Convene - August 2015

C HA LL E NGE S For the first time ever,
the endourology and oncology sections
of the British Association of Urological
Surgeons (BAUS) will co-host their
annual meetings under the WCE
umbrella, creating a cohesive multi-
disciplinary educational experience
for attendees. “We have an exciting
program in store,” said Hannah Doyle,
BAUS’s events manager, “with state-of-
the-art lectures, vibrant and engaging
guest orators, as well as superlative
educational
opportunities.”
Organizations such as
the European Association of Urology
(EAU) and EAU’s Robotic Urology Sec-
tion will also host meetings at WCE.

INITIATIVES Organizers are moving away from traditional paper posters in favor of ePosters that will be available to delegates before, during, and after the meeting. “There will be viewing stations within the exhibition hall during the meeting,” said Doyle, whose team is also developing an app for attendees and planning a Twitter campaign to promote WCE 2015. .

— Kate Mulcrone

2014

13,400 60

Attendees Exhibitors

2015

15,000 80

Attendees Exhibitors

OVERVIE W ADA enjoyed record-breaking attendance and sponsorship at this year’s Chicago EXPO, a free one-day event for people managing diabetes. Indeed, the program has become so successful that just weeks before this year’s show, ADA of Illinois hired its volunteer chair, Erin Callahan, as manager of community, government, and media relations.

CHALLE NGES When Convene spoke to Callahan in advance of the 2015

Chicago EXPO, she said that identifying
sponsors for new technology initia-
tives was always a challenge. (Read
our Pre Con profile at convn.org/
pre-con-ada.) This year, a new sponsor
— biopharmaceutical company Astra-
Zeneca — stepped up with a “charging
and relaxation station” that included
phone chargers,
comfortable chairs,
and reading material.

INI TIATIVES ADA wanted to emphasize overall wellness this year, which translated into health screenings, cooking demonstrations, and — from sponsor Jewel-Osco supermarket chain — a mini grocery store right on the show floor, where attendees could learn about healthy shopping and eating. “For a lot of our attendees, this is their only access to care throughout the year,” Callahan said, “which is why our event is so important to the whole community. They really view it as their yearly checkup.” .

— Christopher Durso

For more information: convn.org/ada2015

POST CON

American Diabetes Association (ADA)
2015 Chicago EXPO

Event Details

Oct. 1–4, 2015

ExCeL London

Event Details

April 18, 2015

McCormick Place East Chicago

PRE CON

33rd World Congress of
Endourology and SWL

Overview

Since its founding in 1984, the international, nonprofit Endourological Society has rotated its World Congress of Endourology and SWL (WCE) from country to country. This year, some 1,800 health-care professionals, doctors, and scientists working in endourology — which involves treating kidney stones in a minimally invasive way to patients, including therapies such as shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) — will gather in London for four days of education and networking.