Advocacy Action Summit

From September 7-9, 2025, we are going to make our voices heard and help shape healthcare policy in Washington, D.C. Will you join us?

What is the Advocacy Action Summit?

The PAN Foundation’s Advocacy Action Summit is a powerful three-day event held in Washington, D.C., from September 7-9, 2025, where patients and advocates come together to urge change in healthcare policy. This is an opportunity for a group of PAN grant recipients to share your story, make your voice heard, and help shape policies that directly impact people living with chronic and serious illnesses.

We welcome current or former PAN grant recipients to take advantage of this opportunity to travel to Washington, D.C. to receive expert advocacy training, connect with other passionate advocates, and take your message directly to policymakers on Capitol Hill. Your lived experience is powerful, and by speaking up, you can influence the decisions that shape access to healthcare for millions.

PAN wants our advocates to have a seamless travel and accommodation experience so they can focus on learning and advocating. Details about the travel and hotel costs that PAN covers for the selected applicants can be found below. Applications are due May 8, 2025: learn how to apply today.

This isn’t just an event—it’s a call to action. If you’re ready to stand up for affordable, equitable healthcare and make a difference, consider applying to join us and a national community of advocates at the 2025 Advocacy Action Summit.

Together, we are stronger, and together, we can create lasting change. 

How to apply

deadline: Thursday, May 8, 2025

This opportunity is open to current and former PAN grant recipients. Applying is simple—just follow these three steps:

• Submit the registration form.
• On the confirmation screen, click “Apply here” to access the online application.
• Complete your application. In your application, share your advocacy experience, your passion for healthcare reform, and why you want to attend the summit.
• Submit your application by 11:59 p.m. ET on May 8, 2025.

Who should apply?

This opportunity is open to current and former PAN grant recipients only, individuals who want to use their personal experiences to help improve healthcare access and affordability in the U.S. You do not need to have any advocacy experience—just a willingness to share your story and speak up for change. Whether you’re just getting started or have been involved in advocacy before, your voice matters and can make a difference.

Why an application process?

While we would love to bring everyone who is passionate about healthcare advocacy to Washington, D.C., we have limited resources and capacity to host everyone. To ensure we can support as many advocates as possible while maintaining a meaningful and effective program, we use an application process.

Our goal is to create a representative group of advocates by considering factors such as:

• Geographic representation, ensuring participation from as many states and U.S. territories as possible.
• Varying experiences related to PAN’s legislative priorities.
• A variety of insurance statuses, reflecting the broad spectrum of healthcare challenges patients face.
• A range of chronic and rare conditions to ensure that the voices of individuals impacted by different diagnoses are included and elevated in our advocacy work.

All applications will be reviewed equally, and we appreciate every applicant’s interest in joining us for this important event.

What happens next?

All applicants will be notified via email by June 13, 2025, about the status of their application—whether or not they’ve been selected to attend this year’s Summit.

Applicants who are selected to attend will receive detailed next steps, including how to confirm attendance, secure complimentary travel and hotel accommodations, and prepare for their time in Washington, D.C.

What if I’m not selected?

All applicants—regardless of selection—will receive information on how to take part in PAN’s inaugural Week of Action. More details to come! Sign up for PAN email alerts to get updates about our Week of Action.

We are truly grateful for your passion and commitment to advancing affordable, equitable healthcare for all. While we may not be able to accommodate every applicant in-person this year, there are still powerful ways to get involved and make your voice heard.

Schedule

Sunday, September 7

Welcome dinner

Kick off the Advocacy Action Summit with an evening of connection and inspiration. Meet fellow advocates, share your personal experiences, and prepare for the impactful days ahead. This is an opportunity to build relationships, foster connections, and set the stage for meaningful advocacy. (Dinner included)

Monday, September 8

Advocacy training and educational briefings

Spend the day in engaging and interactive training sessions designed to prepare you for effective advocacy. You’ll gain valuable insights into key healthcare policies, learn essential storytelling and communication techniques, and develop strategies to confidently share your message with policymakers. Breakfast buffet, lunch, refreshments and snacks are included.

Tuesday, September 9 

Hill Day

Put your training into action with a powerful day on Capitol Hill. Meet with your Members of Congress and their staff to advocate for policies that expand access to quality, affordable healthcare. This is your chance to elevate the patient voice and make a real impact on the future of healthcare policy. 

Thank you reception

After a full day of advocacy, we will come together to reflect on the day’s experiences, share highlights from meetings, and celebrate the collective impact of our efforts. This is a moment to recognize your hard work, connect with fellow advocates, and close out the Summit with a sense of accomplishment and community. Breakfast buffet, light hors d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served during the reception.

Hotel

We are pleased to provide complimentary hotel accommodations for attendees at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington DC Convention Center as part of PAN’s commitment to making participation accessible for all advocates.

Confirmed attendees will receive a complimentary hotel room under PAN’s room block for the nights of Sunday, September 7, and Monday, September 8, 2025. Embassy Suites by Hilton offers spacious rooms, and a complimentary breakfast buffet each morning.

Extended stay option: For those who wish to extend their stay in Washington, D.C., PAN has secured a limited number of additional rooms at a discounted rate of $329 per night plus tax. This special rate is available through Friday, September 12, 2025, subject to hotel availability.  Attendees are responsible for the cost of any additional nights beyond the complimentary stay.

Please note:

• Any personal charges, including in-room dining, entertainment, and minibar purchases, will be the responsibility of the attendee.
• More details on how to reserve your complimentary accommodations will be included in the confirmation email sent to accepted applicants.  

Travel

The PAN Foundation is pleased to cover travel costs for all attendees, including coach airfare or train fare, up to $500 ensuring that advocates can participate without financial burden.

Booking your travel

Accepted applicants will receive an email with detailed instructions on how to confirm their travel arrangements. When received, please review this information carefully to ensure a smooth booking process. We request all travel arrangements by air or rail be booked by Friday, August 15, 2025.

Expense support

All attendees will receive a prepaid cash card. We want every attendee to focus on learning, connecting, and advocating—without the worry of additional expenses. This pre-paid card is intended to cover:

• Transportation costs to and from the airport
• Meals not provided during the event.

Accessibility and inclusion

Mobility devices

You can bring your mobility device or aid —such as wheelchairs, scooters, walkers, canes, or crutches—to the Summit, and we encourage attendees to do so. Your comfort and mobility are a top priority. The event venues, including the Embassy Suites by Hilton Washington DC Convention Center and Capitol Hill, are accessible and equipped to accommodate mobility devices.

If you have specific mobility needs or require additional assistance, please let us know on your application or reach out to us directly. To ensure we can meet your needs, all accommodation requests must be submitted no later than Friday, August 8, 2025. After that date, we may not be able to fulfill all requests.

Accessible transportation

PAN is committed to ensuring all transportation provided during the Summit is accessible to attendees. The charter buses to and from Capitol Hill on Tuesday, September 9, are equipped to accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility aids. If you have specific transportation needs, please inform us in advance to ensure a seamless experience.

Accessible event venues

All event venues, including the hotel, training sessions, and meeting locations on Capitol Hill, comply with ADA accessibility standards. This includes features such as step-free entrances, elevators, accessible restrooms, and ample space for mobility devices. If you have particular concerns or requirements, please reach out to us so we can address them accordingly.

Requesting other assistance

Your comfort and participation are important to us, so we will make every effort to fulfill reasonable requests from attendees. If you need accommodation beyond what we have mentioned, please specify these needs on your application or contact us directly. Examples may include:

• Assistive listening devices
• Sign language interpretation
• Materials in large print or accessible fonts
• Scent-free environment
• Environmental triggers or allergies
• Medical care breaks or privacy room
• Rest opportunities
• Service animals
• Lactation room

The history of PAN’s Advocacy Action Summit

The PAN Foundation was overwhelmed by the support and enthusiasm shown by healthcare access advocates from across the country during our Advocacy Action Summit and Virtual Day of Action in 2024. Together, we made a tremendous impact!

PAN held our first advocacy “Action Day” in 2022, rallying our advocates across all U.S. states and territories to call on Congress to support commonsense, patient-first legislation.

During our inaugural event, we urged Congress to support key Medicare reforms through the Inflation Reduction Act. When those reforms were signed into law, we celebrated an important policy win for patients. You can learn about those reforms and the timeline for implementation in our Medicare reforms guide.

In 2023, PAN grant recipients and their loved ones from across the country came together on Capitol Hill to meet with members of Congress, share their lived experience, and ask for support on policies that would continue to lower out-of-pocket costs and increase healthcare access and affordability for all. Thousands of supporters from across the country also rallied together for a virtual day of action, sending more than 5,000 emails to legislators, echoing the messages of the PAN delegation on the Hill. 

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Thank you to our summit sponsors