ACR Convergence 2024: Attendance tips for a meeting that ‘can be simply overwhelming’
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It’s that time of year again.
We are now less than a week away from ACR Convergence 2024 and, as is the emerged tradition, we are now back in Washington, D.C., shortly after a tumultuous national election. Although politics will be difficult to put aside given the august surroundings of our nation’s capital, we hopefully will still be able to take advantage of a great city, as well as a meeting that I have, so far, not missed once since my training days many years ago.
I have written about this adventure previously on a number of occasions, so to the old hands I say: “Just bear with me,” for these brief comments are intentionally directed at the young rheumatologists, and rheumatologists in training, who are new and early in their experience as an ACR Convergence attendee.
I have spent some time reviewing the agenda online, starting with the “meeting at a glance” page, to familiarize myself with the overall topography and content of this massive meeting, which, even for the most experienced among us, can be simply overwhelming. A few things have already stuck out for me.
First, we have essentially returned to a traditional meeting. In addition to the poster hall, which (thankfully) returned last year, we now have the “meet the professor” sessions back as well. I would like to personally shout these sessions out to all attendees and strongly recommend signing up for one or more. I have had the privilege of attending “meet the professor” sessions as faculty in the past, and they have been some of the most memorable experiences I have ever had at this meeting. I have looked over the list of professors for this year, and all — young and old alike — are known to be excellent teachers.
These are sessions where you can ask questions to someone steeped in evidence-based care and research, across an array of complex disease states, including lupus, vasculitis, fibromyalgia and beyond. Getting to know some of these rockstar international rheumatologists up close is part of the treat of attending such as session, so please check it out.
My second recommendation is to spend as much time as possible in the poster hall. If you already have a personal interest in a specific disease or area, this is your chance to see not only what is currently happening in that field, but a great opportunity to talk to investigators both young and old about their work. I urge this strategy particularly for those interested in an academic career, because it provides an opportunity for networking and expanding one’s circle of colleagues and potential collaborators.
I have said this before, but during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the post hall was absent, this meeting — and all similar meetings — lost its soul. Now that it is back, I am eager to once again put on my most comfortable shoes, pace the hall, and see new faces and meet old friends.
Third, there are the lagniappe sessions, such as the great debates — for both adult and pediatric care — as well as the thieves’ market and the very cool knowledge bowl. I know it is hard to pick and choose among these, but in my experience the best strategy is to just dive in.
Lastly, for anyone who has attended this meeting in the past, and particularly those who have made it a tradition, there is nothing more important than renewing friendships. I already have dinner reservations made on one of the nights for a handful of close colleagues who similarly have experienced this and other international meetings as frequently as I, with the goal of simply sharing a meal and drinking some great wine with no other agenda than sharing our friendship yet again. It does not get better than that. Hope to see you at #ACR24.
That is my take, and I would love to hear yours. Please share your thoughts with me at calabrl@ccf.org or at rheumatology@healio.com.
For more information:
Leonard H. Calabrese, DO, is the Chief Medical Editor, Healio Rheumatology, and Professor of Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, and RJ Fasenmyer Chair of Clinical Immunology at the Cleveland Clinic.
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