Academy’s Annual Meeting goes virtual with dynamic interactive conference platform
In similar fashion to many scientific conferences around the world, the Academy of Osseointegration’s 2021 Annual Meeting will be offered as a three-day, fully virtual learning event on March 12-14. Over the last few months, the Academy’s Board of Directors carefully reviewed the COVID-19 related risks of an in-person event and concluded that the safest delivery of educational sessions would be through a fully interactive and user-friendly online format.
Many factors weighed significantly in this decision, all relating to the continuing spread of the coronavirus pandemic, most especially in the United States. Although somewhat mitigated since March, the inherent risks associated with airline travel were considered heavily. Also considered were travel restrictions in place with many countries outside of the U.S., many with additional rules surrounding quarantining post travel. Most significantly were the logistics of ensuring COVID-free gatherings and managing social distancing protocols at all in-person sessions and social events.
Once that decision was final, the Board’s attention turned to selecting and implementing the best platform for online conference delivery. Coordinating with the 2021 Annual Meeting Planning Committee, AO staff is vigorously assembling and converting speakers and program content to exciting presentations that will be offered as both live and recorded sessions.
“Game Changers” is the overall conference theme that offers innovative and leading-edge programming with the experts and thought-leaders who drive the advancements in implant dentistry. Featured speakers include Pravin Patel, Mitra Sadrameli, Sonia Leziy, Michael Miloro, and Miguel Stanley, who will open with live presentations during the Opening Symposium presentations. This “thinking outside of the box” theme cornerstone will continue with other presenters throughout the program such as Marius Steigmann, Giovanni Zucchelli, Michael Block, Marco Degidi, Daniel Berant, and many more.
While an online format is only a temporary solution, there are many benefits associated with virtual conferences. A significant benefit for attendees is the expanded access to world-class experts offered to a broader audience that would be unable to attend, not only due to pandemic related reasons, but for other reasons such as financial or time restraints. This new format will not only provide a more attainable and convenient method of attendance but also provides post-event access, rendering availability to repeat viewings of the full conference program for an entire year.
One major attraction to AO Annual Meetings has been the camaraderie between AO members and all attendees at sessions and social events. The online platform being implemented for the virtual Annual Meeting will offer an interactive component that will allow live Q&A and moderated chat sessions during the three-day event to maintain this sense of connectivity. Even though the nature of the group dynamic is altered in a virtual setting, the same quality of content discussion with well-known thought leaders will be available.
Most importantly, this online format will provide immediate access to recorded versions of all sessions during the span of the event and afterwards. With in-person events, it is impossible to attend every session during the packed program schedule. With this new virtual conference format, attendees can watch live events in real-time knowing that simultaneous events are being recorded for immediate on-demand viewing.
Other popular conference components such as E-poster presentations, Corporate Forums, and the Exhibit Hall will also be available virtually, offering live interactions with representatives from the leading manufacturers and suppliers in implant dentistry.
Registration for the upcoming 36th Annual Meeting will be opening in the coming weeks. Continue to check the Academy’s website at <a href=”https://osseo.org/2021-annual-meeting/” target=”_blank”><strong>osseo.org</strong></a> for complete program information and detailed instructions for registration and online access to the virtual conference in the safety and convenience of your home or office.