Downtown AAMC

at Learn Serve Lead 2026 

Step into Downtown AAMC, a vibrant gathering place inspired by Anaheim's nearby Downtown Disney District. Located just outside the Exhibit Hall, this interactive space is designed to help you connect, discover, and explore the many ways the AAMC supports your journey in academic medicine.

Explore the Zones in Downtown AAMC

Explore affinity groups, leadership development, virtual communities, and other opportunities to grow your career and expand your network.  

Experience hands-on demonstrations and meet the teams behind tools and services like AMCAS®, MCAT®, ERAS®, VSLO®, and more. 

Connect with AAMC experts and discover initiatives advancing medical education, biomedical research, health care, and community collaboration.  

Learn about the AAMC's advocacy efforts, explore data and research, and discover ways to help shape the future of academic medicine.  

Downtown AAMC Schedule 

November 6-10, 2026

Explore Downtown AAMC programming by zone and day. Each zone offers a different way to connect with AAMC programs, services, advocacy and data resources, and mission-area work.

Downtown AAMC is open during meeting hours. Some zones may have special programming scheduled during specific times, see zone specific schedules below.

Friday, Nov. 6
  • Open during meeting hours
    7 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday, Nov. 7
  • Open during meeting hours
    7 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 8
  • Open during meeting hours
    7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • David Skorton Meet-and-Greet
    10:30-11:30 a.m.
    Located in the Bookstore Lounge Area
  • Think & Link
    11:30 a.m.-12 p.m.
    Located in the Bookstore Lounge Area
  • Think & Link
    12-12:30 p.m.
    Located in the Bookstore Lounge Area
  • Think & Link
    12:30-1 p.m.
    Located in the Bookstore Lounge Area
  • Think & Link
    2:15-3 p.m.
    Located in the Bookstore Lounge Area
Monday, Nov. 9
  • Open during meeting hours
    7 a.m. – 4 p.m.
  • David Skorton Meet-and-Greet
    10:30-11:30 a.m.
    Located in the Bookstore Lounge Area
Tuesday, Nov. 10
  • Open during meeting hours
    9:30-10 a.m.
    7 a.m. – Noon

Zone 1: Your Professional Home

Friday, Nov. 6
  • Open for informal use
    6:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
    Explore rotating slides and digital resources, connect with other attendees, or use the space as an informal meeting point.
  • Community Connection Check-In (AAMC Virtual Communities)
    3:00-5:30 p.m.
    Find communities aligned with your interests, role, specialty, or career stage; create or activate an account; and explore discussions, resource libraries, events, and networking features.
Saturday, Nov. 7
  • No zone programming during the Opening Plenary
    8:30-9:45 a.m.
  • Office hours and meet-and-greet (Leadership Development and Leadership Network)
    9:45-10:15 a.m.
    Office hours and meet-and-greet Learn about leadership development programs and the forthcoming Leadership Network.
  • CareerConnect questions and guidance (CareerConnect)
    11:15-11:45 a.m.
    Explore career opportunities, professional connections, resume tools, and customized job alerts.
  • Office hours (AAMC Affinity Groups)
    11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
    Learn about networking and professional growth opportunities and how to enroll.
  • CareerConnect questions and guidance (CareerConnect)
    1:00-1:15 p.m.
    Explore career opportunities, professional connections, resume tools, and customized job alerts.
  • CareerConnect questions and guidance (CareerConnect)
    2:15-2:55 p.m.
    Explore career opportunities, professional connections, resume tools, and customized job alerts.
  • Voice of the Member Listening Lab (AAMC Virtual Communities)
    4:15-5:00 p.m.
    Share what you value, what gets in the way, and what would help you connect more often with peers. Participants may also complete the member engagement survey.
  • Office hours (AAMC Affinity Groups)
    4:15-6:30 p.m.
    Learn about networking and professional growth opportunities and how to enroll.
Sunday, Nov. 8
  • Office hours (AAMC Affinity Groups)
    10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
    Learn about networking and professional growth opportunities and how to enroll.
  • CareerConnect questions and guidance (CareerConnect)
    11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
    Explore career opportunities, professional connections, resume tools, and customized job alerts.
  • Champion Chats (AAMC Communities)
    12:45-1:15 p.m.
    Talk with volunteer champions about the community and ways to get more involved.
  • CareerConnect questions and guidance (CareerConnect)
    2:15-2:55 p.m.
    Explore career opportunities, professional connections, resume tools, and customized job alerts.
Monday, Nov. 9
  • CareerConnect questions and guidance (CareerConnect)
    9:45-11:30 a.m.
    Explore career opportunities, professional connections, resume tools, and customized job alerts.
  • Office hours (AAMC Affinity Groups)
    10 a.m.-1 p.m.
    Learn about networking and professional growth opportunities and how to enroll.
  • Champion Chats (AAMC Communities)
    12:45-1:15 p.m.
    Talk with volunteer champions about the community and ways to get more involved.
  • Office hours and meet-and-greet (Leadership Development and Leadership Network)
    2:15-2:55 p.m.
    Learn about leadership development programs and the forthcoming Leadership Network.
Tuesday, Nov. 10
  • Office hours (AAMC Communities)
    9:30-10 a.m.
  • Mentor Match Matchmaking (Mentor Match)
    11 -11:30 a.m.
    Learn how Mentor Match works, explore opportunities to mentor or be mentored, and sign up to connect across institutions, specialties, and career stages.

Zone 2: Your AAMC Services

Friday, Nov. 6
  • Open for informal use
    6:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
    Explore rotating slides and digital resources, connect with other attendees, or use the space as an informal meeting point. No scheduled activity is planned for this zone.
Saturday, Nov. 7
  • Office hours and demonstrations (Admissions Technology Services)
    9:45 a.m.-Noon
    Explore AMCAS data dashboards and discuss Admissions Technology Services products.
  • Office hours and meet-and-greet (Visiting Student Learning Opportunities)
    9:45-10:15 a.m.
    Discuss VSLO, review the student infographic, and ask questions about expansion, growth, and MOD.
  • Office hours and meet-and-greet (Visiting Student Learning Opportunities)
    11:15-11:45 a.m.
    Discuss VSLO, review the student infographic, and ask questions about expansion, growth, and MOD.
  • Office hours and demonstrations (Admissions Technology Services)
    1-5 p.m.
    Explore AMCAS data dashboards and discuss Admissions Technology Services products.
Sunday, Nov. 8
  • Office hours and demonstrations (Admissions Technology Services)
    9:45-11:30 a.m.
    Explore AMCAS data dashboards and discuss Admissions Technology Services products.
  • Office hours and demonstrations (Admissions Technology Services)
    12:15-3 p.m.
    Explore AMCAS data dashboards and discuss Admissions Technology Services products.
  • Office hours and meet-and-greet (MedLoans Borrower Benefit Program featuring ELFI)
    12:45-1:15 p.m.
    Ask questions about the MedLoans Program, ELFI's EdMed loan, and private education loans.
  • Office hours and meet-and-greet (Visiting Student Learning Opportunities)
    2:15-2:55 p.m.
    Discuss VSLO, the student infographic, expansion, growth, and MOD.
  • Resource showcase (FIRST Program)
    4 -4:30 p.m.
    Explore FIRST resources and handouts.
Monday, Nov. 9
  • Office hours and demonstrations (Admissions Technology Services)
    9:45 a.m.-Noon
    Explore AMCAS data dashboards and discuss Admissions Technology Services products.
  • Office hours and meet-and-greet (Visiting Student Learning Opportunities)
    12:45-1:15 p.m.
    Discuss VSLO, the student infographic, expansion, growth, and MOD.
  • FIRST Program information (FIRST Program)
    4 -4:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Nov. 10
  • Open for informal use
    7 a.m.-Noon
    Use the space for spontaneous meetups or a place to sit and recharge. No scheduled activity is planned.

Zone 3: Your Voice in Academic Medicine

Friday, Nov. 6
  • Open zone
    6:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
    Explore rotating slides and digital resources, connect with other attendees, or use the space as an informal meeting point. No scheduled activity is planned for this zone.
Saturday, Nov. 7
  • Office hours and meet-and-greet (Data Operations and Services)
    9:45-10:15 a.m.
  • Office hours and meet-and-greet (Data Operations and Services)
    11:15-11:45 a.m.
  • Office hours and meet-and-greet (Government Relations)
    1-2 p.m.
    Meet the available team and ask questions.
  • Office hours and meet-and-greet (Data Operations and Services)
    4 -5 p.m.
Sunday, Nov. 8
  • Office hours and meet-and-greet (Data Operations and Services)
    9:45-11:30 a.m.
  • Office hours and meet-and-greet (Data Operations and Services)
    12:45-1:15 p.m.
  • Office hours and meet-and-greet (Government Relations)
    2:15-3:30 p.m.
    Meet the available team and ask questions.
Monday, Nov. 9
  • Research office hours (Medical School Operations Research)
    9:45-11:30 a.m.
    Learn more about AAMC research.
  • Office hours and meet-and-greet (Government Relations)
    10-11:30 a.m.
    Meet the available team and ask questions.
Tuesday, Nov. 10
  • Office hours and meet-and-greet (Data Operations and Services)
    9:30-10:00 a.m.

Zone 4: Your Impact in Academic Medicine

Friday, Nov. 6
  • Open zone
    6:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
    Explore rotating slides and digital resources, connect with other attendees, or use the space as an informal meeting point. No scheduled activity is planned for this zone.
Saturday, Nov. 7
  • Meet-and-greet and office hours
    9:45-10:15 a.m.
    Fundamental Role of Arts and Humanities in Medicine
  • Office hours and meet-and-greet (StandPoint Surveys)
    11:15-11:45 a.m.
  • Office hours
    12:45-1:15 p.m.
    Community Opportunity and Engagement
  • Trustworthiness office hours (AAMC Center for Health Justice)
    2:15-2:55 p.m.
    Immediately follows the Center's concurrent session on trustworthiness.
Sunday, Nov. 8
  • Meet the editors (Academic Medicine and MedEdPORTAL)
    9:45-11:30 a.m.
    Talk with journal editors about Academic Medicine and MedEdPORTAL.
  • Meet the staff and committee (Advisor Compass)
    9:45-11:30 a.m.
    Learn about the newly launched program and what is coming next.
  • Office hours and meet-and-greet (StandPoint Surveys)
    12:45-1:15 p.m.
  • Academic Medicine as Community Anchors (Community Opportunity and Engagement and Health Care Affairs)
    2:15-2:55 p.m.
    Fireside chat with Dr. Jonathan B. Jaffery, AAMC Chief Health Care Officer, on the role of academic medicine as a community anchor.
  • Community engagement resources office hours (AAMC Center for Health Justice)
    4-4:30 p.m.
    Immediately follows the Voices in Medicine session on engaging immigrant communities.
  • Office hours and meet-and-greet
    4-4:30 p.m.
    Competency-Based Medical Education Across the Continuum
  • Data and AI office hours
    5:30-5:45 p.m.
    MedBiquitous and Artificial Intelligence
Monday, Nov. 9
  • Office hours
    9:45-11:30 a.m.
    Regulatory and Workforce Studies and Health Care Affairs
  • Meet-and-greet with Dr. Malika Fair (Community Opportunity and Engagement)
    12:45-1:15 p.m.
    Meet Dr. Malika Fair, AAMC Chief Community, Opportunity, and Engagement Officer.
Tuesday, Nov. 10
  • Open for informal use
    7 a.m.-Noon
    Use the space for spontaneous meetups or a place to sit and recharge. No scheduled activity is planned.