How to make the most of your annual meeting

100:00:00,000 --> 00:00:05,860Welcome to the Clinician Researcher podcast, where academic clinicians learn the skills200:00:05,860 --> 00:00:11,260to build their own research program, whether or not they have a mentor.300:00:11,260 --> 00:00:17,340As clinicians, we spend a decade or more as trainees learning to take care of patients.400:00:17,340 --> 00:00:22,380When we finally start our careers, we want to build research programs, but then we find500:00:22,380 --> 00:00:27,780that our years of clinical training did not adequately prepare us to lead our research600:00:27,780 --> 00:00:29,200program.700:00:29,200 --> 00:00:35,480Through no fault of our own, we struggle to find mentors, and when we can't, we quit.800:00:35,480 --> 00:00:40,580However, clinicians hold the keys to the greatest research breakthroughs.900:00:40,580 --> 00:00:46,200For this reason, the Clinician Researcher podcast exists to give academic clinicians1000:00:46,200 --> 00:00:51,800the tools to build their own research program, whether or not they have a mentor.1100:00:51,800 --> 00:01:01,060Now introducing your host, Toyosi Onwuemene.1200:01:01,060 --> 00:01:03,080Welcome to the Clinician Researcher podcast.1300:01:03,080 --> 00:01:07,580I'm your host, Toyosi Onwuemene, and I'm super excited to be talking with you today, as I1400:01:07,580 --> 00:01:09,080am always.1500:01:09,080 --> 00:01:12,840And today I'm talking about making the most of your annual meeting.1600:01:12,840 --> 00:01:17,860I remember my first annual meeting for the American Society of Hematology.1700:01:17,860 --> 00:01:23,680I first attended as a fellow in either 2010 or 2011.1800:01:23,680 --> 00:01:27,980And I remember that the reason I wanted to go was because, wow, I was going to learn1900:01:27,980 --> 00:01:28,980so much Hematology.2000:01:28,980 --> 00:01:30,340It was going to be so awesome.2100:01:30,340 --> 00:01:32,340I was so excited.2200:01:32,340 --> 00:01:35,180And that first meeting was in Orlando, Florida.2300:01:35,180 --> 00:01:41,060And I will tell you that things were not exactly as I expected them to be.2400:01:41,060 --> 00:01:44,020So this was a meeting in Orlando in December.2500:01:44,020 --> 00:01:48,120So I expected I was going to go to Orlando in December, and it was going to be super2600:01:48,120 --> 00:01:50,200warm and amazing.2700:01:50,200 --> 00:01:52,240And it was incredibly cold that year.2800:01:52,240 --> 00:01:54,800So there was no snow, but it might as well have been snowing.2900:01:54,800 --> 00:01:55,800It was that cold.3000:01:55,800 --> 00:01:56,800I was so disappointed.3100:01:56,800 --> 00:02:02,060And, OK, in retrospect, maybe it wasn't that cold, but I was just so unprepared for Orlando3200:02:02,060 --> 00:02:05,020in December that I was so, so disappointed.3300:02:05,020 --> 00:02:07,060So I was disappointed by the weather.3400:02:07,060 --> 00:02:11,800And I was also disappointed by the meeting too, because, oh my goodness, it was huge.3500:02:11,800 --> 00:02:12,800It's so big.3600:02:12,800 --> 00:02:16,340There were so many people, and there were so many events happening simultaneously.3700:02:16,340 --> 00:02:19,780It was like, well, which one am I going to go to?3800:02:19,780 --> 00:02:23,340And I can't make all these sessions.3900:02:23,340 --> 00:02:24,780It was overwhelming.4000:02:24,780 --> 00:02:25,780It was overwhelming.4100:02:25,780 --> 00:02:31,480And I don't know about you, but to be honest, I still find meetings kind of overwhelming.4200:02:31,480 --> 00:02:36,420Over time, I've been able to kind of curate my experience, but they are still big and4300:02:36,420 --> 00:02:37,420overwhelming.4400:02:37,420 --> 00:02:41,180You know, over time, I've been able to attend meetings that are much, much smaller than4500:02:41,180 --> 00:02:44,100our animal meeting, the American Society of Hematology.4600:02:44,100 --> 00:02:45,100It's a big meeting.4700:02:45,100 --> 00:02:49,420It's got over 20,000 people and growing that attend the meetings every year.4800:02:49,420 --> 00:02:53,520And so it's a big enough meeting now that there are only a couple of sites across the4900:02:53,520 --> 00:02:55,740country that we can have these meetings.5000:02:55,740 --> 00:02:59,340And so it's a predictable group of four, actually five.5100:02:59,340 --> 00:03:06,080The rotation is around, I think, five major convention sites.5200:03:06,080 --> 00:03:07,500And again, it's in December.5300:03:07,500 --> 00:03:12,980So we stay away from the states in which snow could be a problem for flights and things5400:03:12,980 --> 00:03:13,980like that.5500:03:13,980 --> 00:03:17,100So anyway, the American Society of Hematology meeting is huge.5600:03:17,100 --> 00:03:18,500It's happening in December.5700:03:18,500 --> 00:03:23,460I'm excited to be going and to be moderating a session or two.5800:03:23,460 --> 00:03:27,860And so I wanted to share some insights about how to make the most of your animal meeting5900:03:27,860 --> 00:03:33,740and to not be overwhelmed because it can be pretty overwhelming.6000:03:33,740 --> 00:03:35,500And so these are just my thoughts.6100:03:35,500 --> 00:03:38,020I would be excited to hear about your thoughts.6200:03:38,020 --> 00:03:44,220So definitely shoot me a voicemail through the podcast website or send me a DM so that6300:03:44,220 --> 00:03:47,360I can get your insights as well.6400:03:47,360 --> 00:03:51,780So the first thing I want to share is that you should plan to go.6500:03:51,780 --> 00:03:57,060I know that doesn't sound very innovative or original, but you really should plan to6600:03:57,060 --> 00:03:58,060go.6700:03:58,060 --> 00:03:59,820And I say that because you know what?6800:03:59,820 --> 00:04:03,700There are so many meetings that we go to in academia.6900:04:03,700 --> 00:04:07,580And absolutely, if you don't have three or four or five meetings that you're going to7000:04:07,580 --> 00:04:14,140or that you could potentially go to during the year, then maybe you're not at an academic7100:04:14,140 --> 00:04:16,060institution or maybe you are.7200:04:16,060 --> 00:04:19,260But there are always meetings to go to.7300:04:19,260 --> 00:04:22,220And so you could choose not to go.7400:04:22,220 --> 00:04:24,580And there are many reasons to not go to meetings.7500:04:24,580 --> 00:04:28,140But I think it's important to go to your annual meeting.7600:04:28,140 --> 00:04:31,860And sometimes people will say, well, I'm not presenting, therefore I'm not going.7700:04:31,860 --> 00:04:35,140And I would say that you should go even if you're not presenting.7800:04:35,140 --> 00:04:38,820You should find a way to present something or find something to do there.7900:04:38,820 --> 00:04:42,820But the most important thing at the annual meeting is not always the presentation that8000:04:42,820 --> 00:04:43,980you're giving.8100:04:43,980 --> 00:04:48,580So definitely present, but don't say that because you don't have anything to present,8200:04:48,580 --> 00:04:49,860you're not going.8300:04:49,860 --> 00:04:52,380So have a plan to go.8400:04:52,380 --> 00:04:57,240And sometimes the reason it's important to have something that you're presenting before8500:04:57,240 --> 00:05:01,900you go is because sometimes you won't find funding or people are not going to support8600:05:01,900 --> 00:05:05,980you to go if you're not presenting, especially when you're early career or maybe still in8700:05:05,980 --> 00:05:06,980training.8800:05:06,980 --> 00:05:09,980If you're presenting, then someone can say, OK, yeah, we're now going to release this8900:05:09,980 --> 00:05:14,340pot of money so that you can go present this particularly abstract.9000:05:14,340 --> 00:05:18,780So whatever it helps for you to do so that you can go, please do it.9100:05:18,780 --> 00:05:20,240But really have a plan to go.9200:05:20,240 --> 00:05:26,020And as you grow in your career, as you have other sources of funding, perhaps maybe your9300:05:26,020 --> 00:05:31,420annual faculty development fund, whatever that is, you should go anyway, even if you9400:05:31,420 --> 00:05:36,620don't have something to present because meetings offer so much more to you than just an opportunity9500:05:36,620 --> 00:05:37,740to present your research.9600:05:37,740 --> 00:05:40,020So definitely plan to go.9700:05:40,020 --> 00:05:41,620That's number one.9800:05:41,620 --> 00:05:43,980Number two is have a plan.9900:05:43,980 --> 00:05:47,360So plan to go and then have a plan for your meeting.10000:05:47,360 --> 00:05:49,700And by have a plan, what do I mean?10100:05:49,700 --> 00:05:54,460There are so many opportunities at your annual meeting, even if it's a small meeting.10200:05:54,460 --> 00:05:58,780And so I'm fortunate in that I am a hematologist.10300:05:58,780 --> 00:06:01,660And so my major meeting is the American Society of Hematology.10400:06:01,660 --> 00:06:04,020But I'm also an aphoresis doc.10500:06:04,020 --> 00:06:05,740I do research in aphoresis.10600:06:05,740 --> 00:06:10,460And so I attend the American Society for Aphoresis Animal Meeting.10700:06:10,460 --> 00:06:14,900And the American Society for Aphoresis Animal Meeting is a great meeting compared to the10800:06:14,900 --> 00:06:16,340American Society of Hematology.10900:06:16,340 --> 00:06:18,300It's so much smaller.11000:06:18,300 --> 00:06:20,940And there are concurrent sessions, but not too many.11100:06:20,940 --> 00:06:23,500And so it's a really great mix.11200:06:23,500 --> 00:06:28,380So definitely plan to go and then have a plan based on the kind of meeting you're going11300:06:28,380 --> 00:06:29,380to be at.11400:06:29,380 --> 00:06:34,380So perhaps you have a huge meeting like I have at the American Society of Hematology.11500:06:34,380 --> 00:06:38,460And it's going to be so much going on and so many opportunities to meet with different11600:06:38,460 --> 00:06:43,180reps or different reps of different industries, things like that.11700:06:43,180 --> 00:06:46,020But definitely sit down and create a plan.11800:06:46,020 --> 00:06:47,020Have a plan.11900:06:47,020 --> 00:06:49,480What do you want to get out of your meeting?12000:06:49,480 --> 00:06:53,140And in your plan, think about, OK, if you're going to present a poster or you're presenting12100:06:53,140 --> 00:06:57,420an oral abstract, well, you definitely want to make plans to be there at the right time.12200:06:57,420 --> 00:07:02,980Make sure you know about all information related to being a speaker, how to make sure you're12300:07:02,980 --> 00:07:04,980uploading your talk in due time.12400:07:04,980 --> 00:07:10,960So have a plan for your speaking presentation, whatever other presentation you have.12500:07:10,960 --> 00:07:16,700But also have a plan for who you want to connect with at this meeting, who are old friends12600:07:16,700 --> 00:07:21,420that you want to connect with, who are new friends that you need to meet, who are speakers12700:07:21,420 --> 00:07:25,580that are particularly interesting that you want to connect with, who are new collaborators12800:07:25,580 --> 00:07:28,660that you possibly might want to connect with.12900:07:28,660 --> 00:07:30,140So have a plan.13000:07:30,140 --> 00:07:31,980Have a plan for your meeting.13100:07:31,980 --> 00:07:37,440You know, honestly, when I had young children at home below the age of five, sometimes my13200:07:37,440 --> 00:07:39,360plan was to go to the meeting and sleep.13300:07:39,360 --> 00:07:42,780And so all the events people were talking about that started at 8 p.m., 9 p.m. was like,13400:07:42,780 --> 00:07:43,780I'm so sorry.13500:07:43,780 --> 00:07:45,620I'm here to catch up on sleep.13600:07:45,620 --> 00:07:48,820And so I'm going to do the rest of the meeting during the day, but this 9 p.m. event, I'm13700:07:48,820 --> 00:07:50,060not going to be part of.13800:07:50,060 --> 00:07:51,060And that's OK.13900:07:51,060 --> 00:07:52,060I'm going to have a season of my life.14000:07:52,060 --> 00:07:53,980And that was what I chose to do.14100:07:53,980 --> 00:07:59,700And so having a plan allowed me not to on the spot trying to be making decisions about whether14200:07:59,700 --> 00:08:01,380I attend a 9 p.m. event or not.14300:08:01,380 --> 00:08:05,740I was just not going to do it because part of my plan was catching up on sleep.14400:08:05,740 --> 00:08:06,740Yes.14500:08:06,740 --> 00:08:07,740So just have a plan.14600:08:07,740 --> 00:08:09,540And there's different seasons of your life.14700:08:09,540 --> 00:08:12,100And sometimes you go to meetings to do different things.14800:08:12,100 --> 00:08:15,060OK, so have a plan.14900:08:15,060 --> 00:08:19,340Number three is create a schedule.15000:08:19,340 --> 00:08:23,060And invariably for me, as we're coming up to our annual meeting, I'll get emails from15100:08:23,060 --> 00:08:27,540people requesting times to meet and they'll say, oh, can I meet with you on Saturday at15200:08:27,540 --> 00:08:28,7007 p.m.?15300:08:28,700 --> 00:08:32,380And what's interesting is that there are always going to be things happening or happening15400:08:32,380 --> 00:08:33,380at once.15500:08:33,380 --> 00:08:37,980And I just I just recall that I scheduled something that's happening that's happening15600:08:37,980 --> 00:08:39,620and coinciding with something else.15700:08:39,620 --> 00:08:42,380So anyway, what I'm saying is that there are always events every night.15800:08:42,380 --> 00:08:43,380Right.15900:08:43,380 --> 00:08:44,940So our annual meeting is a 40 meeting.16000:08:44,940 --> 00:08:47,900It's Friday, Saturday, Sunday, Monday.16100:08:47,900 --> 00:08:49,340And it's four night meeting.16200:08:49,340 --> 00:08:54,460And so there are always going to be events happening, especially during the weekend nights.16300:08:54,460 --> 00:08:57,540And so when people are like, oh, can you meet with me on this day or can you meet with me16400:08:57,540 --> 00:08:58,540on this day?16500:08:58,540 --> 00:09:00,180I'm like, I haven't made my plan yet.16600:09:00,180 --> 00:09:01,260I can't tell you yet.16700:09:01,260 --> 00:09:04,140I have you know, I need to sit down and prioritize.16800:09:04,140 --> 00:09:08,140But you definitely want to create a schedule because there will definitely be conflicts.16900:09:08,140 --> 00:09:12,580There'll be different things that you have to choose one over another and it will be17000:09:12,580 --> 00:09:13,580OK.17100:09:13,580 --> 00:09:16,380And there'll be some days that you'll say, you know what, I'm just not going to do anything17200:09:16,380 --> 00:09:17,380this evening.17300:09:17,380 --> 00:09:18,380I'm OK, too.17400:09:18,380 --> 00:09:23,300But definitely create a schedule so that you are in control of your annual meeting experience.17500:09:23,300 --> 00:09:28,580Now, the biggest benefit of creating a schedule is your ability to decide not to go with the17600:09:28,580 --> 00:09:29,580schedule.17700:09:29,580 --> 00:09:30,580Right.17800:09:30,580 --> 00:09:34,180So the planning is the key, not necessarily the actual plan.17900:09:34,180 --> 00:09:38,060The fact that you work and figure out all the things that are most important to you18000:09:38,060 --> 00:09:43,940is actually more relevant than the actual plan that you make because you have a schedule.18100:09:43,940 --> 00:09:47,700You want you want to have you reserve the right to change your schedule if some other18200:09:47,700 --> 00:09:53,180opportunity becomes more interesting that you are able to go on, they are able to take18300:09:53,180 --> 00:09:54,260advantage of.18400:09:54,260 --> 00:09:58,260So you definitely want to have a schedule, but you want to hold your schedule lightly.18500:09:58,260 --> 00:10:03,180You want to be free to change things on the schedule if it makes sense for you.18600:10:03,180 --> 00:10:07,940So definitely create a schedule knowing that you are the boss of the schedule and the schedule18700:10:07,940 --> 00:10:10,260is not the boss of you.18800:10:10,260 --> 00:10:11,560OK.18900:10:11,560 --> 00:10:13,980Number four is that you should meet old friends.19000:10:13,980 --> 00:10:17,900Oh, one of the most amazing things for me is to go to meetings and meet people that19100:10:17,900 --> 00:10:19,980I have not seen in years.19200:10:19,980 --> 00:10:23,420Even people I saw the last year, there's some people you don't talk to except at the19300:10:23,420 --> 00:10:24,420annual meeting.19400:10:24,420 --> 00:10:28,700And it is so awesome just to make those connections and to reconnect.19500:10:28,700 --> 00:10:32,820And one of the things it's so I mean, it's just awesome to meet your friends no matter19600:10:32,820 --> 00:10:35,260where where you find them.19700:10:35,260 --> 00:10:36,860And especially at the annual meeting.19800:10:36,860 --> 00:10:40,900But also it reminds you of how fast your network is.19900:10:40,900 --> 00:10:42,740You have got a vast network.20000:10:42,740 --> 00:10:44,540Can I just say it again?20100:10:44,540 --> 00:10:46,820You've got a vast network.20200:10:46,820 --> 00:10:48,380You went to medical school.20300:10:48,380 --> 00:10:52,380If your medical school was and mine was not even a huge medical school, I had at least20400:10:52,380 --> 00:10:54,140like 100 classmates.20500:10:54,140 --> 00:10:56,180I think it was 100 classmates.20600:10:56,180 --> 00:11:00,140But you know, you know, 100 people and you knew them well because you were in different20700:11:00,140 --> 00:11:01,140small groups with them.20800:11:01,140 --> 00:11:03,380You were in different big classes with them.20900:11:03,380 --> 00:11:05,060You know, 100 people.21000:11:05,060 --> 00:11:06,900And then you go to residency.21100:11:06,900 --> 00:11:08,620And for me, I was an internist.21200:11:08,620 --> 00:11:13,100I did an internal medicine residency that that was 40 people in my class.21300:11:13,100 --> 00:11:15,900And that's not counting the class below and the class above.21400:11:15,900 --> 00:11:21,140So if we had 40 each year of the three year residency, that's 120 people that I was connected21500:11:21,140 --> 00:11:23,500with in some way, shape or form.21600:11:23,500 --> 00:11:26,580Fellowship was a much smaller group, but it was still four of us per class.21700:11:26,580 --> 00:11:30,300And that's 12 people that you really got to know over the course of your fellowship.21800:11:30,300 --> 00:11:35,660And then that's not even counting the faculty you interacted with, the staff that you interacted21900:11:35,660 --> 00:11:36,660with.22000:11:36,660 --> 00:11:38,980It was a vast network.22100:11:38,980 --> 00:11:43,940And meeting old friends reminds you of the vastness of your network and the amazingness22200:11:43,940 --> 00:11:44,940of your network.22300:11:44,940 --> 00:11:48,980So powerful, so important, so critical that you reconnect.22400:11:48,980 --> 00:11:53,620And okay, you've had a couple of hundred people that you've met over the course of your training22500:11:53,620 --> 00:11:55,700or your career.22600:11:55,700 --> 00:11:57,680And it doesn't mean that you know all of them well.22700:11:57,680 --> 00:12:02,500But even when you recognize someone just even like as someone you haven't connected with22800:12:02,500 --> 00:12:06,820in a while, there's still a value in that connection, you know, especially when you22900:12:06,820 --> 00:12:10,340meet at an annual meeting where there's so many people you don't know.23000:12:10,340 --> 00:12:14,780The people you do know, you are able to connect with in a special way and it can help you23100:12:14,780 --> 00:12:17,400rekindle old relationships.23200:12:17,400 --> 00:12:22,100It can help you establish new collaborations, definitely helps you catch up to people.23300:12:22,100 --> 00:12:26,340And it is a really great way of just reconnecting with your network.23400:12:26,340 --> 00:12:30,420Another thing it does, and that's number five, is it helps you make new friends.23500:12:30,420 --> 00:12:34,980So you make new friends and you know there are different strategies for networking at23600:12:34,980 --> 00:12:35,980meetings.23700:12:35,980 --> 00:12:39,220My favorite strategy is just meet the friend of the friend.23800:12:39,220 --> 00:12:43,580And so it's easier because it's already someone you know and have a connection with and they're23900:12:43,580 --> 00:12:46,900with someone else that they'll point out, they'll turn around and say, well, have you24000:12:46,900 --> 00:12:47,900met?24100:12:47,900 --> 00:12:50,060And if they don't, then you'll say, oh, who's this with you?24200:12:50,060 --> 00:12:51,780And they can introduce you.24300:12:51,780 --> 00:12:58,260And that feels like a more organic and more laid back, chill and natural way to expand24400:12:58,260 --> 00:13:00,700your network, the friend of a friend, right?24500:13:00,700 --> 00:13:07,180It's the connection of a connection, which is so helpful to do and so much easier than24600:13:07,180 --> 00:13:12,260the cold calling that you have to do when you go introduce yourself to someone and say,24700:13:12,260 --> 00:13:15,140well, I am this person from this institution, right?24800:13:15,140 --> 00:13:20,060You still do that at poster sessions where you meet presenters and you ask questions.24900:13:20,060 --> 00:13:24,460But the connection is different when somebody you already know connects you to somebody25000:13:24,460 --> 00:13:25,460else.25100:13:25,460 --> 00:13:30,660There's already kind of an established, a shared bond, a shared commonality that you're25200:13:30,660 --> 00:13:36,660able to exploit that allows you then to, every time you meet this new person again, trace25300:13:36,660 --> 00:13:39,500the connection back to a common mutual friend.25400:13:39,500 --> 00:13:44,860And so I love the opportunity to meet old friends, especially because it also gives25500:13:44,860 --> 00:13:48,940me an opportunity to make new ones that are connected to these old friends.25600:13:48,940 --> 00:13:52,660And so meetings are an opportunity to expand your network.25700:13:52,660 --> 00:13:58,140And you can do it in a way that's organic, feels natural, even to the most introverted25800:13:58,140 --> 00:13:59,140of introverts.25900:13:59,140 --> 00:14:01,340So definitely make new friends.26000:14:01,340 --> 00:14:03,260And that's number five.26100:14:03,260 --> 00:14:04,260Number six.26200:14:04,260 --> 00:14:08,580So I'm going to say up until now, I have not said anything about the actual meeting or26300:14:08,580 --> 00:14:09,580learning anything.26400:14:09,580 --> 00:14:14,500And I will tell you that I used to think that going to a meeting was about learning things.26500:14:14,500 --> 00:14:15,500And it still is.26600:14:15,500 --> 00:14:18,300I'm not taking away the learning aspect of it.26700:14:18,300 --> 00:14:22,860But the connections actually may be more important than the learning of the new things.26800:14:22,860 --> 00:14:25,260Because to be honest, you can learn new things at any time.26900:14:25,260 --> 00:14:30,940But an actual in-person event, and yes, please opt for the in-person option if you can, those27000:14:30,940 --> 00:14:36,460are just so much more electric and amazing.27100:14:36,460 --> 00:14:42,740And so definitely, definitely exploit the opportunities to meet with people in person.27200:14:42,740 --> 00:14:55,540But then think also about what opportunities the annual meeting brings as a place of innovative,27300:14:55,540 --> 00:15:02,660cutting edge things that are evolving and that are changing in your field.27400:15:02,660 --> 00:15:08,020And so flip through the abstract book from beginning to end and find things that are27500:15:08,020 --> 00:15:12,260exciting and interesting and star them to go look at them.27600:15:12,260 --> 00:15:16,820And it may be that you are able to attend the talk or you are able to go to the poster27700:15:16,820 --> 00:15:19,980session and connect with the authors specifically.27800:15:19,980 --> 00:15:25,740But even if you're not, flipping through the abstract book allows you to just get a good27900:15:25,740 --> 00:15:27,740sense of everything.28000:15:27,740 --> 00:15:29,580And maybe it's not an abstract book anymore.28100:15:29,580 --> 00:15:32,220Maybe it's an online resource, whatever it is.28200:15:32,220 --> 00:15:37,380Make sure you go through and just get a sense of what projects are being done, what is on28300:15:37,380 --> 00:15:41,500the cutting edge of research in your field.28400:15:41,500 --> 00:15:45,940But also it helps you think about strategies that other people are using.28500:15:45,940 --> 00:15:48,140And you're thinking, oh, this is interesting.28600:15:48,140 --> 00:15:49,700They did this in this rare disease.28700:15:49,700 --> 00:15:52,580How can I apply it to my rare disease?28800:15:52,580 --> 00:15:56,420And so it's also an opportunity to really think strategically about how people are doing28900:15:56,420 --> 00:15:57,420their science.29000:15:57,420 --> 00:16:01,300Now, you're not there to copy anybody's science, or at least I hope you're not.29100:16:01,300 --> 00:16:05,580But it's really an opportunity to think creatively about your own work.29200:16:05,580 --> 00:16:11,860Because again, a lot of innovation and originality is not really totally innovative.29300:16:11,860 --> 00:16:15,900It's really applying something that's been applied elsewhere into a new field.29400:16:15,900 --> 00:16:20,780And so that's one thing that as you review and see what work other people are doing,29500:16:20,780 --> 00:16:23,100it helps you think about, okay, this is interesting.29600:16:23,100 --> 00:16:26,260They did this kind of study in this area.29700:16:26,260 --> 00:16:29,180How can I apply it to my area, my field of study?29800:16:29,180 --> 00:16:33,020So definitely look through the abstract book because it helps you figure out what lectures29900:16:33,020 --> 00:16:36,860you do want to attend, and it also helps you figure out, well, even if you don't attend30000:16:36,860 --> 00:16:41,620the lectures, how can you kind of benefit from what people are already doing or what30100:16:41,620 --> 00:16:43,620people have already presented?30200:16:43,620 --> 00:16:45,660All right.30300:16:45,660 --> 00:16:50,140Number seven is attend lectures strategically.30400:16:50,140 --> 00:16:54,540When I first started attending meetings, I was trying to get to as many lectures as I30500:16:54,540 --> 00:16:55,540could.30600:16:55,540 --> 00:16:58,540And of course, I was frustrated because I didn't make it to most of them.30700:16:58,540 --> 00:17:01,440And then I would be on my way to one meeting and I would run into somebody else who was30800:17:01,440 --> 00:17:05,940going elsewhere and I really wanted to hang with this person for at least a little bit.30900:17:05,940 --> 00:17:07,860So I was like, okay, I'll ditch this lecture.31000:17:07,860 --> 00:17:10,700So it was just, I didn't have a good plan.31100:17:10,700 --> 00:17:15,460But I also recognized that there were more lectures to attend than I was going to have31200:17:15,460 --> 00:17:16,980time to attend.31300:17:16,980 --> 00:17:19,900And so you want to attend lectures strategically.31400:17:19,900 --> 00:17:26,260You do want to make the most out of the CME, you know, the CME abundance that you're experiencing31500:17:26,260 --> 00:17:32,140as part of being at the meeting, but you don't have to go to lectures from morning till night.31600:17:32,140 --> 00:17:35,140Don't do that.31700:17:35,140 --> 00:17:37,100Attend lectures strategically.31800:17:37,100 --> 00:17:42,140Think about as you've gone through the abstract book, what are the lectures that you really,31900:17:42,140 --> 00:17:43,140really want to be at?32000:17:43,140 --> 00:17:47,340Or what are the education sessions that are really going to be most helpful to you?32100:17:47,340 --> 00:17:52,300Or what are the abstract sessions that you really want to go and really sit and think32200:17:52,300 --> 00:17:57,460or hear in detail what their methodology was, because these are some of those methodologies32300:17:57,460 --> 00:18:00,620that you may be, you know, applying to your own research.32400:18:00,620 --> 00:18:02,140So you want to be strategic.32500:18:02,140 --> 00:18:04,420You don't want to go to just everything.32600:18:04,420 --> 00:18:08,980And you don't want to skimp out on any, on any lectures at all.32700:18:08,980 --> 00:18:10,580I've definitely done both extremes.32800:18:10,580 --> 00:18:12,440I've tried to go to too many.32900:18:12,440 --> 00:18:14,500And then sometimes I haven't gone to enough.33000:18:14,500 --> 00:18:19,180I remember one meeting at the end of it, I looked and I was like, wait a minute, what,33100:18:19,180 --> 00:18:22,260which, which lectures can I claim CME credit for?33200:18:22,260 --> 00:18:26,140And I recognized that I had barely gone to a single lecture that I could claim CME credit33300:18:26,140 --> 00:18:27,140for.33400:18:27,140 --> 00:18:31,980Because what's interesting is that while there are many lectures and many opportunities to33500:18:31,980 --> 00:18:36,740listen to speakers present, not all of them will give you CME.33600:18:36,740 --> 00:18:37,980And it's okay.33700:18:37,980 --> 00:18:41,700I hope that the annual meeting is not your primary strategy for getting CME.33800:18:41,700 --> 00:18:45,140Please make CME getting part of your weekly strategy.33900:18:45,140 --> 00:18:49,900Go to your weekly conferences that are CME conferences and definitely just build that34000:18:49,900 --> 00:18:51,140over time.34100:18:51,140 --> 00:18:55,300If you need to catch up on CME, sure, your annual conference may be the way to do it.34200:18:55,300 --> 00:19:00,300But for the most part, recognize that you're going to go to some lectures or some talks34300:19:00,300 --> 00:19:04,820that are not CME and it's okay, because you're not there necessarily for the CME, which you34400:19:04,820 --> 00:19:09,660can get in different places, but you're really there to gain some insight and maybe even34500:19:09,660 --> 00:19:11,260speak to the speaker.34600:19:11,260 --> 00:19:13,380And those are things that that are helpful.34700:19:13,380 --> 00:19:16,740So you want to attend lectures, but you want to do it strategically.34800:19:16,740 --> 00:19:21,060You don't necessarily want to make the whole meeting about attending lectures.34900:19:21,060 --> 00:19:22,060All right.35000:19:22,060 --> 00:19:25,580So those are seven ways to make the most of your annual meeting.35100:19:25,580 --> 00:19:29,980I said number one is please have a plan to go figure out a way to make it there.35200:19:29,980 --> 00:19:33,860Number two, have a plan for the meeting and decide what you really want to get out of35300:19:33,860 --> 00:19:34,860the meeting.35400:19:34,860 --> 00:19:39,860Number three, create a schedule, knowing that there will be conflicts and it will be okay.35500:19:39,860 --> 00:19:44,060Before you want to meet old friends because it's so awesome to meet old friends and through35600:19:44,060 --> 00:19:47,660your old friends you want to do number five, which is make new friends.35700:19:47,660 --> 00:19:51,300Number six, you want to make sure you go through the abstract book so that you know what are35800:19:51,300 --> 00:19:54,580the big things that are being presented this year.35900:19:54,580 --> 00:19:57,660And you also want to attend lectures strategically.36000:19:57,660 --> 00:20:01,420Now I'm just reminded that as part of attending lectures strategically, one advice I've been36100:20:01,420 --> 00:20:05,940given in the past is to make sure to attend all the plenary talks.36200:20:05,940 --> 00:20:10,980I have mixed feelings about that because as a hematologist I am not a malignant hematologist.36300:20:10,980 --> 00:20:15,340In some years a lot of the talks are all focused on malignant hematology and sometimes I think36400:20:15,340 --> 00:20:18,580I don't want to really go to a malignant hematology talk.36500:20:18,580 --> 00:20:22,580So I haven't always felt like the plenary sessions are specifically tailored to me,36600:20:22,580 --> 00:20:24,300but I think it's a good idea.36700:20:24,300 --> 00:20:28,980You want to go to the talks that are kind of like considered the highest quality rate.36800:20:28,980 --> 00:20:34,500The plenary session is like the best of the best of the talks that have been presented36900:20:34,500 --> 00:20:35,580that year.37000:20:35,580 --> 00:20:41,580And so even if the subject matter may not be that helpful to you, you also want to get37100:20:41,580 --> 00:20:45,820a sense of what does it take to be a plenary abstract session and definitely attending37200:20:45,820 --> 00:20:48,380one will give you a sense of that.37300:20:48,380 --> 00:20:49,380All right.37400:20:49,380 --> 00:20:56,380So that's all I got to share with you this episode, reminding you that we do have another37500:20:56,380 --> 00:21:04,260webinar coming up on December 20th at noon and that is about what to do when you have37600:21:04,260 --> 00:21:05,780no mentor.37700:21:05,780 --> 00:21:10,520If this episode has been helpful to you, please definitely share with somebody else and leave37800:21:10,520 --> 00:21:11,520us a review.37900:21:11,520 --> 00:21:15,500Leave us a five star review please.38000:21:15,500 --> 00:21:21,820Or ask us a question about like a topic that you would like addressed at your at our next38100:21:21,820 --> 00:21:23,300in one of our future episodes.38200:21:23,300 --> 00:21:24,300All right.38300:21:24,300 --> 00:21:25,780It's been a pleasure talking with you today.38400:21:25,780 --> 00:21:28,100I want to thank you so much for tuning in.38500:21:28,100 --> 00:21:38,780I look forward to talking with you again the next time.38600:21:38,780 --> 00:21:44,100Thanks for listening to this episode of the clinician researcher podcast where academic38700:21:44,100 --> 00:21:49,340clinicians learn the skills to build their own research program, whether or not they38800:21:49,340 --> 00:21:50,920have a mentor.38900:21:50,920 --> 00:21:57,020If you found the information in this episode to be helpful, don't keep it all to yourself.39000:21:57,020 --> 00:21:58,780Someone else needs to hear it.39100:21:58,780 --> 00:22:02,820So take a minute right now and share it.39200:22:02,820 --> 00:22:08,300As you share this episode, you become part of our mission to help launch a new generation39300:22:08,300 --> 00:22:28,340of clinician researchers who make transformative discoveries that change the way we do healthcare.