What’s New at ATS 2011?

Over the course of a century, the ATS International Conference has become the leading scientific meeting for clinicians and researchers alike in pulmonary, critical care and sleep medicine.  While the science in the field is always evolving and, therefore, each year’s conference is unique, many formats for learning like poster discussions, sunrise seminars, PG courses, and mini-symposium have remained relatively constant.

More recently, however, the ATS has made a number of changes to the International Conference—both to maximize the content of the meeting and the learning that takes place and to facilitate networking, which is one of the main reasons why so many people attend the conference every year.  Here is a list of notable new or recent additions to the ATS International Conference.

Case Reports—Last year, the Society called for abstracts of unique clinical cases for the first time. The positive response to presenting these abstracts at the International Conference convinced the ATS to continue this popular feature at ATS 2011.

Hands-On Learning—ATS 2011 will feature more hands-on learning opportunities than have ever been offered before. From microscopy to implementing therapeutic hypothermia, attendees will be able to learn by doing at the International Conference. In addition to practical training, these sessions will provide the essential context for the use of the medical devices, scientific instruments or clinical protocols.

My ATS 2011—At this year’s International Conference, ATS introduces a social media networking tool. Accessible on desktop and by smart phone, this program will help attendees connect before and during the conference.

New Topics—A postgraduate course on  developing leadership skills and a symposium on the implications of U.S. healthcare reform on pulmonary, critical care and sleep illustrate the Society’s commitment to reaching beyond traditional topics to provide information that is important to attendees’ professional lives.

Product Demonstrations—The ATS Clinicians Center will host live product demos of medical devices by ATS experts, showing the features of the devices and how they use them in their practice.

Alumni Lounges—At ATS 2011, U.S. attendees will be able to use the lounges to meet other alumni who trained at the same institution.

Quality Improvement Session—The ATS is planning a session showcasing posters on quality improvement submitted through the abstract process.