F
rom Florida's Gulf Coast, we will soon soar across the U.S. on a jet plane to Anaheim, CA, to AACC where friendly faces, fascinating new equipment, and opportunities to learn await us — as well as thousands of AACC registrants. At this July hustle-bustle medical lab conference, AACC will offer visitors the “largest clinical lab exposition in the world. All areas of clinical diagnostics, automation, information systems, point-of-care, and biotech offer new science and new technology” to lab scientists who typically prowl booths and roam endless aisles looking for a new solution to an old problem. This year, AACC estimates that “more than 650 exhibitors will be hosting more than 1,800 booths with more products in every clinical lab discipline than any other show.”
Aside from investigating all of these exciting new products, “nationally recognized leaders from clinical practice, research, business, and policy will be featured speakers at plenary sessions with a range of perspectives on the future of healthcare and the medical laboratory.” Opportunities exist for registrants to meet with colleagues for what AACC describes as “intense, in-depth, interactive” Meet the Experts discussions with some of the plenary speakers as well as other invited experts.
The “short courses” have traditional lectures on particular subjects for 50 to 100 participants, whereas “interactive workshops” promote active participation between speakers and audiences through “dialogue and discussion.” Symposia sessions are arranged for experts to address larger audiences in a theater-style setting.
Another quite popular venue with attendees are early morning and lunchtime “brown bag sessions” designed for intimate and active “discussion, dialogue, and debate” with a Q&A forum with noted experts in various fields of study.
One new service AACC provides this year is that, in addition to registrants receiving a print copy of the poster abstracts, those now will be available online — as well as those from 2009 — at the organization's annual meeting website in PDF or eBook format for your colleagues back home to view!
Whichever of these educational experiences you might choose, the caliber of AACC's programs means you will leave Anaheim a much more informed lab specialist. In the accelerated, global world of the medical lab continued education is essential (as our mad med-lab techs point out this month in “Mentoring Minute”).
And, we cannot forget that “all journeys have secret destinations of which the traveler is unaware.”* So, AACC's 'blog' (yes, check it out!) has offered up a list of some of attractions (like Disneyland) within fairly easy reach of the Anaheim location.
While you are adventuring at AACC, MLO arrives back home where your colleagues will be reading about
- keeping the U.S. blood supply safe from some serious new threats like Chikungunya and babesiosis;
- preventing the carryover of spermatozoa;
- HIV testing in mental-health settings;
- “going green” in the LEAN laboratory; and
- preparation for the next pandemic.
Make sure MLO is one of your stops at AACC: Booth #3245, so that we have the pleasure of meeting you or renewing your acquaintance!
May you have a safe journey to AACC, and may Anaheim also reveal your secret destination!
*Martin Buber
