On The Road Again
Adapting to the new world of digital technology and virtual communication has presented both opportunities and barriers. The COVID-19 pandemic has necessarily pushed us further into the world of virtual communication which, in turn, has effected the way we do events and tradeshows. These events have always provided the ability to acquire much needed Continuing Education Units (CEUs), and wonderful opportunity to network with our peers. Numerous vendors and show sponsors have recreated this important venue in a virtual setting for laboratory personnel as well as vendors promoting their product. There have been some successes and some, well, not so much. This article provides a closer look at this world of virtual events that have been rather hit or miss, and those perennial favorites of the past, and what makes them so special. We at WSLH Proficiency Testing hope this guide provides potential show attendees with the opportunity to explore new shows as well as make informed decisions regarding the expense and value of each venue.
There just is no way you can replace human contact with virtual events. Something must be said regarding the person-to-person networking that happens at each event. Capturing the attention of attendees at a virtual venue can be difficult given that the structure at in-person events encourages networking naturally. From the perspective of a vendor, the best virtual event by far for us was the Lab Director’s Summit, sponsored by MLO. This event actually created events that mimicked the real one-on-one conversations that would exist at a live event. They took it a further step by allowing vendors to present their product line as a 30-minute presentation to attendees in the following ways:
1. Have one-on-one meetings with each and every attendee (like a dating event). The vendor has a 15-minute meeting with an attendee, a bell rings and then the next attendee arrives in the booth.
2. Initiate meetings either set by the attendee or the vendor, in a polite nonintrusive manner.
While the best of the virtual world allows for greater connection and networking, we have all experienced the limitations with this format, technologically and socially. It’s important for our species to connect and see each other in-person. Plus, how much more eye-strain and zoom fatigue can we handle, given that much of our personal lives are online these days? While we hope we can return to real-life shows in 2021, let’s take a look at some of the top live events that we find rewarding and, let’s face it, just plain fun.
American Society of Clinical Laboratory Scientists (ASCLS) meetings
While each and every one of these ASCLS state-sponsored events are good, some stand out as particularly engaging.
ASCLS Minnesota takes place yearly at the Earle Brown Center, which captured the horse lover in me with old timey pictures of the largest horse in the world (at one time) as well as some race horse facts and other photos. The venue is very well attended by both laboratory professionals and vendors. The opportunities to network are plentiful. What a great show!
ASCLS Montana provides one of the most welcoming shows with beautiful scenery wherever you look. This show rotates through some of Montana’s larger cities; so, each year you are greeted with a new place to explore. What fun!
There are individual ASCLS meetings in Michigan, Illinois, Colorado, Missouri, Louisiana and Mississippi, as well as multistate ventures in places like Nebraska, Jackson Hole, WY (IMSS), North Dakota, South Dakota, Minneapolis, and Wisconsin (Region V). Some of these shows we have attended, others we are looking forward to visiting soon. Overall, the ASCLS folks are very welcoming and considerate of their vendors. There is always a set of local activities to enjoy such as a gondola ride, ghost tours, historical tours, or my favorite: horseback riding in the mountains. Most of these shows have designated times for vendor-attendee interaction, which allows for some sightseeing activities. My favorite vendor-attendee activity is the silent auction that happens at some of these shows. It is a fun chance to see local creations, and what the local people find interesting. Most of all, it is an opportunity to take a little piece of that territory home with you as a reminder of the wonderful people you have met.
The ASCLS annual meeting is a huge event with enormous opportunity to network as well as pick up some CEUs.
Clinical Laboratory Managers Association (CLMA) Meetings
There are also some meetings sponsored by the local chapters of CLMA. These meeting are well attended and often held in cities with glorious history. There are shows in New York, Boston, Baltimore and other fascinating places with fascinating people.
LAB Director’s Summit
As mentioned earlier in this article, the Lab Director’s Summit sponsored by MLO is an incredible opportunity for both attendees and vendors. If you have a chance, I would say don’t miss it.
American Association of Clinical Chemists (AACC) Annual Meeting
I cannot go without mentioning the largest meeting of all: AACC, which I must say has improved considerably during my time of attendance. Booths are now more mixed, giving the big and the small vendors equal opportunity to be seen. It can be a bit overwhelming, but the educational sessions are pertinent to what laboratories are seeing back home. The presenters at these valuable lectures are foremost in their field. For the educational content and the opportunity to see how vast the world of Medical Technology truly is, this show is a must do.
Conclusion
To summarize there are so many great places and wonderful people. The misnomer that laboratory folks are introverted or unfriendly is quickly refuted if you ever have the opportunity to visit one of these events. I would say we are an engaging, and fun-loving bunch of highly intelligent people.
If I missed anyone or you would like WSLH PT to attend your event, please get in touch with me. Also, if you are trying to decide about a venue, please give us a call. We can put you in touch with show sponsors that can provide information. Thank you for reading this article; and, thank you to everyone who supports our profession as members of ASCLS, CLMA, ASCP or other professional organizations. You are special!