Successful Meetings - July 2008 - (Page 39)

> Strong Medicine PLANNING 101 Medical Meetings Research Institute (NHGRI) at the National Institute of Health (NIH). With that in mind, Josh, along with his Dr. Francis Collins, director of mother, Dr. Simone Sommer, founded NHGRI and Dr. Steve Groft, director of the not-for-profit Chordoma Foundation the Office of Rare Diseases, gave the in February 2007, then quickly followed initial green light to the Sommers’ up by planning their First International request for a chordoma conference, Chordoma Research Workshop for May while NHGRI deputy director Dr. Alan of the same year. “The goal was to try to Gutmacher agreed to serve as the foster communication and to facilitate organizing committee chair. “They recan exchange of ideas among physicians ognized that there was a great need to and researchers,” says Josh. “A big part have a workshop on of having that initial chordoma,” says Dr. meeting was to intro“We would never Sommer. They also duce the two commuhave thought it keyed in to the fact nities, trying to both that while planning build and stimulate possible for a novices, Josh and Dr. ideas and get them to neurologist to be Sommer nonetheless work together.” interfacing with an had a knack for getThe challenges togethers. “One thing were daunting. For orthopedic surgeon they commented starters, there were like this.” about was that Josh ongoing health issues —Josh Sommer and I were able to faced by Josh and all assemble a remarkchordoma patients: able group of workpain, weakness, and shop attendees who had a unique spirit repeated hospital stays necessitated by of camaraderie and collaboration,” says surgery and radiation treatments. Dr. Dr. Sommer, “especially from individuals Sommer was battling health problems from customarily competitive instituas well, surviving both ovarian cancer tions.” and mycotoxicosis after being exposed Josh agrees, adding that another to toxic mold a few years ago. Moreover, major challenge was simply getting neither mother nor son had ever such high-powered personalities to the planned anything more detailed than a table. “We would never have thought it Super Bowl party. possible for a neurologist to be interfac“As there were so many different dising with an orthopedic surgeon like this,” ciplines coming together we wanted he says. “Having them come together something small and intimate, with as has really catapulted the science in the much time for breakouts as possible,” past year.” says Josh. “One way to do that was to Neither did it hurt that the NHGRI create a face-to-face meeting for smallhad a savvy planner on hand to help. “A group collaboration.” lot of the things we did were at Josh and The Sommers certainly had a wealth Simone’s suggestion,” says Susan of ideas, energy and, with Dr. Sommer’s Vasquez, special assistant to Dr. Gutmedical degree, some great connecmacher. “They already had some great tions to put together an all- volunteer ideas and we just handled the mechaboard of directors. What they lacked nisms to make it happen.” was nuts-and-bolts planning knowledge, Specifically, Vasquez, who plans for which they turned to a higher source several NHGRI events annually, came for help: The National Human Genome SUCCESSFUL MEETINGS JULY 2008 mimegasite.com BEING REWARDED WHEN YOU RETURN IS ONLY THE BEGINNING. SAVE ON MEETINGS OF 49 OR FEWER ROOM NIGHTS Book multiple small meetings at a Hyatt Resort by December 30, 2008, and receive double Hyatt Meeting Dividends and rewards for your ® group. Please reference offer code RMMYS. SAVE ON MEETINGS OF 50 OR MORE ROOM NIGHTS Book multiple large meetings at a Hyatt Resort by December 30, 2008, and receive double Hyatt Meeting Dividends, rebates for your group and ® even more rewards for your board. Please reference offer code RMMYL. Contact your Hyatt Worldwide Sales Representative, call 800 872 3600 or visit hyattreply.com/resortmeetings for more information on offers and complete terms and conditions. http://hyattreply.com/resortmeetings http://hyattreply.com/resortmeetings http://mimegasite.com

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Successful Meetings - July 2008 Contents Editor's Note Industry Trends Suppliers Newsmakers On the Record Technology Newsmakers Calendar Planner Spotlight Management Matters Meetings Law Websites of the Month Mouth for Sale Pre-Event On Site Tools of the Trade Pre-Event Initial Success Strong Medicine Risky Business Places & Spaces Birmingham Kentucky Georgia & the Carolinas Hong Kong Melbourne Gurus

Successful Meetings - July 2008

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