Coming this October 20 to 23, JADPRO Live will finally be live and IN PERSON for the first time since
2019. When last we met, we were Space Needle-ing, Pike Place Market-ing, and Starbucks coffee
drinking in Seattle, Washington. This time around we are back in the friendly confines of a Gaylord
Hotel: The Gaylord Rockies Hotel in Aurora, Colorado. If you’ve never been to JADPRO Live or even if you
have, glancing at the meeting agenda can be overwhelming. Having attended national professional
conferences for 30 years and JADPRO on many occasions, I have come up with a few tips.
Tip #1: Scope Out the Presentations Ahead of Time
JADPRO has a great app that allows you to go through the agenda and pick your favorite presentations.
The app can serve as your digital conference guide for the 4 days. This is especially helpful when there
are several presentations going on at once. Carefully map out your desired presentations keeping in
mind two things: 1. You can always change your mind, and 2. You will be able to catch the replay of a CE
presentation virtually about 2 weeks after the live conference.
Tip #2: Attend Mealtime Presentations
Mealtime presentations are popular for the budget-minded attendee. When you pick up your
conference registration, take time to pick up your breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner tickets. Sometimes
these are hot tickets, so grab them early. But if you didn’t pick up a ticket for a particular meal, there are
almost always some available last-minute. One caveat: Mealtime presentations are almost always
sponsored by pharma and therefore no CE is offered.
Tip #3: Don’t Skip the Posters or Exhibit Hall
See what your colleagues are up to. You never know how someone else’s project could inspire you to do
your own next year! Also, don’t miss the exhibit hall. Support the conference sponsors while learning a
thing or two. Also, there are often snacks in there!
Tip #4: Don’t Party Too Much, But Do Leave Time for Fun Activities
The first statement is obvious. Spend too much time doing something other than the conference, and
you will have missed a great opportunity for learning and networking. But it would also be a shame
traveling all the way to the Colorado area without seeing anything except the airport and the conference
hotel.
Don’t get me wrong: I have been to this hotel and the views just outside the back door are simply
spectacular. You could get away with not leaving. Gaylord Hotels have lots of recreation, restaurants,
and bars all in the hotel. But I say get out! Talk to the hotel concierge. Have a singular question in mind.
What is the best burger joint in town? Where is the best place for dancing? What are the best craft
breweries to visit (Denver has over 140 craft breweries!)? Where can I get a fancy steak dinner? Armed
with the answer to your inquiry, grab a few friends to ride-share with and experience what Denver has
to offer. Striking a balance between learning and fun is the recipe for a great conference.
Tip #5: Plan Ahead
Make sure your APSHO membership is up to date. Members save $150 on registration. To save another
$100, take advantage of early bird registration by September 9. Ask for time off now before someone
randomly takes those days off for vacation and to ensure proper clinic coverage. Start looking now for
flight information. Don’t get stuck with a needlessly pricey plane ticket or undesirable flight time.
Regarding my previous suggestions, start looking at the agenda and google “What to do in Denver.” Ask
a colleague now, are you going to JADPRO Live? Maybe? Make it a yes. Let’s go together!
Hopefully you’ve found some of this advice helpful in getting the most out of JADPRO Live. I’ll see you in
Colorado!
Andy