ISMA will offer its popular annual Advocacy Training Program in an all-new, condensed format this May.
 
The first-ever ISMA Physician Advocacy Training Retreat is tailored to develop and strengthen members' advocacy skills through an engaging and intensive two-day experience. Designed to prepare physicians to advocate effectively for themselves and their patients at both state and federal levels, this retreat blends rigorous training with an enjoyable atmosphere. 
 
Traditionally, the full training program runs annually from October through May in a hybrid format. The advocacy retreat condenses this programming into an in-person event, scheduled for May 16–17 in downtown Indy at the Indiana Statehouse and Westin Indianapolis. 
 
Explore the inner workings of Indiana’s legislative process firsthand when we kick off the program with an exclusive tour of the Statehouse on Friday afternoon. Multiple sessions featuring experts on physician advocacy will then be held on Friday night and during the day on Saturday.  

The retreat's topics include how policy is made in Indiana, the anatomy of the federal and state legislatures, how to track bills, how to write a resolution for the ISMA House of Delegates, self-awareness and self-management when meeting with legislators, and how to prepare for meetings with policymakers. 
 
The retreat is open to all ISMA members, but capacity is limited to 25 registrants. Registration is $300 and includes meals. 

The deadline to register for the event is May 11 at 11:59 p.m. ET, and participants can earn up to 7.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. The traditional Advocacy Training Program will still be held in 2025-2026 for those wishing to complete the full hybrid program.  LEARN MORE AND REGISTER >>

"I found the sessions in the ISMA advocacy training program helped me build my confidence through bettering my understanding of the legislative process in Indiana and how to most effectively connect with my legislative representatives. As a result, I reached out to my state representative and requested a meeting during the summer when she wasn’t busy in session. I was pleasantly surprised to hear back very quickly, and we met for coffee. She was interested in hearing my concerns about the physician shortage in Indiana and the importance of expanding the number of GME training slots. Most recently, I testified twice during legislative committee meetings. My ISMA training helped me understand that our legislators value input from physicians and incorporating illustrative stories helps bring testimony to life and drives home important patient-centered principles."  – Clif Knight, MD, CPE, FAAFP    Assistant Dean of Graduate Medical Education    Associate Professor of Family Medicine    Marian University Tom and Julie Wood College of Osteopathic Medicine