A medical conference is a meeting for physicians and other medical professionals. These professionals may include students, researchers, nurses, technologists, and scientists. Medical conferences are essentially a series of meetings about medical diagnostics, treatments, and cases, as they pertain to the medical specialty in which a physician practices, from primary care to surgery. Presenters and participants in the conference discuss new trends in the medical field and brush up on pertinent clinical information. Physicians learn about new technology that will help them to better serve their patients. Other topics may include new hazards in the medical community and new ways to detect diseases.

Medical conferences take place in many different locations around the world. Activities include workshops, presentations, demonstrations, and many different networking opportunities. Medical professionals aren't typically required to attend medical conferences. There is some debate over the usefulness of medical conferences. Many professionals do appreciate them and the opportunities that they provide, including the opportunity to earn continuing medical education credit, which is required to maintain one’s certification in most medical specialties. It also gives physicians a chance to escape from the day-to-day routine and pressures of their jobs. Conference attendees may learn new skills, technology, treatments, as well as keep up with the latest studies and innovations. It's important for medical professionals to stay current with changes in their field, because it can make a big difference in the lives of their patients, and the lives of their patients' families too.

The practice of medicine has a long history in the United States. Formal medical education has existed in some form for more than 200 years. Before medical schools, "medical students" served in apprenticeships under more experienced doctors. Their duties included running errands, cleaning instruments, and mixing medicines. The apprenticeships turned into scattered lectures in rented facilities. Students traveled long distances to work in hospitals in big cities and to hear these lectures. They took the information back to their hometowns. A highly selective process determined who would attend these lectures. Those privileged to attend, returned home and shared what they learned with other physicians who could not afford the trip or were not selected to attend. Some say that these lectures served as the first medical conferences, or at least were the predecessor to medical conferences.

As medical education evolved, the education process for medical professionals became more formal. The earliest classes go back to 1750. Philadelphia was the medical center of the United States for many years. Physicians offered scattered courses on the craft of medicine. It was from these that medical schools developed. They began with a bachelor's degree program. Students took courses in Latin, philosophy, math, and science. The programs became longer and more detailed until they became the medical school programs we know today, including the expansion into more specified specialty areas like hematology/oncology.

While doctors learn much in medical school, and later in the required residencies, medicine is a constantly evolving field. Medical conferences are in place to make sure doctors don't fall behind in offering the best care to their patients.

Medical conferences differ by location and specialty. Many conferences specialize in different fields of medicine such as dermatology, oncology, pediatrics, surgery, etc. Physicians can combine their medical conferences with personal vacations. These conferences may be in exotic locations around the world, including Disney World, Europe, Africa, the Far East, etc. There are also organizations that set up educational opportunities on cruise ships and in exotic locales that allow for some adventures, such as hiking, mountain climbing, and more. The topics discussed will be related to the specialty of the conference. Some topics at a pediatrics conference may include behavioral issues, immunizations, and medical issues specifically affecting children. Emergency medicine doctors may attend a conference with topics focused on treatment in the emergency room. Some lectures may include avoiding lethal drug combinations, how to recognize certain illnesses, and common causes of symptoms. For example, a hematology/oncology conference may include presentations that delve into targeted therapies or new ways to detect cancers before they become untreatable, such as in cases of prostate cancer or ovarian cancer.

A large medical conference may consist of many different lectures and presentations, given by a variety of speakers or panels of presenters. Other conferences may be smaller seminars or workshops. Physicians may spend more than one day at the conference location and choose several lectures to attend from a catalogue of sessions and roundtables. Seminars or workshops will have fewer attendees than a traditional medical conference. They may focus on one topic rather than a number of different subjects. Some meetings will focus on improvement in the medical profession or on a specific medical diagnosis. All choices give physicians a chance to learn new information and network with other professionals within their medical specialty.

It is probably more important for physicians to keep up with medical trends in their specialty than any other medical professional. Why? As a physician, you are one of the leaders of the clinical care team, and as such, you are ultimately responsible for patients' lives. Medicine is always developing. New innovations in medicine and science, plus new studies, replace more outdated methodologies. Therefore, it's paramount for physicians to stay current on new clinical developments in their respective medical specialty. Doctors study very diligently in medical school, and learning doesn't end once they enter the profession and start practicing medicine. Often, these conferences have speakers who are well accomplished in their fields. You'll have a chance to learn from the best of the best. You'll have a chance to view demonstrations of new guidelines and view new technology as it is introduced.

A major benefit of medical conferences are the vast networking opportunities. Not only will you have a chance to listen to knowledgeable speakers and gain new perspectives in the medical field, but you will have the opportunity to interact with them in a one-on-one setting. Many medical conferences also provide online forums to allow attendees to discuss and ask questions that they may not be able to do in person.

What is the best part of attending a conference as a medical professional? It counts as a business expense. Take advantage of the chance to learn new things and unwind at the same time.

When you begin your medical conference search, you'll find that there are so many from which to choose. There is a medical conference in just about every specialty, and sub-specialty. When you begin doing your research, think of any conditions or procedures you are interested in learning and exploring further, and begin your search from there. Most conferences will print their lecture list so you'll know in advance what's going to be discussed and presented. You may select a conference to attend based on which lecture topics most interest you and meet your professional development needs. Additionally, you may want to choose a conference that will enable you to earn some continuing medical education credits.

Do you have any questions on healthcare guidelines or reform? There may be a conference with lectures devoted to this topic as well as other areas of the business or policy side of medical practice. Whatever your interest is, study the topics and syllabi prior to the conference, and write some questions in advance so you can be an active, engaged participant.

Find out who's organizing and sponsoring the conference. Is the conference being presented by a person or organization with whom you are familiar already? Where will the conference take place? Is it a city where you would enjoy traveling and exploring the amenities? Are there things that you would like to do outside of the conference? Will you be traveling alone or taking someone with you? Are you looking for a large convention or a more intimate setting?

Make a list of the things you hope to get out of your medical conference. After you've thought about the factors that are important to you in a conference, search online for conferences that meet your criteria. In each specialty, there are typically several major conferences that take place each year. In any given specialty, there are always new studies that update current diagnosis and treatment.

As with any program, the more effort and focus you contribute will yield greater results. If you are physically present, but mentally not focused, you won't benefit as much from attending the conference. If you don't learn anything from your conference, you are wasting your valuable time and money on the event for no reason. Not only will you be missing out on valuable insight and knowledge, but your patients will be as well. What can you do to maximize the benefits of attending your medical conference?

The first thing you should do is remember why you're there. While it’s a great chance to unwind and spend time with family and friends, remember to take care of important things first. Plan in advance. Make sure that you've completed all the proper registration activities ahead of time. Study the itinerary and decide which lectures you would like to attend. The lectures with popular speakers will fill up early, so make sure that you reserve your spot in time.

Once you determine which sessions you'll attend, try to do some advance research on the topics. Prepare some questions. Familiarize yourself with speakers and guests, and perhaps take a look at some of the studies and articles they have published. Learning about the attendees and speakers in advance will save you some time, and perhaps enable you to make arrangements with your peers for social activities and carpooling.

Read the rules of the conference. Learn the dress code to avoid any embarrassing mistakes. Most conferences call for professional attire or casual business attire. You don't want to look disheveled in front of your peers or potential employers. Finally, study the layout of your venue and map directions so you can plan your commute accordingly. You don't want to travel all that way to get lost and miss part of the conference.

Remember that you are attending the conference as a professional, representing yourself and your employer. Therefore, try to maintain a professional, respectable demeanor at all times. You don't want to misrepresent yourself, your colleagues, or your employer. Show the proper respect to other attendees and presenters, many of whom are sacrificing a great deal of time and money to be there, like you. Try to avoid last minute schedule changes if possible, and be mindful of those around you. If you need to leave a session early, for example, sit near the door so you won’t disturb others when you leave.

As in any professional situation, be sure to show common courtesy always. Do everything you can to get to each session on time, or early. Silence your electronic devices, or, if possible, turn them off during presentations and discussions. Try to minimize distractions for yourself and those around you so that you can take in as much information as possible while at the conference. Make sure you keep your cords and belongings out of the path of others. If a camera is set up to video record the presentation, avoid walking in front of it or obstructing the view.

When you're in a lecture, avoid interrupting the speaker or your colleagues. If you have something you would like to discuss, approach them after the presentation, or wait until they open the floor to take questions from the audience. Be sure to frame your question respectfully and appropriately. Remember that others may be waiting to ask questions also, so try not to monopolize the presenter's time.

When you plan to attend a medical conference, you should make all the necessary arrangements as far in advance as possible. Make the appropriate arrangements with your family and employer so that you can be away from the office without any issues. Choosing a location may be overwhelming since there are so many different medical conferences. Decide what location you would like to visit. Are you planning on making this a vacation for your family as well? Choose a place where your travel partners or family members can have a good time, so they won't be stuck being bored in the hotel while you're at the meetings.

As with any travel situation, you need to research the costs. Start saving money many months or a year in advance so you won't be going into debt to attend the conference. Many employers provide physicians with money to use towards conferences – check with your employer if you are unsure how much money is covered by your employer. Decide how much money you'll need for food and other expenses. Decide how much money you'll spend in a day to see how much spending money you'll need. Be sure to include the cost of tips and taxes, as well as costs for activities that the family may enjoy while you're at the conference sessions.

Even though you're there for professional reasons, a medical conference doesn't need to be all work and no play. Remember, one of the main benefits of a medical conference is networking and enjoying the local amenities. Medical conferences provide a conducive setting for networking because you can do so while having fun and enjoying local recreational activities. Try to enjoy yourself while making professional connections that you can benefit you later in your career.

If you are intimidated by the idea of networking, try not to put so much pressure on yourself to "network." Just think of each session or workshop as an opportunity to meet new people, share ideas, and learn new information.

You can also utilize social media to expand your networking efforts. After you meet someone, invite them to connect online so it will be easier to maintain contact with them after the conference. By connecting online, you don't have to worry about forgetting who you met, or keeping track of everyone's business cards.

Prepare some conversation starters in advance. It's not necessary to only talk about medicine or work. A simple question about the food, weather, news, or even a tasteful joke can be just enough to get the ball rolling.

While you are at the medical conference, remember to listen, learn and take lots of notes! But also, have fun, while making new friends and professional contacts. Good luck!