Genetics Day on the Hill 2010 Thursday, July 15, 2010 8:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Reserve Officers Association Capitol Hill Washington, DC

On Thursday, July 15, 2010, a cross-section of the genetics community—disease advocacy organizations, health professionals, researchers, industry representatives, families, students, and more—came together as a collective voice for the fifth annual Genetics Day on the Hill. This highly anticipated and widely attended event was an unparalleled opportunity to see the power of advocacy in action: for this one day, the genetics and health community came together as one harmonious voice to initiate and build momentum for change in policy issues that impact the community as a whole.

Each year, Genetic Alliance selects issues to bring to the Hill based upon the input and needs communicated by its diverse network. Issues selected affect all stakeholder groups, and talking points and positions value diverse perspectives. At Genetics Day on the Hill 2010, participants visited the offices of their elected officials to educate Congress about genetic testing oversight, public access to federally funded research results, and public engagement in clinical research. Participants shared personal and corporate stories about what was important to them and their families, work, and communities in the context of these issues.

Upon registering for the event, participants were placed in small groups (5 individuals) based upon geographic region. Genetic Alliance staff and experienced advocates led participants in small groups through a day of briefings and meetings with Congressional offices. The day began with breakfast and a keynote address by Genetic Alliance President & CEO Sharon Terry. After a short presentation on the logistics of the day from Andria Cornell, Advocacy and Health Policy Manager with Genetic Alliance, participants dove into learning about the issues and sharing personal stories. After breakfast, groups left for their first three appointments – most of the appointments were with key health staff of House and Senate offices, however many met their elected officials who dropped into the meetings. In the afternoon, everyone returned to the Reserve Officers Association for lunch and an address from special guest speaker Sarah Norman, Health LA for Congresswoman Louise Slaughter, who discussed the significance of the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act and articulated continued Congressional support for personalized medicine and improving patient and family access to information to improve health decision-making. All participants also took part in a group photo on the US Capitol steps. After exchanging strategies for success, all of the participants departed for their second set of three appointments. Finally, we returned to the Reserve Officers Association for an event debrief and to give first time participants the opportunity to share their experiences.

Genetics Day on the Hill is unique because it unites diverse professions and perspectives to learn from one another and form lasting partnerships; it builds collaborations that start even before participants step onto Capitol Hill; it enables the empowering and gratifying (and for those new to the Hill, exhilarating!) experience of using your voice in the policymaking process; and above all, it demonstrates to Congress the collective energy and vision for advancing the path to better health. Thank you to all participants for making Genetics Day on the Hill 2010 our largest and most successful event to date! We look forward to seeing everyone again next year!

Access the Genetics Day on the Hill 2010 talking points
Access the Genetics Day on the Hill FAQ
Read about Genetics Day on the Hill 2009

Special thanks to Shire HGT and XDx for their continued sponsorship.

For questions about Genetics Day on the Hill 2010, please contact Andria Cornell, Advocacy and Health Policy Manager, at acornell@geneticalliance.org.