The iconic LOVE statue illustrates Philadelphia’s well-known motto as the City of Brotherly Love.
Photo courtesy of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau.
With more than 400 sessions, 800 speakers, and 5,300 original research abstracts and case reports being presented and the educational offerings for clinicians and scientists greater than ever before, the ATS 2013 International Conference offers unprecedented access to brilliant minds and discoveries in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine.
“No matter what corner of the globe you come from, you’ll gain the knowledge and connections you need to practice at the forefront of science and medicine,” said ATS President Monica Kraft, MD.
The opportunity to learn about the latest science, especially how it may change clinical practice, is what attracts thousands of health care professionals to the ATS International Conference each year. And because science and health are among the most rapidly changing fields of knowledge in the world today, every ATS International Conference is new.
Monica Kraft, MD
“The breadth and depth of this year’s conference is palpable,” said David Au, MD, chair of the ATS International Conference Committee. “We continue to improve upon how this conference is presented—including the introduction of the adult and pediatric clinical core curricula and the Science Core thematic track—to help attendees maximize their educational experiences.”
So how do you make the most of your ATS 2013 experience given all that you can see and do? It simply depends on what you came for.
Learning the Latest in Science
David Au, MD
Today, the ATS-ERS joint symposium “Severe Asthma: Grading the Current Evidence and Planning for the Future,” from 8:15 to 10:45 a.m. in Room 115 A-B-C (100 Level) Pennsylvania Convention Center, will discuss the recommendations on use of biomarkers in severe asthma, describe the recommended treatment options in severe asthma, and summarize the current and emerging concepts of asthma phenotyping in relation to endotypes.
New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association editors will chair the sessions “Discussion on the Edge: Reports of Recently Published Critical Care Research” and “Discussion on the Edge: Reports of Recently Published Pulmonary Research,” from 2 to 4:30 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, respectively, in Room 119 A-B (100 Level) in the convention center. At ATS 2012, more than half the papers presented were released concurrently with their presentation at the conference.
The Science Core, a new track featuring thematically linked symposia and an abstract-based session, will focus on lung tissue injury and repair, with emphasis on mechanobiology, extracellular matrix, and methods to study injury and repair. Consult the ATS 2013 Final Program for details and session listings.
The Science and Innovation Center in Hall C (200 Level) in the convention center returns with interactive sessions by experts on a variety of topics of interest to researchers and scientists, including Gary H. Gibbons, MD, director of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Conveniently located next to this will be the Basic Science Center in the Exhibit Hall, where attendees can learn about products or services that can help advance their research.
Clinical Excellence & Recognizing Milestones
Attendees will have a sneak peek at the recommendations that may become a part of the American Board of Internal Medicine’s Choosing Wisely campaign from 8:15 to 10:45 a.m. Monday in Room 107 A-B (100 Level) in the convention center. The session will review the history and rationale for the campaign and how ATS took leadership in establishing multi-society collaboration to produce “Top 5” lists in pulmonary and critical care medicine regarding tests and treatments that physicians should limit to improve the quality of care provided.
The Lancet in collaboration with the ATS will present “The Global Burden of Tobacco Related Lung Disease,” from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Tuesday in Room 120 A-B-C (100 Level) in the convention center. The session will provide an update on tobacco control policies, regulation, and treatment in the United States, Europe, and Asia. An edition of The Lancet that will contain review articles by the speakers as an additional educational tool will be published at the time of the conference.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the discovery of Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, and ATS leaders in research will present “Alpha-1 Antitrypsin Deficiency: The Next 50 Years” with Alpha-1 Foundation President and CEO John W. Walsh from 8:15 to 10:45 a.m. in the Terrace Ballroom IV (400 Level) in the convention center. The goals of the session are to improve targeted testing for Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency, improve the messages given to PiMZ carriers of AATD, and learn new findings about emphysema. Alpha-1 Session (D3) is being supported by educational grants from CSL Behring and Grifols, Inc.
The “Clinical Year in Review” sessions begin at 8:45 a.m. today in the Grand Ballroom in the convention center and will feature prominent experts who review a voluminous amount of literature on a given topic in pulmonary, critical care, or sleep medicine before presenting the four to six most important articles for clinicians published in the past year. Today’s presentations will focus on radiology, lung cancer interventional pulmonology, and asthma. Consult the ATS 2013 Final Program for details and location information. Note: The Clinical Year in Review session on Tuesday will begin at 8:15 a.m.
The Society has launched adult core curricula in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine as well as a pediatric core curriculum in pulmonary medicine. The adult pulmonary, critical care, and sleep modules have been approved by the American Board of Internal Medicine for a total of 34 Maintenance of Certification Part II points. The Pediatric module has been approved by the American Board of Pediatrics for a total of 10 ABP MOC Part II credits. Also for the first time, the ATS has partnered with National Jewish Health® to provide Nursing Contact Hours for selected sessions. Consult the ATS 2013 Final Program for details.
If you have any questions, visit the ATS Center in the Exhibit Hall A-B (200 Level), or the Satellite ATS Center in the Grand Hall, both in the convention center.
Welcome to ATS 2013!