The 2011 JAC was a fantastic meeting, highest attendance yet at over 180 Urologists. We had 2 days of excellent presentations ranging from details of the ACA (now year-old health care law), to the future of Medicare which has since hit the national press with new Republican proposals for reform, to more specific and practical messages related to personal lobbying on behalf of Urology and our patients. We covered the major issues on Urology's legislative agenda (support of the PROSTATE act, creation of a national commission on urotrauma, repeal of the Independent Payment Advisory Board (IPAB), protection of the in-office ancillary exception to the STARK law, and finding a permanent fix for the sustainable growth rate (SGR).

We held a Congressional Reception Sunday night at Charlie Palmer's restaurant across from the Capitol and were visited by several Congressmen for comments, including my Congressman, Andy Harris, MD who represents Maryland's 1st Congressional District.

The meeting culminated with all attendees visiting with their respective Congressmen and Senators (and/or their staff). Eric Schwartz, MD (Anne Arundel Urology), Kristin Chrouser, MD (Chesapeake Urology) and I had meetings with policy staff of Senators Mikulski and Cardin which where very productive conversations. We also were afforded the opportunity to meet directly with Congressman Andy Harris which was a great chance to keep Urology and our patients directly on his radar screen. He is a true friend of Urology on Capitol Hill.

I was asked by a Urology Times reporter after the fact, "Do you think it was worth your time away from your practice to do this?" The answer is unequivocally yes. And more of us need to do it. We greatly underestimate the extent to which our opinions matter with our elected officials. We are the subject matter experts and can carry the messages and lessons from the front lines of medicine to our state capitols and to Capitol Hill. Our representatives want to hear from us. It was a fabulous meeting and I'll be back next year and in the interim will try to generate more interest at our meetings so this critical event will continue to grow.