president's page: annual college sessions—site selection and scientific formulation

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AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY NEWS President’s Page: Annual College Sessions- Site Selection and Scientific Formulation Dr. Mason Members of the College frequently ask how sites for our ACC Annual Scientific Sessions are selected and the manner in which the Scientific Program itself is formulated. Many factors must be con- sidered in the choice of an appropriate meeting locale. The growth and success of the College over the past two decades have necessarily made site selection more difficult each year because of the increasing number of registrants (2,417 in 1966 progressively increasing to 11,226 in 1977) and the greater com- plexity of program structure in size, quality and variety of educational offerings. The College staff must now take into account several major requirements for our annual meeting. Concerning housing, there must be approximately 6,500 sleeping rooms in close proximity to the meeting and ex- hibit facilities. Exhibits require at least 150,000 square feet near the meeting rooms. The Scientific Function Rooms in the meeting complex are perhaps the most difficult requirement. There must be six areas for concurrent General Sessions to be utilized throughout the day for at least four consecutive days: two rooms each to accommodate 3,000 to 4,000 attendees, two rooms for 1,000 persons and two rooms for 600 or more. In addition, 10 to 15 rooms seating 200 to 500 people each are needed for the simultaneous Lun- cheon Panels. For the Meet-the-Expert sessions, six concurrent rooms are es- sential. The Self-Assessment Room, In- dividual Cardiovascular Instruction Area and Headquarters Offices require three areas of 3,000 to 4,000 square feet each. Finally, the Registration Area must ac- commodate space for 20 booths near the various meeting rooms and exhibit space. Areas for functions in the Headquarters Hotel are also of major importance. Rooms are necessary for 10 to 15 simul- taneous Fireside Panels. The Convocation area must seat, in theater style, more than 1,500 persons and include a three-tier dais for approximately 75 persons. Then the Reception and Dinner-Dance require separate space each for about 1,000 persons. From the aforementioned, it is clear that there are only a relatively few suitable convention centers meeting the College’s present requirements. The Anaheim, California Convention Center with the Disneyland Hotel serving as Headquarters is one such facility. Fortunately, the forthcoming 27th Annual Scientific Ses- sion of the College will be convened at this world-renowned convention center in Anaheim, March 6-9, 1978. With Dr. Anthony N. DeMaria, Chairman, and Dr. Nemat 0. Borhani, Co-Chairman of the Scientific Program Committee; Dr. Eliot Corday. Local Arrangements Chairman, and Mrs. J. Douglas McNair, Chairperson of the Auxiliary Program, our 1978 annual session promises to be one of the Col- lege’s most successful programs in meeting our expectations of excellence in continuing cardiovascular education. Undoubtedly, the beautiful atmosphere and gracious hospitality of Southern Cal- ifornia, coupled with the innovative plans for exciting activities in the surrounding area, will greatly enhance the pleasure of the Anaheim meeting for the physician attendees and their families. In addition, a post-Anaheim College Scientific Meeting is scheduled in Kauai, Hawaii, March 10-12, 1978. The Scientific Program is formulated by the Central Scientific Program Commit- tee, whose members are selected one year in advance. Ten months before the annual program, the entire committee meets to construct the format and to se- lect topics and speakers, for their delib- erations determining the meeting theme and plenary speaker, the number and nature of the structured sessions, core curriculum, controversies-in-cardiology, abstract sessions, luncheon and fireside discussions, meet-the-expert sessions, as well as the preprogram cardiac clinics and mini-postgraduate courses. The Bishop Lectureship and Convocation Speaker are chosen by the Committee on Named Lectureships currently chaired by Dr. Dwight E. Harken. In the late spring pre- ceding the annual meeting, all members of the College are sent notices announc- ing the call-for-abstracts and the Sep- tember deadline for receipt. The abstracts are categorized and each is evaluated independently by ten selected graders well recognized in their field of expertise. The Scientific Program Committee then again meets in October to finalize the Annual Program of the College to be presented the following March. Dean T. Mason, MD, FACC President American College of Cardiology October 1977 The American Journal of CARDIOLOGY Volume 40 661

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AMERICAN COLLEGE OF CARDIOLOGY NEWS

President’s Page:

Annual College Sessions- Site Selection and Scientific Formulation

Dr. Mason

Members of the College frequently ask how sites for our ACC Annual Scientific Sessions are selected and the manner in which the Scientific Program itself is formulated. Many factors must be con- sidered in the choice of an appropriate meeting locale. The growth and success of the College over the past two decades have necessarily made site selection more difficult each year because of the increasing number of registrants (2,417 in 1966 progressively increasing to 11,226 in 1977) and the greater com- plexity of program structure in size, quality and variety of educational offerings. The College staff must now take into account several major requirements for our annual meeting. Concerning housing, there must be approximately 6,500 sleeping rooms in close proximity to the meeting and ex- hibit facilities. Exhibits require at least 150,000 square feet near the meeting rooms.

The Scientific Function Rooms in the meeting complex are perhaps the most difficult requirement. There must be six areas for concurrent General Sessions to be utilized throughout the day for at least four consecutive days: two rooms each to accommodate 3,000 to 4,000 attendees, two rooms for 1,000 persons and two rooms for 600 or more. In addition, 10 to 15 rooms seating 200 to 500 people each are needed for the simultaneous Lun- cheon Panels. For the Meet-the-Expert sessions, six concurrent rooms are es- sential. The Self-Assessment Room, In- dividual Cardiovascular Instruction Area and Headquarters Offices require three areas of 3,000 to 4,000 square feet each. Finally, the Registration Area must ac- commodate space for 20 booths near the various meeting rooms and exhibit space.

Areas for functions in the Headquarters Hotel are also of major importance. Rooms are necessary for 10 to 15 simul- taneous Fireside Panels. The Convocation area must seat, in theater style, more than 1,500 persons and include a three-tier dais for approximately 75 persons. Then the Reception and Dinner-Dance require separate space each for about 1,000 persons.

From the aforementioned, it is clear that there are only a relatively few suitable convention centers meeting the College’s present requirements. The Anaheim, California Convention Center with the Disneyland Hotel serving as Headquarters is one such facility. Fortunately, the forthcoming 27th Annual Scientific Ses- sion of the College will be convened at this world-renowned convention center in Anaheim, March 6-9, 1978. With Dr. Anthony N. DeMaria, Chairman, and Dr. Nemat 0. Borhani, Co-Chairman of the Scientific Program Committee; Dr. Eliot Corday. Local Arrangements Chairman, and Mrs. J. Douglas McNair, Chairperson of the Auxiliary Program, our 1978 annual

session promises to be one of the Col- lege’s most successful programs in meeting our expectations of excellence in continuing cardiovascular education. Undoubtedly, the beautiful atmosphere and gracious hospitality of Southern Cal- ifornia, coupled with the innovative plans for exciting activities in the surrounding area, will greatly enhance the pleasure of the Anaheim meeting for the physician attendees and their families. In addition, a post-Anaheim College Scientific Meeting is scheduled in Kauai, Hawaii, March 10-12, 1978.

The Scientific Program is formulated by the Central Scientific Program Commit- tee, whose members are selected one year in advance. Ten months before the annual program, the entire committee meets to construct the format and to se- lect topics and speakers, for their delib- erations determining the meeting theme and plenary speaker, the number and nature of the structured sessions, core curriculum, controversies-in-cardiology, abstract sessions, luncheon and fireside discussions, meet-the-expert sessions, as well as the preprogram cardiac clinics and mini-postgraduate courses. The Bishop Lectureship and Convocation Speaker are chosen by the Committee on Named Lectureships currently chaired by Dr. Dwight E. Harken. In the late spring pre- ceding the annual meeting, all members of the College are sent notices announc- ing the call-for-abstracts and the Sep- tember deadline for receipt. The abstracts are categorized and each is evaluated independently by ten selected graders well recognized in their field of expertise. The Scientific Program Committee then again meets in October to finalize the Annual Program of the College to be presented the following March.

Dean T. Mason, MD, FACC President American College of Cardiology

October 1977 The American Journal of CARDIOLOGY Volume 40 661