Programming highlights for ACP

Marlin Schul, MD is the 2011 Congress Chairman and along with Pam Beaton, CME Manager for the ACP, they ask the question “What do our learners need?”

“Recognizing the fact that we have learners from a variety of different backgrounds and different levels of experience, we needed to raise the bar across the board with regards to what we offered along the educational aspect”, says Schul. “On Thursday, pre-congress day, the program is packed with the latest education from leaders in the field, in addition to workshops in the afternoon on IVC filter placement, venous stent placement, mechanical thrombolic devices, balloons, coils, sclerosants and more. It is a comprehensive deep vein symposium. That’s why we called it The Big Symposium – Big Veins, Big Issues, Better Solutions.”

Schul shares that feedback about the previous Congress’ educational programming and meeting sessions gave them the nudge towards deep vein issues. “This goes along with the enhanced products and devices moving quickly in the market. We wanted there to be something for that advanced venous provider, or someone like myself who doesn’t do those procedures, to become more familiar with the implications and the application of those procedures. If you are a true vein specialist, you need to know more than just what goes on inside your office - because there are just some things you don’t do in the office - and you need to know the right interventional radiologist or right vascular surgeon, and you need to know what they are able to do to help them.”

“The big veins focus really came out of our program development committee. We felt we could do more, so that’s where it originated. What I essentially charged the committee with was to think outside the box. Feedback over the last couple of years, as we reviewed survey after survey, showed the perceived lack of new information attendees were learning from us. That resonated with me as a problem, but it presented a potential opportunity to shift it up,” states Schul. “There is something for everybody, every day, every hour.”

ACP Entertainment

There will also be plenty of entertainment options available for attendees outside of the daily sessions. The ACP will be hosting several networking and social events, including a Golf Outing at Industry Hills Golf Club (named 2010 Golf Course of the Year by the National Golf Course Owners Association), a “red carpet” Opening Night Reception complete with paparazzi and celebrity look-alikes, a silent auction, with proceeds that benefit the mission of the American College of Phlebology Foundation and a Dinner & Social at the exclusive City Club at Bunker Hill with dinner, dancing and spectacular views of the Los Angeles skyline.

If attendees thirst for more excitement, the Congress is being housed in the L.A. Live entertainment complex, just steps from the Staples Center, home to five professional sports teams, the Nokia Theater (now The Microsoft Theater), which hosts events such as the Emmy, ESPY and People’s Choice Awards, The Grammy Museum, several fashionable restaurants, two nightclubs, a bowling alley and ESPN’s West Coast broadcast headquarters.

The 2011 ACP Annual Congress will be an opportunity for vein care professionals from all disciplines to learn, network and relax in a venue with something for everyone.