Learn, Network and Connect in Chicago this November
Though I have had the pleasure of attending many conferences held by ASAE, my first visit to the Healthcare Associations Conference will take place this coming November. This event attracts around 200 attendees and provides the opportunity to hear from numerous guest speakers, including the two keynote speakers Mark Graban and Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz. I am especially excited about this conference because it gives people the opportunity to connect with others in similar professions, facing similar challenges—it truly serves as a conference that is unique to the needs of healthcare associations.
While attempting to learn more about what was offered in this conference, I was very thankful to be able to speak with ASAE’s Senior Director of Learning, Mark Milroy, CAE, who generously gave his time to answer a few 
questions about the Healthcare Associations Conference 2012, and to shed light on some new exciting aspects of this year’s conference.
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What are some highlights of the conference?
This event isn’t a huge gathering where it’s easy to miss seeing people. The intimate nature, with around 200 attendees, provides a great opportunity for some valuable networking to occur. That’s been cited as one of the greatest benefits of this event by previous attendees.
We have an exhibit area with industry partners offering products and services of interest to the people who work for healthcare associations–and of course, there’s the opportunity to win prizes!
At the end of day one there will be a networking reception that provides attendees with the chance to mix and mingle with one another.
We have a really great selection of education sessions on a variety of topics ranging from finding your career path in healthcare associations, pitching to healthcare media, governance issues, minding your personal health, and much more.
Who do you expect will be there this year?
This is the fourth year for this event and it typically draws about 200 attendees, mostly senior-level executives from associations throughout the healthcare sector. What’s great about this conference is the opportunity for these people to connect with one another, perhaps in ways that their members might not. It’s a great way to network and find out which organizations might be dealing with similar issues to yours.
What talks/events are you most excited for?
We have two keynote speakers who bring unique dimensions to the conference. We open with Mark Graban, a consultant, author, and blogger whose new book, Healthcare Kaizen: Engaging Front-Line Staff in Sustainable Continuous Improvements, explores how the ideas of lean production and other concepts from the world of manufacturing are applicable in the healthcare arena. His message deals with the idea that continuous improvement belongs to everyone in the organization, and he’s going to share stories about some phenomenal changes brought about by implementing these processes.
Our closing speaker is Dr. Barbara Natterson-Horowitz, who is co-author of a fascinating new book called Zoobiquity. She is a cardiologist at UCLAMedicalCenter, but she has worked extensively with the Los Angeles Zoo. Her book looks at how many of the conditions that humans face, such as heart problems, cancer, stress, and OCD are also found in the animal world, and that there is a great deal that human medicine can learn from our veterinary brethren. Hers is a compelling message that all too often we dismiss possible areas for collaboration because we let preconceived notions get in the way.
Why should people make sure to attend this year’s Healthcare conference?
This conference is unique because it’s the one event from ASAE University designed specifically for a sector of our membership. An estimated 21 percent of ASAE members are affiliated with an association within the healthcare sector. Unlike other ASAE programs where there might be a session or two relating to the management of healthcare-related organizations, that is the sole focus of this event. Everyone speaks the same “healthcare language” here and understands the challenges and opportunities of working for members who are in primary care, allied health, research, hospitals, long-term care, or any of the other disciplines within this sector.
Any other additional information you may want to add?
We are back in Chicago this year! We’ve alternated between Baltimore and Chicago the past three years, but we’re back in the WindyCity at McCormick Place this year.
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I am very excited to be heading to Chicago this November to attend the Healthcare Association Conference 2012, and furthermore to present at the conference on November 9th. A client from the Alliance for Continuing Education in Health Professions, Mary Martin Lowe, Director of Learning and Competency Development, will be in attendance to co-present “Professional Development Portal Triage: Planning for Distance Education Success” with me, and I’m enthused about having an opportunity to speak with many healthcare association professionals about how eLearning can benefit the medical world’s education system.
If you would like further information on this years conference feel free to browse their brochure.
Managing eLearning is written by the Blog team at Web Courseworks which includes Jon Aleckson and Jillian Bichanich. Ideas and concepts are originated and final copy reviewed by Jon Aleckson.