By Sam Marie Engle
Conferences, those professional gatherings for several glorious days of posters, presentations, and pop-up parley, dramatically transmogrified when COVID hit. Instead of flying to Chicago, Orlando, or Phoenix, participants parked before their computers and listened, chatted, and presented virtually for virtually a year.
The change has produced both pain and positives.
As associate chairperson for the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Scientific Program Committee, professor David Schuster says pivoting a large annual meeting to an online event was a challenge that positively paid off. “Everyone realized early last year that it wasn’t an ideal situation, but we’d drive for excellence anyway. Our goal was to present the best science possible and to make it as easy as feasible for as many people as possible to participate.”
They succeeded on all fronts. “Going virtual really helped more people participate across the board, both because it was less expensive and because it required less of a time commitment. We were especially glad that people like imaging technologists and medical physicists were able to attend the SNMMI meeting,” he says.
Conferences, those professional gatherings for several glorious days of posters, presentations, and pop-up parley, dramatically transmogrified when COVID hit. Instead of flying to Chicago, Orlando, or Phoenix, participants parked before their computers and listened, chatted, and presented virtually for virtually a year.
The change has produced both pain and positives.
As associate chairperson for the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging (SNMMI) Scientific Program Committee, professor David Schuster says pivoting a large annual meeting to an online event was a challenge that positively paid off. “Everyone realized early last year that it wasn’t an ideal situation, but we’d drive for excellence anyway. Our goal was to present the best science possible and to make it as easy as feasible for as many people as possible to participate.”
They succeeded on all fronts. “Going virtual really helped more people participate across the board, both because it was less expensive and because it required less of a time commitment. We were especially glad that people like imaging technologists and medical physicists were able to attend the SNMMI meeting,” he says.
“Many of the virtual meetings had huge international participation,” says Frank Minja, associate professor, neuroradiologist, and co-chair of Emory Radiology’s Global Health Committee. “Our global health partners participated in several virtual conferences so they had learning opportunities not previously available to them. That was a definite plus. We also used some funds that would have covered faculty travel costs to pay the registration fees for all our trainees to attend both the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) and the American Society of Neuroradiology (ASNR) virtual conferences so they could get a feeling for the professional societies and meet their future colleagues.”
While more people attended, Dr. Minja missed the serendipity factor. “There’s less opportunity to spark new ideas while in casual conversation with someone after a talk or during a reception. It’s the same problem we have with working remotely in general. Productivity doesn’t suffer, but creativity does.”
While more people attended, Dr. Minja missed the serendipity factor. “There’s less opportunity to spark new ideas while in casual conversation with someone after a talk or during a reception. It’s the same problem we have with working remotely in general. Productivity doesn’t suffer, but creativity does.”
Nadja Kadom, associate professor and pediatric neuroradiologist, attend more conferences than usual. “I virtually attended and presented at ASNR, AUR, the ACR Quality and Safety Meeting, and the Stanford Quality Improvement Meeting. I couldn’t have done that if they were all in person. Imaging techs and administrative staff also were able to attend the quality conferences because they were virtual and that was great.”
She agrees with Dr. Minja about the opportunity costs. “It’s difficult to give your full attention to every session when you’re in your home office. You also can’t bump into someone in the hall and have an impromptu conversation that leads to a new project.”
Also missing are opportunities to meet with vendors, she says, something particularly important for administrators and faculty like Dr. Kadom who are involved in quality initiatives. "You can't see what's new or chat with reps about a project they could help with."
She agrees with Dr. Minja about the opportunity costs. “It’s difficult to give your full attention to every session when you’re in your home office. You also can’t bump into someone in the hall and have an impromptu conversation that leads to a new project.”
Also missing are opportunities to meet with vendors, she says, something particularly important for administrators and faculty like Dr. Kadom who are involved in quality initiatives. "You can't see what's new or chat with reps about a project they could help with."
For Aarti Sekhar, associate professor and abdominal radiologist, COVID limitations actually sparked her creativity.
“Before COVID, I was involved in networking and teaching through my professional societies,” she says, referring to the Society of Abdominal Radiology (SAR) and the Society for Advanced Body Imaging (SABI). “I’m a member-at-large on the SABI board so I was very involved in planning the conference when we had to pivot to an online meeting last October. It turned out to be fun and I loved that meeting. I liked being able to attend from the comfort of my own home and to stay engaged and connected with so many people.”
Dr. Sekhar explains how she made a video with help from friends in the film industry to present her talk about sleep for SABI. The video was such a hit, she made a similar one on wellness for RSNA. That, too, was a hit. Dr. Sekhar credits those videos as the reason she was selected to deliver the keynote address for the SAR meeting in March.
“I had made leaps in learning about teaching and communication, as well as video production, and wanted to share what I’d learned, so instead of a speech, I created a 30-minute documentary-style video. In it, I’m on a hero’s journey of discovery. I have to consult with my mentor, who is baby Yoda, as well as psychologists and speech coaches to find the secrets to great communication in the virtual world. It was the most creative thing I’ve done in a long time and it was a really good experience for me. It was all about resiliency and curiosity and growth, both for my avatar and for the real me.”
“Before COVID, I was involved in networking and teaching through my professional societies,” she says, referring to the Society of Abdominal Radiology (SAR) and the Society for Advanced Body Imaging (SABI). “I’m a member-at-large on the SABI board so I was very involved in planning the conference when we had to pivot to an online meeting last October. It turned out to be fun and I loved that meeting. I liked being able to attend from the comfort of my own home and to stay engaged and connected with so many people.”
Dr. Sekhar explains how she made a video with help from friends in the film industry to present her talk about sleep for SABI. The video was such a hit, she made a similar one on wellness for RSNA. That, too, was a hit. Dr. Sekhar credits those videos as the reason she was selected to deliver the keynote address for the SAR meeting in March.
“I had made leaps in learning about teaching and communication, as well as video production, and wanted to share what I’d learned, so instead of a speech, I created a 30-minute documentary-style video. In it, I’m on a hero’s journey of discovery. I have to consult with my mentor, who is baby Yoda, as well as psychologists and speech coaches to find the secrets to great communication in the virtual world. It was the most creative thing I’ve done in a long time and it was a really good experience for me. It was all about resiliency and curiosity and growth, both for my avatar and for the real me.”
Emory Radiology's Bhagya Sannananja, Anna Trofimova, Cynthia Wu, Jason Allen, and Ron Hu enjoy
a rooftop reception during the ASFNR Conference
Faculty members are cautiously spreading their travel wings once again. Xin (Cynthia) Wu, assistant professor and neuroradiologist, happily journeyed to Santa Fe, New Mexico for the American Society for Functional Neuroradiology (ASFNR) conference in September.
“I was very excited to see colleagues and friends in person after a year. It was wonderful to listen to and talk with folks with similar work and research interests from across the country in person. There’s something ineffable about in-person interactions that is very difficult to replicate on Zoom.”
In addition to making travel arrangements and booking hotel rooms, attendees had to submit proof of vaccination as well as a negative COVID test within three days of starting the conference, which reassured Dr. Wu. “I knew this conference was serious about its precautions so I felt comfortable attending,” she says.
Other conferences are following similar safety protocols. Among them is SABI, which convenes in person this month. “It was a harrowing journey for our board,” Dr. Sekhar says. “After the vaccine and COVID numbers dropping dramatically in the spring, we surveyed our society and most wanted to be back in person, but then the Delta variant started surging.”
The board ultimately decided to have the meeting and be as cautious as possible with mandatory vaccination and testing.
“Now, I’m really looking forward to it!” Dr. Sekhar says.
The Radiologic Society of North America (RSNA) is holding its annual meeting in a hybrid format with both in-person and online attendance options.
Adina Alazrakri, who chairs the Pediatric Imaging Subcommittee of the Annual Meeting Program Committee, is attending in person. “I am committed to providing the highest quality educational course and high-quality scientific presentations for the meeting. I am going to RSNA to support my invited faculty, evaluate speakers, and scout new speakers for future meetings, and to learn!”
She feels RSNA is being responsible by requiring proof of vaccination and masking at all events and in the convention center. She also appreciates the hybrid format so colleagues who cannot travel for whatever reason can attend virtually. “Everyone has different levels of comfort and susceptibility and RSNA is cognizant of that.”
The department is, too. Out of an abundance of caution, the department is not hosting its customary reception for alumni, faculty, trainees, and staff during RSNA. Some faculty, staff, and trainees will be in Chicago for the conference and others will tune in virtually.
Emory Radiology Communications and Creative Services Team will be tweeting about conference proceedings all week long using the #EmoryRadRSNA2021 hashtag. Follow along and also tag your posts using #EmoryRadRSNA2021 so we all can enjoy RSNA 2021 together.
Adina Alazrakri, who chairs the Pediatric Imaging Subcommittee of the Annual Meeting Program Committee, is attending in person. “I am committed to providing the highest quality educational course and high-quality scientific presentations for the meeting. I am going to RSNA to support my invited faculty, evaluate speakers, and scout new speakers for future meetings, and to learn!”
She feels RSNA is being responsible by requiring proof of vaccination and masking at all events and in the convention center. She also appreciates the hybrid format so colleagues who cannot travel for whatever reason can attend virtually. “Everyone has different levels of comfort and susceptibility and RSNA is cognizant of that.”
The department is, too. Out of an abundance of caution, the department is not hosting its customary reception for alumni, faculty, trainees, and staff during RSNA. Some faculty, staff, and trainees will be in Chicago for the conference and others will tune in virtually.
Emory Radiology Communications and Creative Services Team will be tweeting about conference proceedings all week long using the #EmoryRadRSNA2021 hashtag. Follow along and also tag your posts using #EmoryRadRSNA2021 so we all can enjoy RSNA 2021 together.