Networking

The Meeting Inside the Meeting: Attendees Value the ATS International Conference for Meetings They Create

For many ATS International Conference attendees, the opportunity to network informally is nearly as important as the formal program. 

Attendees make connections that lead to joint research projects, referrals, jobs, grants and published papers.  Many interested in research or in working on international standards of care or international public health issues find that having clinicians and scientists assembled from more than 90 countries invaluable for their work.

Clinicians find the professional network they create is particularly helpful when they have a difficult patient case or when they need to refer a patient to another specialists or help a patient find a doctor in another city.

Our colleagues from Industry know that whether the objective is to meet with thoughtleaders or other companies, the ATS is a place where serious business is conducted.

While there are as many International Conference networking opportunities as there are sessions, a few programs and places merit special mention:

My ATS 2011 is a new social networking tool that attendees can use before and during the conference to search the list of attendees names, identify people with similar interests and backgrounds, set up meetings and keep a calendar.

Alumni Lounges are also new for ATS 2011.  U.S. attendees will be able to use the lounges to meet other alumni who trained at the same institution.

The Clinicians Center is a doctors’ lounge designed to enhance the International Conference experience for pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine practitioners. At ATS 2011 live demonstrations of medical devises by ATS experts are planned.

The International Conference Participants Center provides a comfortable space for attendees from outside the U.S. and Canada to relax, network and learn about the ATS’s international agenda. The center includes computer stations with Internet access.

The Center for Fellows and Junior Professionals is a networking and career development forum for physicians and other healthcare and research professionals who are in training or have transitioned in their careers. 

ATS Meeting Spot is a new option offered by ATS and offers private meeting room options in Exhibit Hall A. The Meeting Spot meeting room can be secured for two hour or ½ day increments as well as full day or full conference time frames. ATS offers a new solution for companies to conduct business in the convention center rather than at surrounding hotels. The Meeting Spot provides a turnkey option and requires no further investment for your organization. The Meeting Spot rooms are available to non-exhibiting companies. For more information, click here.

Fellow and Junior Professional Exchange is a welcome event for residents, fellows, post docs and other junior professionals. This one-hour event allows attendees to network and mingle with peers as well as provides information at the start of the conference.

Assembly Meetings: The 13 assemblies of the ATS are the primary professional groups within the Society. Each assembly meets during the conference. These meetings are open to ATS members and nonmembers who are attending the conference and are an excellent way to meet attendees in smaller groups with similar clinical and research interests.   

The Diversity Forum is an annual event focused on supporting diversity in the fields of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine.

The Women’s Forum is an annual event that recognizes the advancement of women in the fields of pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine.