The Exhibit Hall at the upcoming ACGME Annual Educational Conference, taking place in San Diego, California, will feature a dynamic blend of resources, interactive experiences, and professional development opportunities. This year’s layout brings together core ACGME departments, creative programming, and community-focused initiatives that showcase the breadth of work happening across graduate medical education (GME). Breakfast, lunch, and refreshments will be available in the Exhibit Hall beginning Thursday evening, so it’s also the perfect networking location throughout the conference.
Marvin R. Dunn Welcoming Reception and Exhibitor Kick-Off Activities
This annual event will take place on Thursday, February 19, 5:00-7:00 p.m., to officially open the Exhibit Hall for the conference. Activities during the reception include:
- Aura Journey
Try this interactive wellness experience that captures and visualizes your unique energy field through aura photography. You’ll receive a colorful printed photo and interpretation guide.
- Lucky Duck Foundation Meal Packing Event
The ACGME is proud to partner with the Lucky Duck Foundation, a San Diego-based non-profit dedicated to preventing and alleviating homelessness throughout San Diego County. Attendees are invited to participate in a meaningful packing event, assembling hundreds of meals to be distributed to individuals experiencing homelessness in the local community.
- Revive and Survive: Hands-Only CPR Training
This station is part of Revive and Survive San Diego, a public health initiative led by the UC San Diego Herbert Wertheim School of Public Health and Longevity Science and San Diego County EMS. The initiative aims to train one million San Diegans in hands-only CPR. This interactive station will provide simple, effective, and confidence-building lifesaving skills for all participants, regardless of medical background.
ACGME Hub
At the center of the Exhibit Hall is the ACGME Hub, a comprehensive gathering point for representatives from departments and initiatives across the ACGME. As outlined in a previous blog post, the ACGME Hub will include:
- Accreditation Data System (ADS) and ACGME Cloud
- Accreditation Field Representatives
- ACGME Global Services and ACGME International
- ACGME Well-Being Initiatives
- Back to Bedside
- Digital Learning and Continuing Education
- Leadership Skills Training Program for Chief Residents
- Program Accreditation and Recognition
- Rural and Underserved GME
- Sponsoring Institutions
- The Journal of Graduate Medical Education (JGME)
Knowledgeable staff members from each group will be on-hand, ready to discuss accreditation processes, system updates, research opportunities, and educational initiatives, and to answer attendees’ questions.
Ongoing Activities
Beyond the ACGME Hub, the Exhibit Hall will feature a wide selection of experiences designed to educate, inspire, and engage conference participants.
- Arts and Humanities in Medicine
Launching at the 2026 conference, this new initiative is intended to showcase the intersection between the arts, humanities, and medical education. Former ACGME International President and Chief Executive Officer and past Chair of the ACGME Board of Directors Susan H. Day, MD, BMus will be present during lunch hours to answer questions about the initiative, and a meet-and-greet with SES064 (Creative Writing and Your Medical Career) authors is planned for Saturday, February 21, also during lunch.
- Career Resources Area
A dedicated section of the Exhibit Hall will focus on career advancement, including a headshot photographer on Thursday evening (free!), recruitment insights, Mentor-Mentee Connections, and support from the ACGME and ACHE. Explore Job Board listings prior to, during, and after the conference.
- Foundation for Hospital Art
Attendees can contribute to collaborative art pieces that will be donated to Family Health Centers of San Diego.
- Golden Ticket Game
Throughout the conference, attendees who visit the Exhibit Hall can play the Golden Ticket Game, which focuses on creating connections with exhibitors and gives attendees the opportunity to win prizes! Exhibitors have a limited number of golden tickets to hand out to attendees they feel were most engaged in product discussions. Earn a ticket, fill out the contact information on the back, and place it in the raffle bin to qualify for the daily prize. Drawings will take place at the end of the day, and daily winners will be announced through the Conference Mobile App.
- Vintage Van Photo Booth
Capture your conference experience in a photo booth set inside a vintage Volkswagen van! With its retro charm and laid-back California vibes, this photo booth offers a fun, memorable way to snap photos with colleagues and friends.
Friday Evening
Our first Puppy Park Yappy Hour will take place Friday evening, February 20, from 4:30-5:30 p.m.! This high-energy event will give attendees the chance to:
- mingle with exhibitors and explore innovative products and services;
- step into the Puppy Play Pen and interact with puppies; and,
- learn more about Puppy Love and their impactful rescue work!
Be sure to grab a Barkarita mocktail While you’re there visiting. Exhibitors are encouraged to offer giveaways during this special event—so come for the puppies, and stay for the connections!
Note that while on-site adoptions won’t be available, Puppy Love will provide information on how to adopt and continue supporting their mission beyond the conference.
Connect and Engage!
The Exhibit Hall at #ACGME2026 will bring together education, wellness, creativity, and hands-on learning in one centralized space. Beyond activities and the ACGME Hub, there will be multiple vendor booths with more GME resources, meals and snacks, and the opportunity to network—don’t skip it!
Learn about all of the conference offerings and register today on the conference website. Early Bird pricing ends December 18, 2025 – so don’t wait!