AMA Medical Student Advocacy Conference (MAC)

The AMA Medical Student Advocacy Conference (MAC) is the American Medical Association’s largest advocacy event and conference for medical students. It provides students with advocacy training, access to legislators, opportunities to network with their peers and a platform to raise their voice and enact changes in public health policy.

MAC 2025 will be held March 6-7, 2025, in Washington D.C.

1. Advocacy training: Learn how to be a successful public health advocate and advocate for change on health policy issues that impact medical students and physicians by attending in-person meetings with legislators on Capitol Hill.
2. Leadership development: Gain leadership, communication and advocacy skills to distinguish yourself for residency.
3. Networking: Connect with hundreds of students from across the country and build valuable professional connections while you develop your advocacy and leadership skills.

The 2025 AMA Medical Student Advocacy Conference registration is now open! The conference is an AMA member exclusive opportunity and the registration fee is $45.

Deadline extended. Register today. Space is limited.

If you have questions about the Medical Student Advocacy Conference, contact us at AMAMAC@ama-assn.org.

Preliminary agenda

All times are Eastern and subject to change. Download the preliminary agenda (PDF).

Thursday, March 6

1–3 p.m. Conference check-in and casual networking (Foyer and Archives Ballroom)

3–4 p.m. GRAF welcome and opening remarks (L-Enfant Ballroom)

4–7 p.m. General sessions (L-Enfant Ballroom)

7–9 p.m. Welcome reception (Solarium)

Friday, March 7

7–8 a.m. Breakfast (Solarium)

8–9:30 a.m. General sessions (L-Enfant Ballroom)

9:30 a.m. Board buses for Capitol Hill (Hilton lobby)

10–10:30 a.m. Group photo on Capitol Hill steps (United States Capitol Building)

10:30 a.m.–3 p.m. Capitol Hill visits (United States Capitol Building)

Advocacy Action Kit

• Letter from the GRAF (PDF)
• Advocacy Action Plan Checklist (PDF)
• Issue Brief: GME Funding (PDF)
• Issue Brief: Maternal Health (PDF)
• Issue Brief: Medicare Physician Payment (PDF)
• Issue Brief: Stop Medicare Payment Cuts (PDF)

 

 

Speakers

Bruce A. Scott, MD

President, AMA

Bruce A. Scott, MD, was elected as the 179th president of the American Medical Association in June 2024, where he serves as the primary spokesperson for the AMA. Concurrently he continues as a member of the AMA Board of Trustees, now for his 10th consecutive year. 

Dr. Scott has been a leader in medicine throughout his career—prior to being voted president-elect in 2023, he served four years as speaker and four years as vice speaker of the AMA House of Delegates, presiding at the meetings of delegates from every state and specialty as they crafted policies for the medical profession. Before this he was a member of the House of Delegates for over 20 years and was the young physician member on the AMA Board of Trustees. 

In addition to his work within organized medicine, Dr. Scott is an actively practicing otolaryngologist and president of his small private practice group. He is the medical director of a multispecialty ambulatory surgery center and holds a clinical appointment at the University of Louisville School of Medicine. 

Bryan Hull, JD, MPH

Senior legislative counsel, AMA

Bryan Hull, JD, MPH, serves as senior legislative counsel for the American Medical Association where he advocates for physicians on Medicare payment issues. He is experienced in leading national campaigns to educate providers on appropriate health care delivery practices and emerging changes to health care reimbursement and coding systems. Hull received his bachelor’s degree (BS) from Stony Brook University where he majored in health science, his Master of Public Health degree (MPH) from Drexel University with a focus on health care management and policy, and his Juris Doctor (JD) from the University of Maryland where he concentrated in health law.

Tripti C. Kataria, MD, MPH, MBA

Vice chair, Council on Legislation, AMA

Tripti Kataria, MD, MPH, MBA, is a private practice anesthesiologist dedicated to advocating for physicians and patients since medical school. She has served on the governmental affairs committees of the American Society of Anesthesiologists and the Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS), working to preserve physician-led care and physician practices. Currently, she is the ISMS speaker. With a strong background in public health and business, Dr. Kataria’s expertise in health care economics helps drive policies that support physician-led care, sustainable payment models and patient safety.

Dana Lichtenberg

Assistant director, Congressional Affairs, AMA

Dana Lichtenberg is assistant director, congressional affairs for the AMA, where her primary assignments include the House Energy and Commerce Committee, Medicare, public health and digital health. She joined the AMA in 2011. Prior to moving to the AMA, she was legislative director for former Congressman Bart Gordon (D-TN). She staffed the congressman on his assignments on the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittees on Health, Communications & Technology, and Consumer Protection & Commerce. Lichtenberg has a bachelor's degree from University of California at San Diego in Communications and the Government.

Brianna Ma

Student member, AMPAC Board of Directors

Brianna Ma is a medical student at California University of Science and Medicine. Before medical school, she was an advocate for survivors of sexual assault and received her master’s degree in global medicine. These experiences inspired her to get involved with organized medicine, and she has been heavily involved in advocacy since her first advocacy trip with her state medical society as a first-year student.

Alexis Pierce, JD

Senior attorney, Division of Legislative Counsel, AMA

Alexis Pierce, JD, is originally from Colorado. She attended Loyola Marymount University for her undergraduate education where she double majored in political science and communication studies. She then switched coasts and attended law school at George Washington University. After law school she went on to work at the Board of Veterans Appeals and at Powers Pyles Sutter & Verville PC. She is currently working for the American Medical Association as a senior attorney within the Division of Legislative Counsel. In this role she focuses on multiple areas of health law and policy including scope of practice, immigration and graduate medical education.

Christopher Sherin

Assistant director, Congressional Affairs, AMA

John Barrasso, MD

United States Senator, Wyoming

Senator John Barrasso was sworn in to the United States Senate in 2007 having represented the people of Natrona County in the Wyoming State Senate from 2003-2007. In November 2024, Barrasso was reelected to the U.S. Senate with more than 75% of the vote.

He serves on committees that directly impact Wyoming’s economy, energy interests, public lands, national parks and trade. He serves as the Senate Republican whip, the number two position in Senate Republican leadership. 

Barrasso is known by many as Wyoming’s doctor. During his 24 years as an orthopedic surgeon, he served as president of the Wyoming Medical Society and was named Wyoming Physician of the Year.

Barrasso lives in Casper. He and his late wife, Bobbi, have three children.

Sage Eastman

Partner, Mehlman Consulting

Sage Eastman is a senior Republican strategist with more than two decades of policy, political and government experience. Steeped in political campaigns and policy debates, Eastman is a sought-after advisor to a diverse group of businesses (from Fortune 50 companies to startups), trade associations, members of Congress and their staff.

Christopher Kush, MPP

CEO, Soapbox Consulting

As CEO of Soapbox Consulting, Christopher Kush has trained hundreds of thousands of citizens from all over the United States to effectively influence Congress, state, and local governments. He has helped design sophisticated key-contact networks, Lobby Days, and grassroots training programs for many national associations including the American Cancer Society, Human Rights Campaign, Easter Seals, Goodwill International, United Way Worldwide and the American Wind Energy Association. Kush is the author of three books on grassroots organizing including Grassroots Games (ASAE, 2002) and, most recently, The One-Hour Activist (Wiley, 2004). He has appeared on National Public Radio, ABC and Fox News affiliates, CSPAN's "Book TV," and in U.S. News & World Report, The Los Angeles Times, and on the Sirius Satellite Radio Network.

David Lusk 

Founder, Key Advocacy 

David Lusk, founder of Key Advocacy, has over 20 years of experience in policy and government affairs. The public policy and business economics graduate of Brown University is an expert in advocate training and grassroots and engagement program development. He has written extensively on policy advocacy and engagement best practices, with his work topping several government affairs best-seller lists.

David Thomas

Partner, Mehlman Consulting 

David Thomas is a top Democratic strategist with over two decades of experience in Washington’s public policy arena. He has a deep understanding of the legislative and executive branches of the federal government. For over a decade, Thomas has helped companies, trade associations and nonprofits develop and execute successful strategies in Washington. During his tenure in government, Thomas served as deputy director of legislative affairs for Vice President Al Gore, the top lobbyist at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and chief of staff for Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-CA).

MAC resources

Fund your way to MAC

• Save on your airline reservation and hotel room at the Hilton Washington DC National Mall—The Wharf. Get discounted rates when reserving a flight or hotel. 
• Access information to help you get funding from your school or state society.
• Request an excuse letter from us to submit to your dean to get approval from your school to attend.

Find out how to get funding and savings.

Spread the word

• Encourage your peers to attend this professional development event.
• Share our sample graphics and posts on your social media channels and newsletters.