Hans-Joachim Laubach, MD
Molly Wanner, MD, MBA
We are very excited about the ASLMS 2020 Annual Conference. This year is the 40th anniversary of the conference. We invite you to attend the Plenary Session and walk through history with 40 years in 40 minutes celebration featuring Drs. J. Stuart Nelson, David Sliney, John Parrish, and R. Rox Anderson. Then Dr. Dieter Manstein will take you on a trip to the future with a talk on LASER 2.0!
We worked hard to create an outstanding scientific program this year. We had 313 abstracts submitted and 276 accepted (88% acceptance rate). ePoster review is in progress, and we expect about 16 abstracts to be accepted for oral presentation into the ePoster Town Hall. We have collaborations with three outside societies: the French Laser Society (GL), the European Society for Lasers and Energy-Based Devices (ESLD) and the Society of Thermal Medicine (STM). STM sessions will highlight new technologies in nanoparticles and cell biology, which we hope will stimulate new ideas and collaborations. To make it easier for scientists and translational researchers to find courses that would be of interest to them, we have included special icons to signify these sessions in the program-at-a-glance. Early Career sessions are also identified with a novice icon.
We want to invite everyone to three evening social events that are certain to be fabulous. The
Celebration of Women in Energy-Based Devices on Thursday will feature speaker Dr. Kristen Kelly, award recipient Dr. Juanita J. Anders, and an expert panel of some of ASLMS’s most influential members to discuss laser medicine through the decades. Friday evening, we have our
Welcome Reception, with live music, hors d'oeuvres, beverages and engaging networking activities including photo opportunities. On Saturday is the
Exhibit Hall Social with the Silent Auction. This year, the Social includes an Ask Me Anything session. Enjoy hors d'oeuvres and beverages with our exhibitors, and let them know we appreciate their contributions and presence.
We are also excited about welcoming first-time attendees. The Mentorship Committee has assisted with creating a simple, yet supportive plan to offer mentor meetups. We’ll reach out to those who identified themselves as first-time attendees during registration to let them know that mentors will be available during assigned times at the ASLMS Central booth - a new, enhanced networking area that will be located near registration in the main lobby. Be sure to stop by and share some discussion to promote ASLMS!
Conference promotional efforts are well underway. In addition to our general communications about the program and events, we have created targeted promotions for areas including OB/Gyn, nursing/allied health, early career, and our scientist and research audiences. We are also highlighting our strong line-up of special speakers this year.
The ASLMS 2020 mobile app is scheduled to be live April 1, and we will kick off a campaign to create awareness of the app and encourage downloads and schedule-building prior to conference. In the meantime, visit the website to review the program at a glance, plan your schedule, and register.
We are excited to celebrate 40 years of ASLMS and look forward to seeing everyone in Phoenix!