The Pulmonary Hypertension Association (PHA) hosted a lunch briefing in Washington, DC, Wednesday, June 6, for members of Congress and their staff. Oksana A. Shlobin, MD, FCCP, a director of the Pulmonary Hypertension Program at Inova Fairfax Hospital, educated attendees about pulmonary hypertension (PH), what it is and how it is treated. PH community members Dawn Jones and Colleen Brunetti shared the day-to-day challenges of life with PH. The briefing focused on the importance of charitable assistance for PH medications, and the need for a PH program at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

PHA members are an important part these advocacy efforts. Contact your members of Congress to share your PH story and let them know how they can help. All the tools you need, including talking points, are available to you on the PHA website.

Pictured right: Dawn Jones with Travis from the office of Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD), who is Dawn’s member of Congress.

Dr. Shlobin speaks with Andrew O’Neill, health legislative assistant to U.S. Rep. Mark Pocan (D-Wis.)

Congressional Luncheon attendees