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March 19-22, 2013. The American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics advances the practice of medical genetics and genomics by providing education, resources and a voice for more than 1600 biochemical, clinical, cytogenetic, medical and molecular geneticists, genetic counselors and other healthcare professionals committed to the practice of medical genetics. ACMG’s activities include the development of laboratory and practice standards and guidelines, advocating for quality genetic services in healthcare and in public health, and promoting the development of methods to diagnose, treat and prevent genetic disease. These professionals plan and coordinate large-scale screening programs for inborn errors of metabolism, hemoglobinopathies, chromosome abnormalities, neural tube defects and other genetically-influenced conditions. As genetic factors underlying diseases become better understood, professionals in this medical specialty are increasingly called upon to manage complex patient care that cuts across many different specialties. Gene genies….
March 24-27, 2013. NIGA is the big one if you are something to do with Indian Gaming. The National Indian Gaming Association’s Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention is the nation’s premier Indian gaming event, where Indian gaming executives, buyers, and industry professionals meet to conduct serious business. No-one currently doing business in or wanting to begin doing business in the Indian casino-entertainment industry feels like they can afford to miss being a part of the Indian gaming industry’s number one event. How is “Indian” actually defined, though? A Sovereign Nation defines its own membership, and each of the nation’s tribes set their own rules for inclusion. A degree of Indian blood is necessary for membership in any tribe, although the percentage of Indian blood required for membership varies among tribes. Most tribes require a person to show one fourth quantum blood degree of his tribe’s blood to be an enrolled member. There are things that tribes don’t gamble on…
March 12-14, 2013. With the national debate on immigration hotting up, border security is one topical issue, and the state of Arizona is a place where the debate is particularly animated. The big theme this year was “Disrupting and dismantling transnational criminal organizations”. Pictures of drones were prominent on many displays, which was a potent clue to how a lot of the “disrupting” is likely to be approached. Teams of experts were on hand — former law enforcement and government officials, as well as industry veterans, who volunteer on advisory boards and direct conference agendas. This organization aggregates information, intelligence and knowledge, and then expertly creates superior, relevant and timely conferences that attract thousands of law enforcement professionals. One session was titled “A Multi-layered Approach Case Study: Southwest Border Operational Coordination of Federal, State and Local Law Enforcement”. If only transnational criminal organizations could be ‘coordinated’ as easily…
March 14-17, 2013. How many veterinarians, exactly? The AAHA Phoenix 2013 Yearly Conference had a total of 3,691 attendees, including 1,233 veterinarians, 297 practice managers, 272 technicians, 219 veterinary assistants and support staff, 104 veterinary and veterinary technician students, 45 other professionals, 525 guests, and 996 exhibitor personnel. This so-called “sizzling hot experience” had something for everyone, including practice owners and managers, associate veterinarians, technicians, assistants, and client-focused professionals. They covered everything from A (anesthesia) to Z (zoonotic diseases), capturing the latest diagnostic techniques, advances in therapeutics, and the most sophisticated methods of practice management so delegates could implement cutting-edge knowledge immediately. Folks could even watch an actual surgical procedure live on a giant screen, receiving constant play-by-play explanation by the surgeon. Scalpel… swab… doggie bone…
February 14-19, 2013. NUCA is the National Utility Contractors Association — the leading trade association working for the utility construction and excavation industry in the United States. NUCA’s nationwide network of state/regional chapters and member companies represent utility contractors, excavators, suppliers, manufacturers, and other providers in the water, sewer, gas, electric, telecommunications, treatment plant, and excavation industries. NUCA is the driving force for improving conditions in the utility construction and excavation industry, for both open-cut and trenchless contractors. The Association’s core purpose is to improve the operational proficiency and financial performance of its member companies by providing services that focus on shared industry issues. NUCA also works to secure more funding for America’s aging underground infrastructure. In keeping with the Old West theme adopted for 2013, the show was subtitled “Dig Out Of Recession Canyon”. Here’s your pick and spade, pardner…
Sept. 29-30, 2012. ASLA is the American Society of Landscape Architects, and this claims to be the largest landscape architecture trade show in the world. Here were all the influential players in the landscape architecture profession. 85 percent of attendees specify products and services in their workplace, or influence buying decisions based on what they see at this conference. They would typically be Landscape Architects and Designers, Landscape Contractors and Builders, Nursery Owners and Growers, Architects, Engineers, Facilities Managers, even Interior Designers. This raises the interesting idea of designing a garden for inside the house, rather than outside. Neat concept, but we suspect that tidy-minded homemakers would resent the wheelbarrow marks and clods of earth all over the lounge carpet….
Sept. 16-20, 2012. AHE is the Association for the Healthcare Environment, and their preoccupation is providing “interactive, informative and engaging learning labs” to ensure patient satisfaction, not just usually but always. That said, the way they get there is strewn with quite a thicket of acronyms. There were sessions on “How to Successfully Manage an Understaffed EVS Department”, “Emergency Management and Preparedness: Identifying the ES Role in Meeting the New TJC Standards”, not to mention “The HCAHPS Hospital of Choice: Leading the Healthcare Reform Revolution” and “CHESP Review Session”. Less baffling was “The Evolution of Sustainability: Implementing Compliant, Hospital-Wide Waste Stream Initiatives and Green Practices”. We’re all for waste-streams being as green as possible….
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