Conventions

Apr 19-21, 2012. ACP is the American College of Physicians, and this was their annual Internal Medicine jamboree.  A big topic at the expo was the Internal Medicine Physician Specialists Release Policy Paper, “Reforming Medicare in the Age of Deficit Reduction”.  From diabetes to bioethics to obesity to disaster relief, there were plentiful discussion opportunities at Internal Medicine 2012. There was a call for Improvements to US Public Health Systems to Protect U.S. Residents.  The American College of Physicians and Consumer Reports announce their collaboration on New High Value Care Patient Education Resources.  Speaking of education, delegates could also help fulfill their continuing medical training requirements by claiming their Internal Medicine 2012 CME credits.  Y’know, when you’ve got your health, you’ve got it all…

Mar. 09-12, 2012. APHA is the American Pharmacists’ Association, an organization whose members are “recognized as essential in all patient care settings for optimal medication use that improves health, wellness, and quality of life”. Through information, education, and advocacy, APHA empowers its members to improve medication use and advance patient care.  APhA was the first-established national professional society of pharmacists, having been founded in 1852 as the American Pharmaceutical Association. It remains the largest association of pharmacists in the United States, boasting more than 60,000 practicing pharmacists, pharmaceutical scientists, student pharmacists and pharmacy technicians.  Hey, after counting all those druggists, I need an aspirin…

Jan. 22-26, 2012. AMS is the American Meteorological Society, so if you don’t like the weather we’re getting, these are the people to call.  The AMS Education Program promotes the teaching of atmospheric, oceanographic, and hydrologic sciences through pre-college teacher training and instructional resource material development. It also promotes instructional innovation at the introductory college course level. All programs promote activity directed towards greater human resource diversity in the sciences AMS represents. To date, over 100,000 teachers have received training and instructional resources, which have benefited millions of students. The American Meteorological Society has partnered with Second Nature to implement the AMS Climate Studies Course at 100 minority-serving institutions nationwide.  All together now; “Though the weather outside is frightful…”

Jan. 15-18, 2012. PPA’s full title is the Imaging USA Photographic Convention and Expo, built around the theme of “Big Ideas for Photographers in the Big Easy”.  It’s billed as the world’s longest running professional photography conference, featuring three full days of intensive artistic and business education.  Photography classes focused on different specialties and “tricks of the trade” geared towards improving business and photographic skills and use of technologies. Some of the industry’s biggest names appeared as instructors.  There were specialty classes for sport and event photography, and a full slate of exclusive events featuring everything from award galas to a dance party.  Hey, you need to take that lens-cap off…

Oct. 25-27, 2011. Consumer choice in video options has grown to include multiple pay-TV options, time shifting, video on demand, internet and mobile video.  This means the competitive picture for telecom service providers has become much more complex. Yet video continues to be the cornerstone of a multiservice entertainment bundle.  TelcoTV 2011 provided a forum for frank discussion of these challenges and the current video services market. Among the topics explored were: Among the topics to be explored are: Exploring cost-effective content acquisition strategies, Adding information services/widgets to your video service and The role of home networking and customer support as a commercial play.  It’s all coming to a flat screen near you.