Start Today!
Follow the conference on Alliance social media and use the meeting hashtag #AIMW24
At the Meeting
While you are in Columbus, use the content and conference features to find the people who want to share ideas and challenges like yours. Be sure to look for:
- Special Interest Group Meetings
- Assembly Meetings
- Attendee Directory in the AIMW24 App
- In "Event Preferences," update your status for the event, add your social networks
- Open Forums
- Receptions
- Badge Ribbons
- Visit the AAIM Member Center in the Exhibit Hall, it is always packed with people
More of an Introvert?
It’s sometimes hard for introverts and first-time attendees to build networks, but Alliance members are some of the nicest people around! Don’t forget:
- Smile and make eye contact
- Don’t retreat in your hotel room during breaks, receptions, and meals-those are great opportunities to meet people
- Introduce yourself to the people around you; if you’re in the same workshop, you probably already have something in common
- Business cards never hurt, but you can also use the conference app to “ping” people
Extroverts Can Be Champions for Others
Already have a strong network and lots of friends? Here are some tips to make sure that you keep the circle open:
- When standing with peers, leave a space open for others to join
- Look around for someone standing alone and introduce yourself
- Smile and make eye contact
- Look for the First Time Attendee ribbon and say hello
After the Conference
- Say thank you
- Thank those who made attendance possible
- Update your CV or resume
- Add presentations, meeting attendance, and/or volunteer activities to your curriculum vitae
- Highlight your conference achievements
- Share presentations and photographs with colleagues and your home institution
- Follow up with new colleagues
- Send follow-up emails to colleagues whose business cards you collected
- Identify potential opportunities for collaboration
Plan next Steps
- Revise existing goals and plan for future learning and meeting attendance
- Consider publication opportunities
- Consider volunteering or becoming more involved with the Alliance
Some of this material was sourced from: Joslyn W. Fisher, Barbara W. Trautner; Maximizing the Academic Conference Experience: Tips for Your Career Toolkit. J Grad Med Educ 1 April 2022; 14 (2): 144–148. doi: https://doi.org/10.4300/JGME-D-21-00943.1