 This March, more than 75 patients and physicians from across the country traveled to Washington, DC for the 19th Annual Digestive Disease National Coalition (DDNC) Public Policy Forum and Institutional Member Forum (PPF). The two day event featured briefings from digestive health experts and advocacy activities on Capitol Hill.
Left: Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Fl) meets with DDNC Vice President Dr. James Degerome.
This year's event coincided with the release of the National Commission on Digestive Disease's long-range digestive health research plan entitled, Opportunities and Challenges in Digestive Diseases Research: Recommendations of the National Commission on Digestive Diseases. This document provides a blue-print to guide digestive health research for the next 10 years and includes research initiatives that address the entire spectrum of digestive diseases.
During the Sunday, March 8th portion of the PPF, participants were educated on the details of the Commission Report by the report's chief author, Dr. Stephen James, the head of the Division of Digestive Disease and Nutrition at the National Institutes of Health (NIH). They also had the opportunity to hear from health experts at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and thought leaders in the present debate over health care reform.
On Monday, March 9th, advocates traveled to Capitol Hill to meet with their legislators and urge them to support key federal digestive health initiatives. Primarily, the constituent patients and physicians called on members of Congress to increase funding federal public health entities like NIH and CDC, and to take an interest in seeing the long-range digestive disease research plan implemented.
 While on Capitol Hill the DDNC conducted its annual Awards Luncheon where lawmakers that have distinguished themselves as digestive health champions are honored. This year, Congressman Chris Van Hollen (D-MD-8th) was presented with an award for his tireless work to bolster the NIH and the Food and Drug Administration and Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK), a colorectal cancer survivor, was honored for his critical efforts on health care reform. This year's event was particularly special as Suzanne Rosenthal, the co-Founder of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America, and the Founder and President Emeritus of the DDNC, was presented with a lifetime achievement award for her decades of unwavering leadership within the patient community.
Above: DDNC Chair Linda Aukett and DDNC President Dr. Peter Banks honor Susanne Rosenthal, co-founder of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America and founder and president-emeritus of the DDNC.
If the 2009 PPF is any indication, the country's current focus on health care reform and the emerging research opportunities within the field of digestive health have energized the digestive disease community. This positive momentum should lead to advances in digestive disease research, treatment, and patient care, and should make next yearês PPF just as successful.
Click to Download the 2009 Public Policy Forum Agenda (Word Doc)
Several of the policy forum speakers' presentations are available for download. Simply click on the links below to access Microsoft PowerPoint or Adobe Acrobat files.
Key Policy Issues
Dr. Stephen James, Update on the National Commission on Digestive Disease
Dan Riedford, Viral Hepatitis Activities of the CDC
Roy Rathmun, Health Care Reform and Cost Containment
Steven Grossman, FDA Reform in the 111th Congress
DDNC Member Organizations
Diane Paley and Mary Schluckebier, Celiac Sprue Association
Dr. Henry Parkman, American Neurogastroenterology and Motility Society
DDNC Advocacy Issues
Dale Dirks, DDNC Washington Representative
Effective Congressional Visits
For further information or details about the 2010 DDNC Public Policy Forum, contact the DDNC National Office, (202) 544-7497.
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