Healthcare Design - October 2015 - 8

S SHOW TALK | 10.15
A day in the life

The Healthcare Design Expo & Conference is next month, and it might look
a little something like this By Kevin Gaffney
As you finish packing for what you hope will be time
well spent in Washington, D.C., you try to figure out
just how you're going to take advantage of the 13
educational tracks (110 sessions total) at the Healthcare Design Expo & Conference. You wonder, which of
the four pre-conference clinics did I sign up for again?
Maybe, you think, I should check out one of the seven
impressive facilities during Saturday afternoon's tours.
Where's that Uber driver? You're realizing that with so
much on the agenda, the one thing you really can't
afford to do is miss your flight.
As you settle in at 35,000 feet, you review the list
of 300-plus exhibiting companies covering more than
55,000 square feet on the Expo Hall floor, and you
can see why you'll need four full days at the show to
take it all in.
Arriving on Friday night, you think, gives you time to
relax and get settled in for what promises to be your
best HCD Expo & Conference to date. With so much
excitement running through your head, sleep is hard
to come by. But as you finally drift off, you're content
with your decision to attend the workshop at 8:30 a.m.,
although the facility tours do really look great...
After a splendid night's sleep and a quick breakfast
at the Gaylord National, you're off and running. The
workshop it is. Wow, what a session, you think, happy
about your Saturday choice as you enjoy breakfast
on Sunday morning with old friends. The official
2015 show kick-off begins at 8 a.m. with a keynote
presentation by Ken Schmidt, a former director of
communications strategy for Harley-Davidson Motor
Co. Walking out of that presentation (mind blown!), you
hit the breakout rooms one after the other, filling pages
with notes from the sessions you attend. In between
blocks of education, you refuel during an inspiring luncheon, where the past year's winners from Healthcare
Design's HCD 10, Healthcare Design Showcase, and
Remodel/Renovation Competition collect their wellearned awards. By 4 p.m. you're tired but walking on a
cloud as you head over to the Expo Hall for the opening night reception, ready to interact with hundreds of
product and service providers in a high-energy setting.
After enjoying an evening of networking with friends
and colleagues old and new, you look at your watch
and think, better get a good night's rest: Still two exciting days to go!
Monday at 7 a.m., it's breakfast followed by The
Center for Health Design's awards program and
Changemaker keynote presentation, featuring the
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HCDmagazine.com 10.15

father of evidence-based design, Roger S. Ulrich. After
some more top-notch educational sessions, you meet up
with a few new friends for a networking break in the Expo
Hall and continue your quest to see the best products
and services to help you reach your business goals.
What's next? Another session or two, or should you stop
by the Solutions Theater to see what's happening there?
Maybe there's time for both-the Expo Hall hours are
extended to 4 p.m.
You glance at your watch at 5:40 p.m. and realize
you've got just enough time to spruce yourself up
before attending the highlight of every HCD Expo &
Conference, the Healthcare Design Networking Event
(sponsored by KI).
It was a blast-as always-and by Tuesday morning,
your head is spinning, but in a good way. It's been a fantastic event so far, but hang in there, you say to yourself,
because you don't want to miss anything on this final
day. You attend a few final sessions, grab some lunch on
the show floor, and then head over to the closing keynote
presentation, featuring Deborah Adler of Adler Design.
After a few hugs and handshakes, you head to the
airport. All you can think is: I'm so glad I came early-
and stayed until the end. HCD

Kevin Gaffney
Group Show Director, Healthcare Design
kevin.gaffney@emeraldexpo.com
770.291.5446

Kevin Gaffney

Healthcare Design Expo & Conference
Nov. 14-17, 2015
Gaylord National Resort & Convention
Center, Washington, D.C.
HCDconference.com

Cate Olszewski Sales Manager
216.373.1219
cate.olszewski@emeraldexpo.com

Founded and produced by Healthcare Design and
The Center for Health Design

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770.291.5440
mary.thompson@emeraldexpo.com

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216.373.1224
michael.pae@emeraldexpo.com
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216.373.1222
holly.kaye@emeraldexpo.com

http://www.HCDconference.com http://www.HCDmagazine.com

Healthcare Design - October 2015

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