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Conference season is here! As I reflect on my seemingly chaotic few days at VMX, I’m thinking about what I could have done better. No matter if it’s you or a team member, attending any conference is an investment in professional growth, but it comes at the expense of, well, expenses and time away from the practice. So, we better make it count!

Whether you’re there for clinical updates, business strategies, or networking, the key is to maximize your experience before, during, and after the event.

Here’s how I will try and make the most out of my next conference:

Before the Conference: Set Yourself Up for Success

• Plan Sessions with Intention: Conferences offer a wide range of CE opportunities. Review the agenda in advance and choose sessions that align with your current goals, whether that’s learning about new medical advancements, improving your leadership skills, or refining your clinic’s operations. Push yourself to try something outside your comfort zone.
• Strategize Your Networking: Identify key speakers, industry leaders, or vendors you’d like to connect with. Following them on LinkedIn or reaching out beforehand can make in-person introductions easier.
• Pack Smart: Bring essentials like business cards, a notebook (or a tablet for digital notes), a water bottle, snacks, comfortable shoes, and a light jacket. Conferences involve a lot of walking, and conference rooms are often cold so being prepared helps you focus on learning rather than logistics.

During the Conference: Maximize Learning and Connections

• Take Actionable Notes: Instead of trying to write down everything, focus on key takeaways and actionable insights. Use bullet points, voice memos, or a dedicated app to organize notes. Most conferences provide abstracts and slides, so you don’t need to take so many pictures during the presentations!
• Engage in the Exhibit Hall: The exhibit hall isn’t just about swag! It’s a chance to explore new technology, discover better workflows, and talk directly with vendors about exclusive deals. This is where the magic happens! Come with a list and be prepared to negotiate.
• Pace Yourself & Avoid Burnout: Conferences can be overwhelming, so schedule short breaks, stay hydrated, and don’t feel pressured to attend every single session. Sometimes, the best insights come from informal hallway conversations. Plus many of the larger conferences live-stream events, so you don’t have to miss a lecture while you recharge.
• Leverage Social Media: Use LinkedIn, Facebook groups, or Instagram to share key takeaways, connect with fellow attendees, and engage in real-time discussions with speakers and vendors. I love the comradery and fellowship of these groups!

After the Conference: Turn Knowledge into Action

• Review and Implement What You Learned—Within a few days of returning, review your notes and create an action plan. Prioritize THREE ideas that can be immediately applied in your practice and set deadlines for implementation. I know you came away with more than three ideas, but let’s break it down into realistic workloads.
• Share Insights with Your Team – Bring value back to your clinic by summarizing key lessons in a staff meeting or creating a short training session based on what you learned.
• Follow Up and Stay Connected – Conferences are great for building relationships, but connections fade without follow-up. Send a quick LinkedIn message or email to the people you met, thanking them for their time and reinforcing how you’d like to stay in touch.

Conferences are so much more than just a series of lectures—they’re a chance to grow, network, and discover new ways to enhance your practice. Planning ahead, staying engaged, and following through afterward help guarantee that your CE experience is a truly valuable investment.

Written by Meghan Bingham, CVPM