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Dear ANA Members, We are well into the fall season, and with the ANA2023 annual meeting complete, work and planning has begun in earnest for ANA2024 being held September 14 – 17, 2024, in Orlando, Florida. I have received some member feedback regarding the upcoming 2024 meeting, most highly positive; however, a few have expressed concern surrounding the Florida location and the need to ensure that our entire ANA membership will feel safe attending and that our annual meeting will continue to promote an atmosphere of inclusivity. It is important that members be assured that ANA leadership is aware of these reservations that have begun to return from the membership since our 2023 meeting in Philadelphia. There have been several discussions among the board members and relevant committee chairs regarding how best to ensure that the values of the ANA and the importance of our efforts with Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-racism, Social Justice (IDEAS) Committee programs and Annual Meeting Programming (AMP) committee are not compromised. It is also important to note that decisions regarding the location of our annual meetings are made and venue contracts are signed 2 to 3 years in advance. The Association cannot move the 2024 meeting. It would be impossible to find an alternative venue at this late date and we would incur significant financial penalties if we canceled our contracts. Were we to cancel the meeting, it would only hurt the ANA, the pre-meeting symposia (K awardees and Research Reimagined (RCR) sessions) as well as the local community, not the state of Florida. With all this in mind, we will proceed with hosting ANA2024 in Orlando.
Please keep in mind that Orlando is among the most inclusive, diverse, and liberal locations in the state of Florida (that is evidenced by the fact that largest employer in the state, Disney, is often at odds with the political winds). There are many hundreds of medical students, neurology department faculty and physician scientists in the state deserving of our support. We would be far more effective as advocates for their committed service to diversity and inclusion in our profession and to the communities that they serve. There is a very large LGBTQ community in Orlando and Tampa, not to mention Miami. We are in conversation with the forming Local Arrangements Subcommittee, made up of our Florida members to determine what they may find most helpful. We are working together to devise a plan that is firmly assertive and that supports our local ANA colleagues and constituents. We will be seeking input from our members, and we hope you will ultimately be able to join us next year for what promises to be another amazing meeting. Part of our preparations for ANA2024 include the current Call for Special Interest Group (SIG) vice chairs. The Annual Meeting Programming (AMP) Committee is seeking nominations for SIG vice chairs for ANA2024. The ANA SIG vice chairs collaborate with SIG chairs to organize and moderate their respective sessions during the annual meeting. The vice chair will serve as the SIG chair for the following year's meeting. Vice chairs are selected and approved by the voting members of the AMP Committee. The deadline to submit nominations is Tuesday, October 31, 2023.
ANA2023 | Post-Meeting Details We enjoyed a fabulous meeting in Philadelphia last month with one of the highest number of registered attendees on record. In case you were not able to join us or if you wish to continue enjoying some of the meeting, the ANA2023 Meeting Recordings package is available. This year's package includes recordings of the six main symposia. For members or non-members who did not purchase a full meeting package, the meeting recordings are available for purchase. Members may purchase the package for $50, and non-members may purchase the package for $99. If you haven’t already done so, please be sure to provide evaluation information about ANA2023. To complete the evaluation and claim CME, please navigate to ANA's OnDEC system. Be sure to complete the meeting evaluation on or before November 3, and you will be automatically entered to win a $100 Starbucks gift card! Note, you must claim CME for ANA2023 before December 31, 2023. Looking Ahead The holiday season will soon be upon marking the end of 2023. As we approach the end of another calendar year, the ANA will be launching its membership renewal cycle for 2024. I encourage you to renew your membership so you can continue enjoying the benefits of knowledge, connection, research, and professional development. There are so many reasons to belong to the ANA, and below are what we consider the top five reasons to join or renew. Encourage your colleagues and individuals in your network to join if they are not currently members of the ANA. We want to be an organization with a diverse membership representing the breadth and depth of academic neurology.
I am so glad to be part of the ANA, and I hope you also find value in being a member. Please take advantage of everything the ANA has to offer to support you in your work, professional growth, and personal success.
Sincerely,
M. Elizabeth Ross, MD, PhD, FANA President, ANA Nathan Cummings Professor and Head, Laboratory of Neurogenetics and Development Director, Center for Neurogenetics Weill Cornell Medicine |
