Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

How to Navigate Conferences & Make the Most of Your Time

2019; Wolters Kluwer; Volume: 41; Issue: S10 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1097/01.cot.0000559674.32417.da

1548-4688

Catlin Nalley,

Health and Medical Research Impacts

professional conferences; oncology: professional conferences; oncologyScientific conferences are vital to the growth of hematology/oncology and offer an avenue for researchers and clinicians in the field to share discoveries and enhance patient care. “National and international conferences bring together the scientific/research plus treating physicians in an organized manner,” noted Scott T. Tagawa, MD, MS, medical oncologist at Weill Cornell Medicine and NewYork-Presbyterian. “Preliminary results of clinical trials and translational research are presented for the first time and educational sessions provide updates for clinicians of all backgrounds. “Fortunately for the field (and patients), the pace of new developments is quick with broad scope and it is difficult for any one person to keep up. Conferences provide a single time/location for people to gather and hear summaries of the state of the science or treatment field. Attendees can choose a general track giving them broad educational exposure or a narrow track focused on a certain disease or scientific field.” With ASCO 2019 just around the corner, now is a good time to think about how to make the most of your time at professional conferences that offer a plethora of opportunities for education, networking, and more. Professional Development Scientific conferences are crucial to the career development for all attendees, but it is especially valuable for early-career scientists. “Early career researchers are able to interact with nationally/internationally recognized thought leaders in different forums, including asking questions in public (via microphone or electronic submissions), in small group sessions (generally designated mentorship sessions), or one on one at poster sessions or when introduced (by themselves or by a mentor),” noted Tagawa. “I personally find poster sessions quite valuable in this regard where a junior investigator might seek out information/advice from a senior investigator or, alternatively, junior investigators might be presenting their own work at a poster and find that senior investigators walk up with questions. “Even without direct interactions, trainees or junior faculty are able to observe different presentation styles and learn about new data or methods,” he continued. “Most major conferences also include career development tracks.” These dedicated career tracks are an excellent way for new attendees to navigate a conference with an abundance of opportunities. “Sticking to special tracks that are geared to trainees or early faculty can be very helpful,” suggested Annie Im, MD, hematologist/medical oncologist at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. In addition to the various educational opportunities, hematologists/oncologists can advance their career through networking. “Meeting new people, including potential mentors, is an important aspect of [these conferences],” Im emphasized. “Having a place where the community can come together and interact fosters growth and ideas.” Time Management Conferences, like ASCO and ASH, can be overwhelming given the size of the event and the wealth of information being presented. Im advises that making the most of these conferences starts by not trying to do everything. “Whether it is specific educational areas or looking for research ideas, focusing on one or two goals for the conference is important.” Planning ahead is key, emphasized Tagawa. “Especially at larger meetings, I recommend reviewing the sessions and specific presentation topics prior to the meeting to plan an agenda,” he explained. “That should include some travel time between sessions, as some of the convention centers are quite large.” ASCO offers the iPlanner, which gives you the chance to map out your plans for the conference before you even step foot into the convention center. Your time is limited, so make sure you are participating in the sessions and events that align with your goals for not only the conference, but your career development as a whole. Many conferences now offer virtual participation, which can make it easier to experience more of the event as you try to manage your time on-site. “This allows attendees to re-watch parts of presentations they wish to review or to watch presentations that might have occurred when they had a conflict elsewhere,” Tagawa noted. “This also allows people to register for virtual meetings and see presentations from afar without actually travelling to the meeting.” Presentation Prep Presenting your research for the first time at a scientific conference can be nerve-wracking, but it is also an invaluable opportunity to share your expertise and connect with colleagues. So how can you ensure you put your best foot forward? First and foremost, preparation is key. “Review the format of the presentation (whether slides or poster) with multiple people prior to finalizing,” Tagawa advised. “This should include someone that is not intimately involved with the work. Present the work in practice sessions and get feedback, again including at least some people that are not part of the research team.” Confidence is also crucial to a successful presentation. “It is important to own your research and be proud of what you have done,” noted Im. “Make sure you have one or two take-home points that best represent your work. Also, know your data really well so you are able to field any questions and discussion that comes up.” Catlin Nalley is associate editor.