INFORMATION FOR
FIRST-TIME
ATTENDEES

Learn Serve Lead can be overwhelming, especially for people new to the program. AAMC staff are here to help first-time attendees navigate the meeting and make the most of their time in Atlanta. 

First-Time Attendee Orientations – Let’s make introductions! 

There are two events designed specifically for people attending their first AAMC annual meeting. We encourage newcomers to participate in at least one.  

The virtual orientation introduces attendees to the AAMC and the Learn Serve Lead program and provides helpful tips about our meeting location. This webinar takes place before the meeting and Learn Serve Lead registrants will receive an invitation via email.  

We invite you to attend the first-time attendee welcome and information session in Atlanta before the official kickoff reception on Friday, Nov. 8. This information session led by AAMC staff will provide further information about the AAMC, practical meeting guidance, and an invaluable opportunity to connect with others from across the United States and beyond who are also participating in their first AAMC annual meeting.  

Returning attendees are welcome at both orientations.

Learn Serve Lead at a Glance – How the program is laid out

In general, Learn Serve Lead sessions start and end at the same time, with a break in between.  

Learn Serve Lead plenary sessions address the most pressing issues affecting academic medicine and are intended to educate and inspire attendees as they begin each day’s programming. These sessions are open to all and are designed to appeal to attendees from diverse professional backgrounds and with a wide range of interests. In short, the plenary sessions inspire us to become better people – and when we are better people, we can be better caregivers, no matter our title. There is no other programming scheduled during plenary sessions. 

Most Learn Serve Lead sessions are scheduled during concurrent blocks to maximize coverage of essential topics throughout the meeting. These 75-minute sessions begin each day following the plenary sessions. Distributed across these concurrent sessions is the Voices of Medicine and Society Lecture Series, a lineup of award-winning and thought-provoking influencers like physicians, authors, journalists, scientists, professors, and filmmakers, who encourage us to confront the challenges in academic medicine. 

Specific times are set aside each day for AAMC affinity group programming (more information about affinity groups is available here). Attendees are invited to participate in any of these sessions, unless otherwise noted in the program. Seating is limited, so arrive early. 

AAMC Ambassadors will be staffed throughout the meeting to direct attendees. 

Highlighted Networking Opportunities – This is your meeting. Make the most of it. 

Networking is often cited as one of the most valued aspects of the meeting. The task at hand for first timers - showing up! While five days of programming offers ample opportunity for casual discussion, attendees can be strategic in their networking by reviewing the attendee list before the meeting. Any attendee who has registered for Learn Serve Lead 2024 can access the attendee list by logging into the meeting homepage. Once logged in, the attendee may view the “Attendee List” on the “Network” dropdown. Please note that not all attendees may appear on the Attendee List, as registrants have the option to opt out.

Take advantage of this resource and our many networking events, including: 

  • Welcome to Atlanta Reception 
  • Jump-Start Breakfast 
  • Focused Discussions With Lunch (Table Topics Luncheon) 
  • Exhibit Hall Reception 
  • Posters-Up and Wine-Down Reception 
  • Morning wellness sessions, including yoga, walking, and running groups 

Learn more about Learn Serve Lead networking events here. 

Complimentary Food and Drink – Help yourself. 

The annual meeting provides meals and refreshments, including continental breakfasts, lunches, and evening receptions. Attendees have the option to participate in these AAMC offerings or explore southern cuisine and international flavor throughout Atlanta.  

Navigating the Meeting Onsite 

Learn Serve Lead takes place primarily in the Georgia World Congress Center (GWCC), and some programming is held in adjacent hotels.  AAMC staff are available to help to get you to where you want to be. 

Attendees need their badges to attend any Learn Serve Lead programming.  The Registration Desk is centrally located in the GWCC, Building C. 

Attendees can learn more about accessing AAMC member benefits, accessing data and resources, and getting involved with the AAMC by visiting the AAMC Member Services Booth. 

Attendees can meet with AAMC staff representatives of AAMC services and programs at the AAMC pavilion in the Exhibit Hall during Exhibit Hall hours. 

Meeting Insiders for Keeping Attendees Informed 

Everyone who has registered for the annual meeting will receive email notifications with special “insider” Learn Serve Lead tidbits and helpful information for attendees only. Meeting Insiders will be sent in the weeks leading up to the annual meeting, and Daily Insiders will be sent throughout the meeting to provide an overview and detailed descriptions of what is in store each day.  

Learn Serve Lead Resources at Your Fingertips 

The Learn Serve Lead 2024 mobile app contains the full meeting schedule, your customized agenda, the attendee list, presentations, floor plans and many other useful tools.  

For more information related to first-time attendees, email learnservelead@aamc.org.