The connections you make at ATS 2014 can have a great impact on your career.

Because it presents the best science and latest clinical practice, ATS 2014 attracts luminaries in pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine. It’s not uncommon for an attendee to pick up a conversation with a global leader from academia, industry, or private practice, and these discussions and connections could result in promising career leads down the line. In addition to the vast amount of networking opportunities available at the conference, ATS 2014 will seminars, workshops, and a center dedicated to helping you improve your career. If you’re at the beginning stage of your career, you’re highly encouraged to visit Programs for Trainees.

New Faculty Development Seminars
Learn practical skills needed to enhance academic success during the Faculty Development Seminars presented by the ATS Members In Transition and Training (MITT) Committee. The event is free to paid conference registrants, however registration is required. The series is divided into two seminars. While participants may register for only one, attendance at both will maximize the educational experience. The seminars are from 7 to 8 a.m.

• May 19, Seminar 1: “How to Successfully Compete for an Academic Job: What Division Directors Want and Do Not Want in Candidates”
• May 20, Seminar 2: “The Roadmap to Success in Early Academic Career Development: Your First Five Years”

Center for Career Development and Career Development Exchange
The Center for Career Development is a networking and career development forum for clinicians and other health care and research professionals who are in training or have transitioned in their careers. The CCD hosts a variety of workshops specifically geared to address such topics as how to get a job, mentoring, and negotiating a contract. New highlights include “Careers in Global Health Research,” presented by Christopher Olopade, MD, and “Grantsmanship: How to Get a K-Grant,” presented by J. Randall Curtis, MD, MPH, Steve White, MD, and Bill Altemeier, MD.

Dr. Olopade notes that there is widening of health disparities on a global scale that is reflected in life expectancies going in opposite directions in fat and lean economies. “I plan to discuss opportunities for ethical, responsible, and meaningful global health research that has an impact and to share my experiences over the last 15 years combining local global research,” he says.

Each day, the center will offer a light complimentary breakfast from 7-8 a.m. and a reception with complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres from 3:30-4:30 p.m.

The Career Development Exchange, an annual event for medical students, residents, fellows, post docs, training program directors, division directors, will take place at 5:30 p.m. May 17. This event includes cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and a lot of mingling.

Workshops
ATS will offer two lunchtime workshops each day May 18-21. Among the eight workshops that the speakers will bring are “Clinical Impact of Point of Care Ultrasonography in Critically Ill Patients,” “Challenges in Implementing Positive Airway Pressure Therapy in Children and Adolescents,” Practical Considerations for Conducting and Managing Clinical Trials,” Management of Older Adults with Cystic Fibrosis,” and “The New Clinical Practice Guidelines for Exercise-Induced Bronchoconstriction.”

Other noteworthy workshops include “Publishing Your Manuscripts: The Editors Speak” on May 18. This session will feature the editors-in-chief of the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, AnnalsATS, and Journal of Pathology in a panel discussion. They will discuss common pitfalls in getting primary research published in high-quality specialty and general journals, and take audience questions about how to navigate the manuscript submission process.

The next day on May 19, six highly experienced, internationally recognized grant reviewers will review, discuss, and score two volunteered grant applications through a mock study section followed by Q&A in “Career Development Workshop: Understanding the Grant Review Process”Meet the Professors.” The workshop aims to highlight the normally unseen back-and-forth dynamic of the review process. Seating for the workshops is limited and pre-registration is required.

Then on May 20,  attendees will be introduced to various low- and hi-tech modalities to engage an audience and sustain their attention throughout an educational or scientific presentation during “Speak Like a Pro and Make it Look Easy: Engaging the 21st Century Audience.” Specific examples of items presented in this session include timing of engaging modalities, appropriate use of PowerPoint, alternatives to PowerPoint, audience response systems, and descriptions of how to showcase clinical or original data and graphs.

Meet the Professors
The informal, one-hour lunch meet the professor seminars have become a conference favorite. With 37 topics presented over the course of three days—May 18-20—your appetite for education will be satisfied. The range of topics is wide, and include two geared toward career-minded physicians: “Career Strategies for Junior Investigators: Coffee Talk with the Professors” on May 18 and “Academic Administration: Career Enhancing or Career Killing?” on May 19. Seating is limited and pre-registration is required.