Welcome to the 2019 ACGME Annual Educational Conference!
I like to say, each year, that this Annual Educational Conference is the largest gathering of GME professionals in the world/universe/history of time. My colleagues get a kick out of it, but it’s true. The ACGME Conference has grown each year, both in attendance and in depth and quality of content, and we are very proud to be able to host such an important event for this community. It is a unique venue in which we can learn and expand our thinking and experience, connect and reconnect with colleagues, friends, mentors, mentees, and others, and spend a few days focusing on the important work of graduate medical education and how we can continue to improve it. This year’s theme, Engaging Each Other: Rediscovering Meaning in Medicine, challenges us to tune in and work together to uncover or reignite the fire in our souls through connection and meaning. You represent the broad spectrum of graduate medical education: you are designated institutional officials (DIOs), faculty members, program directors, coordinators, residents, fellows, and others in GME from across the globe who are enthusiastic about and committed to education and collaboration, all in the service of patient care and the health of the public.
This year’s conference is packed with exciting, enriching content that will tap into your passions and inspire you to rekindle your meaning in medicine. In fact, we’re almost deliberately making it hard for attendees to choose which sessions to attend! With more than 140 sessions, we know many of you will feel like you are missing something important. We will do our best to capture as much as we can here on this blog and through other vehicles to share with the community the wealth of knowledge and innovations being offered. Make sure you follow the ACGME on Twitter (@ACGME) and use the conference hashtag, #ACGME2019, in your own tweets and posts to help us tell this story.
Some highlights I want to mention:
- We have sessions on a number of hot topics in medicine and medical education, including physician well-being, faculty and professional development, crisis management, diversity and inclusion, medicine in underserved areas, the opioid crisis, and more.
- We have ACGME-related sessions to help and support new and experienced program staff, faculty, and leadership, including sessions on the Milestones, specialty updates, ACGME initiatives, Program Requirements, distance learning, scholarly writing, the CLER Program, and more.
- We have presenters and attendees from AACOM, AAMC, ABMS, AOA, AOGME, ECFMG, NAM, NRMP, and many other esteemed organizations.
- We have pre-conferences for coordinators, program directors, DIOs, and osteopathic programs and institutions transitioning to ACGME accreditation.
- We have 68 exhibitors in our Exhibit Hall, which has a number of new, exciting features and activities this year.
- We have 91 attendees from countries outside of the United States.
- We have 65 resident and fellow attendees representing Back to Bedside awarded projects.
- We have a really special Marvin R. Dunn Keynote Address this year, presented as a Fireside Chat between 19th US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy and ACGME President and CEO Dr. Thomas J. Nasca.
- We have well-being activities like running/walking clubs in the morning, sunset yoga on Friday and Saturday, and chair massages.
- We have a Conversation Board in the Exhibit Hall where you can share your own story and your meaning in medicine.
And much, much, much, much more.
I hope those of you who are with us in Orlando gain much, both educationally and personally, and leave the conference energized and reconnected to your own meaning in medicine. And I hope those of you who cannot be here will learn from your colleagues and friends, and through our shared updates, and join us in the future.