HIV and ID findings. a continuing discussion on HIV/AIDS, infectious conditions, all things medical, plus some not too medical

(Not) Attending expert conferences within the COVID-19 Era

Public Wellness Poster, Philadelphia.

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), our expert culture, held its yearly conference this week, IDWeek.

As always, we registered for and went to the conference.

Needless to say i will have written “attended” the conference, as rather than having an in-person conference in Philadelphia (the initial planned place), it had been completely done on line. Another “virtual” meeting due to COVID-19.

First, the great news. The content and preparation both were top-notch. Navigating your website, viewing the presentations either live or on-demand, and reviewing the posters, i discovered the experience bug-free and transparent. (No pun intended.)

Very happy to report there is genuine progress in the digital conference graphical user interface because the final seminar we “attended”.

And there’s gobs and gobs of content. (Or should that be gobs that are“are gobs” — inquiring minds need to know!)

That’s the thing that is great IDWeek — there’s a great deal to know about charmdate reviews this you sooner or later complete the conference having discovered a lot. The top professionals in our field weigh in about what they’re professionals about –what could possibly be better? It’s specially useful whenever stepping outside one’s convenience zone.

Now, the news that is not-so-good these online meetings can’t come close to replicating the ability of experiencing them live.

To be certain, big work that is in-person are definately not perfect. They’re costly, need travel (the agonies of that are legion), utilize our carbon footprint up, and gosh they are exhausting through the socializing viewpoint. often you want to sit in your accommodation and conceal, watching the main presentations that are oral browse the posters online.

Understandably, some physicians, nurses, pharmacists, as well as other clinicians would consider attending these n’t conferences. Too time intensive and costly.

You know very well what? Doing just the on line component misses lot of what’s great about live conferences. Whenever attending them, you can easily concentrate on the conference, mostly free from the interruptions of work and house.

We invested nearly all of final week in the office, well, working.

This can be cool. And stunning! But provided my distraction during #IDWeek2020 — you understand, with hospital, epic communications, doodle polls, manuscript reviews, fall deadlines (with *learning objectives*), online learning modules, zooms, etc, i am probably this dot way to avoid it here. pic.twitter.com/4dkf7C4nh0

Occasionally a week ago, I’d remember that IDWeek was at reality nevertheless occurring — after which I’d have actually the double hit of shame originating from both getting behind in work therefore the FOMO of maybe maybe perhaps not “being” in the seminar. Yikes.

One colleague fought this nagging issue by publishing this:

Many thanks for the e-mail. I will be going to a digital meeting, and can perhaps not be email that is checking. We will react to your message as quickly as possible.

Provides a meaning that is new the word, “out of office message,” does not it?

Additionally, IDWeek in particular constantly has great community feel to it — they are our individuals. Actually missed that.

just what a chance that is great network and reconnect. A clump of previous ID fellows, now having launched their professions, collects by way of a poster — just just just how fun to get caught up! A friend/colleague from nyc or l . a . or Miami or Chicago or Philadelphia or Madrid or Sydney I’d maybe maybe not seen because the final meeting — how will you be? A person who’s recently made an investigation paper, or an advertising, or by landing a huge brand brand brand brand new task — congratulations!

As well as the characters! Below are a few famous people from my HIV world: Carlos del Rio somehow once you understand literally everybody within our industry — how can he do this? Jeanne Marrazzo’s enthusiastic and laugh that is supportive. Joe Eron steps up towards the microphone, and asks the essential incisive post-presentation concerns. John Bartlett together with note that is yellow pad sitting right in front row taking every pearl. (Dating myself a little with this final one.)

No, canceling in-person scholastic conferences is not the biggest loss dealt us because of the COVID-19 pandemic, definately not it.