The 2021 ACGME Annual Educational Conference offers unique opportunities for new and experienced program directors to come together virtually to learn, connect, and recharge.
Conference sessions will address a range of topics critical to program directors, including the accreditation process; responses to COVID-19; well-being; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and improving the educational environment in graduate medical education (GME) programs.
Connections are more important than ever this year, and networking opportunities will be robust and plentiful, allowing you to develop professional connections that will help you grow in your career. You’ll be able to choose networking chat rooms by topic of interest. Q&A text chat sessions with speakers will answer your questions from the sessions you attend. The Exhibit Hall will have numerous vendors offering a wide selection of products and services. There will be a dedicated lounge with networking information, posters with live Q&As with the authors, and an Awards Hall to celebrate the achievements of your colleagues.
The conference is also an ideal venue for connecting directly with ACGME staff members. The ACGME Hub will allow you to meet with ACGME staff members from various departments and functions, including Field Activities; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Milestones; the Journal of Graduate Medical Education; ACGME Global Services; Well-Being; Accreditation Data Systems; and Accreditation/Recognition.
For those just getting started as a program director, consider immersing yourself in a half-day pre-conference designed specifically for program directors new to the accreditation process. Led by ACGME Chief Accreditation and Recognition Officer Lynne Kirk, MD, MACP and others, the pre-conference delivers an overview of the review process and information about the ACGME, Review Committees, and ACGME data collection systems. You’ll also get practical, real-world information about approaching challenging issues that arise with programs and residents/fellows in administrative and educational roles, and both the written and unwritten duties of a program director.
There will also be fun, family-friendly activities! After the work is done, relax with a virtual trivia contest, with teams and prizes (compete with your friends, or we can assign you to a team, giving you a chance to meet new colleagues). There will be an amazing Second City Improv show in which you tell the performers what to perform. You can attend Medicine in the Ancient World, a fascinating virtual museum tour of the University of Chicago Oriental Institute, created just for ACGME conference attendees. And well-being sessions, including yoga, meditation, and body weight yoga sculpt, will help you start the day off right. “Living a Yes Life,” presented by the ACGME’s own DeLonda Dowling, will reenergize your outlook. And for those with children, invite the whole family to attend Storytime with the Snow Queen!
Information about sessions, networking, and activities are available on the ACGME conference registration site, where you can browse through detailed session descriptions, author bios, and conference resources before you register. With low registration fees compared to other years, and no travel time or costs, this is a great year to consider attending the largest GME conference in the world!
We look forward to seeing you there!