neurosurgeons. But the AANS makes it easy at the 66th Annual Meeting in Philadelphia where almost 200 companies will be showcasing the most up-to-date devices, instruments, computers, software, pharmaceuticals, publications and more in the Exhibit Hall.
“The Exhibit Hall is one aspect of our Annual Meetings where many neurosurgeons miss an opportunity,” said Jon Robertson, MD, chairman of the newly formed Committee on Exhibits. “This is a rare occasion where we have just about every company that has anything to do with neurosurgery in the same place at the same time. It’s a great opportunity to compare, ask questions and see first-hand what’s being developed and how it stacks up to what you currently use.”
Not only will a tour through the Exhibit Hall greatly enhance your educational experience at the meeting, it also will provide a time-efficient chance to order the reference books you’ve needed, register for a Professional Develop Program (PDP) course, and learn the latest about the HCFA mandated E/M guidelines.
Lists of exhibitors and maps of the Exhibit Hall will be available in the Final Program Book, which will be available on site. Companies are listed alphabetically, by product category, or numerically by booth so that you can track the companies and displays you don’t want to miss on the exhibit floor. Highlights of the Exhibit Hall include:
- Technical Exhibits — Preview the latest medical devices, equipment and pharmaceuticals in the neurosurgical field. Doctors can gain hands-on experiences with these new products and discuss benefits, risks, indications, and contraindications with industry representatives. Exhibitors in this area include manufactures of surgical supplies, pharmaceuticals, imaging and diagnostic products.
- Practice Management/Recruiters – Find new ways to enhance the manage-ment of your practice by previewing the latest in office and patient billing software, and coding. If you are looking for a new practice opportunity, visit one of the physician recruitment exhibits.
- AANS Membership Booth — Come learn about CME opportunities and membership benefits at the official AANS booth. Register for a PDP course and save 10% on the registration fee during the meeting. Pick up a free E/M coding reference card. This also is the place to purchase your favorite novelty items, medical encyclopedias on CD-ROM, brain and spine teaching models, and, of course, Harvey Cushing memorabilia.
- NEUROSURGERY://ON-CALL® – The Official Web site of the AANS and CNS will be live on the Internet right in the Exhibit Hall. Stop by the N://OC® booth to tour the largest neurosurgical Web site in the world. Learn how to conduct on-line library searches, submit on-line abstracts, update your “Find A Neurosurgeon” listing, download outcomes measurement instruments, and much more.
- Publisher’s Row -Review the latest neurosurgical text books and journals. There will be a special booth set up for SANS VI and the AANS Publications office.
- Journal of Neurosurgery – Visit with the staff of the official AANS scientific journal and learn about subscriptions, submissions and purchasing back issues on CD-ROM. The Journal will also display Neuro-surgical Focus, a peer-reviewed, on-line neurosurgical published journal by the editors of the Journal.
- Posters – Over 500 poster exhibits will be displayed in the Exhibit Hall. Posters are arranged according to topic and describe the latest in neurosurgical research.
- Lunch – If you need a break during the meeting to relax and re-energize, the Exhibit Hall is the place to go. Lunch and refreshments will be served in the Exhibit Hall throughout the meeting. The Exhibit Hall covers more than 100,000 square feet and is the largest display of neurosurgical products and services in the world. The exhibitors, AANS staff, electricians, foremen, and set-up crews transform the Exhibit Hall from an urban construction site full of boxes, heavy equipment and crates into its final product complete with carpet, 3-story displays, video displays and Internet access in less than four days.
Planning for the Exhibit Hall starts approximately nine months before the Annual Meeting, and Exhibitors spent over $1.1 million to exhibit at the 1997 AANS Annual Meeting.
“The exhibit fees help keep registration costs down for our members and help subsidize the Scientific Program,” said Hank Polson, Director of Marketing for the AANS. ” The revenue provided by our exhibitors has allowed the Annual Meeting to grow in both scope and quality over the years.”
The Exhibit Hall is open from Monday, April 27 th and Tuesday, April 28 from 9:00 AM- 4:30 PM and Wednesday, April 29 from 9:00 AM-3:30 PM.