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Travel and Logistics

Downloadable Schedule

10:30 am: Gather at Freedom Plaza on Pennsylvania Avenue between 13th and 14th street in NW DC. Sign in with the March volunteers to get your poster and bracelet.

11:00 am: March Kickoff Rally

11:20 am: March down Pennsylvania Avenue toward Capitol Hill. (distance =1.8 miles)

12:00 pm: Boxed lunch handed out at the end of Pennsylvania Ave (traffic circle by the Peace monument)

12:05 pm: Continue up East Capitol Circle sidewalk – carrying lunch to Hart Building – if nice day can eat outside close to the Hart Building. If raining, can eat in Hart Building Atrium.

12:30 pm: Begin entering Hart Senate Building Security at Constitution and 2nd St
**hand in your sign to a volunteer prior to entering Hart** -you can get it back at end of the day

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm: Media event with Congressional Leadership (Hart Senate Building Room 216)

2:30 pm: Lobby visit prep Session: Hart Building Atrium.
-A Staffer will be there to explain the logistics. You will receive your visit appointment schedule, maps, and additional information.

3:00 - 5:00 pm: Visits with members of Congress or their staff

4:00 pm – 6:30: Happy Hour at Lounge 201 -- 201 Massachusetts Avenue NE, Capitol Hill; (http://www.lounge201.com/)

5:30pm: Buses return to New York pick up at Union Station

When should I arrive and depart?

  • Many groups will be getting together on Sunday, March 21, to make signs, prepare for legislative visits, and meet colleagues from across the country. If you can come over the weekend, that would be ideal. If you heard about this event from a sponsoring organization, contact that organization about plans.
  • The main event will be Monday the 22nd from 11am to 2:00 pm. You should plan to arrive by 10am if possible.
  • We are encouraging everyone to meet with their members of Congress (or their staff) between 2:00pm and 5:00pm.
  • Also, there is a fun event in the late afternoon / early evening that will be announced soon, so we hope you can stay through all of Monday!

Where should I stay?

  • Lodging is your responsibility but we will try to help.
  • We encourage you to stay with friends or family in the area.
  • If you are booking a hotel, keep in mind the day begins near the White House and ends near Capitol Hill, so book accordingly.
  • We are also looking into booking a block of rooms and will update this site if that happens!

How should I get to DC?
While you are primarily responsible for your own travel plans we are going to try to make it as easy as possible....and in some cases free.

Doctors for America Buses Join your fellow health care providers as you travel to DC in style with likeminded activists!

We have arranged for buses from NYC, Philadelphia, and Boston. RSVP via the following links

  • Philadelphia
  • Boston
  • New York

Other options:

  • Fly: there are three area airports, Dulles (IAD), Baltimore (BWI), and National (DCA), National is the closest to downtown DC. Visit http://washington.org/ for more information. Those of you who are on faculty at academic centers, may want to try Student Universe at (http://studentuniverse.com)
  • Drive: You can drive into the city, but parking is expensive in downtown Washington, DC. You may want to park at a metro station in the suburbs and take the metro to the White House.
  • Train: Amtrak runs frequent trains to Union Station in DC. From Union Station you can take the red line Metro west to Farragut North, where you will be two blocks from the beginning of the march.

How far is this march?

  • It is 2.2 miles from the White House to the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center. If you cannot walk that distance, meet us at either end at the designated time!

What should I bring?

  • Your white coat (if you wear a white coat) or your scrubs (if you wear those).
  • Comfortable shoes.
  • Your camera.
  • Any signs, buttons, etc that share the message that health professionals support reform for our patients.
  • Stories! Be ready to tell stories of your patients. Bring along something symbolizing them or pictures if you have of them.

What should I not bring?

  • We will all be security screened when entering the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center for our event with Congressional leadership, so please do not bring anything that is forbidden ( http://www.visitthecapitol.gov/Visit/Visitor%20Safety%20and%20Policies/). That includes aerosol containers, cans, bottles, food, sharp objects, food, knives, mace, weapons, and scalpels.

Are there any travel stipends?

  • There are a limited amount of funds to help those who are interested attend the March. If you are interested applying for the funding, please email info@healthmarch.org.
  • If you can sponsor a fellow marcher, a van, or even a bus, please email: info@healthmarch.org.
  • We are also working to arrange transportation from nearby cities. If you're interested or want to help, let us know!

This march sounds expensive. Can I help pay for it?

  • Yes! Email us at info@healthmarch.org.