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10:00 10:45 am – Storytelling Workshop

Participants develop:

a 60-second patient story
a policy message
a call to action

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11:00 am - 12:00 pm – Concurrent Session

Building State Power: (Concurrent Sessions)

Launching DFA State Chapters - Learn how physicians can organize locally to drive policy change.
White Coats for Life: Advocacy Beyond the Clinic

Retired and late-career physicians bring invaluable experience, credibility, and community trust to advocacy efforts. This session explores how physicians can continue to lead, mentor, and drive change beyond clinical practice.

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12:15 - 1:15 pm – Networking Lunch

World Café Conversations

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1:15 pm – Break

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1:30 - 2:30 pm - Closing Plenary: The Courage to Lead

An inspiring call to action for physicians and trainees committed to defending science, protecting patients, and shaping the future of health care.

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2:30 pm – Break

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2:45 - 3:30 pm - Advocacy Briefing: Preparing for Hill Visits

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Monday – Advocacy in Action on the Hill

7:00 am – Grab-and-Go Breakfast

Participant teams depart for:

Congressional Hill visits
Advocacy meetings with policymakers
Partner organization briefings

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Contacting Us

If you have any questions or concerns, please contact us at info@doctorsforamerica.org.