By the time #ACGME2026 takes place in San Diego, the ACGME’s Educational Activities team will already be well into planning for 2027 as well. The process is continuous, strategic, and collaborative, spanning more than a full year and involving many moving parts. A team of eight full-time employees comprises the Educational Activities team tasked with planning and organizing the conference, with help from dozens of other ACGME staff members who provide essential support before, during, and after each year’s event.
“Our conference planning process is about 14 months long. So, by the time our conference begins, we have already begun space planning for the next conference. We book our locations years in advance to secure the best possible venues for our program. As our conference grows and changes, we make sure to work with venues to ensure what we contracted years ago still works for our needs,” explains ACGME Director, Educational Activities Lauren Wojnarowski. “We are always in contract review or space planning! After a conference is over, the wrap-up period is about two months long, while we are simultaneously planning the following conference, and preparing to open the Call for Sessions.”
The Call for Sessions is a key opportunity for the graduate medical education (GME) community to contribute ideas and expertise. After the Call for Sessions closes in early summer, the Call for Abstracts opens, inviting even more voices to shape the educational experience. The team works carefully to select topics and abstracts for inclusion. They are also looking for ways to innovate in the conference experience and collaborate with local organizations to bring fresh energy to the event.
“We’re always looking for new ways to make the conference fun and engaging for our attendees,” says Ms. Wojnarowski. “In addition to our amazing content, sourced both internally [from ACGME staff members and volunteers] and from the community, we make sure that we provide space for attendees to connect informally outside of sessions. Every year we try something new, and read through the evaluations to determine what worked and what we could improve. We realize that engagement is extremely important to the satisfaction of our conference attendees. Even something small like badge ribbons can help strike up a conversation.”
As the conference draws closer, registration opens and hotel blocks begin to fill. The Exhibit Hall takes shape, featuring sponsors, interactive booths, and well-being activities. The team also finalizes securing keynote speakers and other plenaries, which are some of the most anticipated moments of the conference each year. These sessions are selected through a thoughtful process that balances community input with strategic planning.
The GME community drives content selection. Every other year, the team solicits topics from the community in a Call for Topics incorporated into the Call for Sessions. Additionally, anyone in the GME community can submit a session idea through the Call for Sessions on any of the topics listed. Sessions are judged by content experts in the field and reviewed by the conference planning team to ensure balanced content that is pertinent to each target audience that attends the ACGME Annual Educational Conference.
“We also have some amazing sessions and Full-Day Courses that are produced by ACGME staff members,” shares Ms. Wojnarowski. “There is something for everyone!”
The ACGME Annual Educational Conference is more than an event, it’s a reflection of the passion, collaboration, and innovation that define the GME community. From the earliest planning stages to the final session, the Educational Activities team works tirelessly to create an experience that is educational, engaging, and memorable. Whether you're attending for the first time or returning for another year, we can’t wait to welcome you to #ACGME2026 in San Diego.
Learn more about the 2026 Annual Educational Conference and register today on the conference website. Early Bird pricing is available through December 18, 2025 – so don’t wait!