Marc Moss, MD

If you’re like me, you probably joined the ATS because you attended the International Conference and wanted to be part of an organization energized by the intersection of science and clinical practice.

After attending the International Conference, I think all of us take home part of that energy, bolstering our productivity and sense of purpose in our myriad roles within the health care system. This is why I encourage you to register for ATS 2018 before March 21, the deadline for early bird registration.

Among the highlights of ATS 2018:

• Eight keynote addresses, including two from San Diego-area scientists whose research on hypoxemic and ischemic protection in seals and on bacteriophage therapy for multi-drug resistant bacterial infections transcends pulmonary, critical care, and sleep medicine.  
• Two sessions featuring a discussion by the authors and editors of the latest pulmonary and critical care research published by the New England Journal of Medicine and the Journal of the American Medical Association.
• An Opening Ceremony address on burnout among health care professionals by Darrell Kirch, a distinguished medical educator and president of the Association of American Medical Colleges. During the Opening Ceremony, we’ll also recognize Jalan Sowell, a star high school running back who developed chronic thromboembolic pulmonary hypertension. He produced his own ESPN video about coming to terms with the disease.
• Hands-on postgraduate courses covering ultrasound, endobronchial ultrasound, echocardiography, and bronchoscopy. For basic scientists, there is a hands-on course on assessing mitochondrial function at the bench.
• Two major symposia on the ways bioengineering may revolutionize the practice of pulmonary medicine through engineering of molecules, stem cells, organisms, and devices. 
• A President’s Symposium entitled, “Metacognition in Medicine,” which will explore how the mind works and offer insights into how knowing how our minds work can improve teaching, learning, and patient care.  
• An Exhibit Hall packed with new diagnostic and therapeutic innovations, and new ways to learn about these innovations — from virtual reality to interactive multimedia presentations.
• Planned networking events, from the Networking Exchange for Early Career Professionals to the Women’s and Diversity Forums. The ATS assembly meetings are also excellent venues for expanding our professional network.

Of course, most of the networking that takes place during the International Conference happens in the hallways outside sessions and in the hotels, restaurants, and other gathering places outside the convention center — the type of meeting that the more than 16,000 attendees will plan on their own. It’s the perfect complement to the more than 5,000 sessions and 6,900 abstracts and care reports featured at the conference. 

Wherever we meet, I look forward to welcoming you to San Diego and ATS 2018.