Earlier this week I had the honor to participate (2nd year) in the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America Planning Committee for SHEA Spring 2019.This paper, not surprisingly published in the Journal the American Medical Informatics Association, explores for the benefits of virtual congresses as supplements to traditional in-person scientific meetings. The authors argue that virtual conferences are most appropriate for CME activities and courses.
Nothing supplants an in-person scientific meeting. It is through face-to-face discussion and debate where assumptions are best challenged and new findings are disseminated.
More importantly, scientific meetings are where I go for inspiration from colleagues. This is not easily accomplished online.
SHEA 2019 will live and in person.
I hope that you will be there.