Since the Biden Administration took office in January 2021, several of ASDA’s key legislative priorities like vaccinations, barriers to care, and student debt have been introduced or re-introduced in Congress. As an informed dental student, it’s important to know how the issues affect you, and what ASDA’s stance is. This session offers an opportunity to learn more about the issues, know the resources available to take action, as well as be prepared to participate in Advocacy Month.
Learning Objectives
At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to:
- Become aware of some of the key issues and specific legislation being discussed in Congress like vaccinations, barriers to care, and student loans.
- Understand how these issues affect them as a dental student.
- Identify ASDA’s position on the issues.
- Look up the bills to learn more and take action.
- Be aware of and prepared to participate in Advocacy Month activities.
Jake Holtzmann, Colorado ’22; Council on Advocacy Chair
As he follows his passions for organized dentistry, public health, and pediatric dentistry, Jake Holtzmann currently serves as Chair of ASDA’s Council on Advocacy and Vice President of his local Colorado AAPD chapter. Jake recently served as a Junior Commissioned Officer of the United States Public Health Service, where he served for five weeks in Shiprock, New Mexico at the Northern Navajo Medical Center. In his free time, he enjoys the company of life-long friends made in dental school, the many breweries that Colorado has to offer, and the snowy slopes of the Colorado Rockies.
Ariana Motavalli, Los Angeles ’23; Council on Advocacy Legislative Coordinator, Districts 10&11
Ariana Motavalli is a D3 at UCLA SOD. She is originally from the East Bay, California and went to UC Irvine where she studied chemistry and biology. Throughout dental school, Ariana has been involved in ASDA at a chapter, district, and national level. She hopes to get fellow members involved because she feels ASDA has so much to offer. Outside of dental school, Ariana enjoys hiking, playing tennis, and eating lots of yummy foods. Her future plans include going into pediatric dentistry and living on a farm with lots of chickens.
Elizabeth Hunter, Texas-Houston ’24; Council on Advocacy Legislative Coordinator, Districts 8&9
Elizabeth Hunter is a second year dental student at The University of Texas School of Dentistry at Houston. She is currently serving as a Legislative Coordinator for Districts 8&9 on the Council on Advocacy for National ASDA.