New Heights for APS
The brand-new American Physiology Summit aims to wow physiologists with sessions and
professional development opportunities.
By Glenn Cook
The first-ever American Physiology Summit, which will be held April 20–23 in Long Beach, California, promises to be the premiere event for researchers exploring the science behind some of the most important questions that impact life and health.
Kirsteen Browning, PhD, chair of the APS Program Working Group, which is responsible for developing the Summit’s scientific program, says the meeting will focus on breaking down siloes and encouraging cross-disciplinary science. More than 80 foundational science sessions and eight exclusive game-changer sessions are planned for attendees who work, learn and teach in the biomedical sciences.
“We want people to come together with an interest across topics and hope you will focus on your own science by looking at it in a new light,” says Browning, a professor at Penn State College of Medicine. “We’re really looking at the breadth of the science and touching on topics that you may not normally expect at this type of meeting. Hopefully, we can bring physiology to a new audience.”
Meeghan De Cagna, MSc, CAE, APS chief community and learning officer, says, “the sheer scope of the science we are covering is incredibly impressive. Our scientific programming team has painstakingly designed content for the most senior and experienced investigators, as well as those just beginning their career.”
Each attendee should leave the Summit inspired by their chosen specialty, the discipline of physiology—and feel connected to their new network of peers and mentors, De Cagna says. “So many of our members call APS their scientific home, and that feeling and that loyalty begins at the Summit.
How to Build Your Summit Schedule
The prospect of attending a large in-person conference can be intimidating, especially for first-timers, but planning ahead and being flexible on-site can help you make the most of the experience.
Gabrielle Dillon, PhD, a postdoctoral fellow at the Mayo Clinic, says preparing a list of sessions and events you want to attend before the conference starts can prevent you from becoming overwhelmed or stressed. On-site, you should review the next day’s schedule each evening and make any tweaks necessary.
“Accept the fact that you are not going to make it to every single event,” Dillon says. “Make note of the talks and events that most excite you and plan your daily schedule around those.”
Additional Tips:
- Download the APS mobile app to plan your schedule.
- Talk to an adviser/mentor before the conference to get suggestions about sessions and networking events to attend.
- Before the conference starts, identify people you are interested in meeting. Look up their papers and visit their lab websites to have talking points and questions ready when you meet them.
- If more than one person from your department or lab is attending, prepare to divide and conquer. Review your schedules together so you can plan to go to different sessions and share notes.
- Self-care is critical. Be prepared for long days, with early mornings and late nights. Wear comfortable shoes, carry a water bottle and get to bed at a decent hour.
“Working closely with the scientists has been a true labor of love for all of us who have been deeply involved, De Cagna says. “I think our attendees are most excited about the eight game-changer sessions and the PhysioHub.” The game changers feature critical topics in science like healthy aging, the effects of long COVID, climate change, engineering cells, science misinformation and more, while the PhysioHub is an innovative space designed to engage attendees and build community.”
Kathy Lovato, APS director of scientific meetings and events, says holding the in-person conference is important after years of Zoom meetings due to the pandemic. While online learning is great for a one-hour webinar, it’s not the same when you’re participating in a four-day meeting.
Your Post-Summit Debrief
Whether you’re attending the American Physiology Summit solo or as part of a group, be prepared to share what you’ve learned with your colleagues
after the conference ends.
Tracy Baynard, PhD, professor at UMass Boston, says attendees should plan for debriefs with their entire lab group and with their mentors one-on-one following the Summit. Those debriefs will be valuable, especially if you aren’t afraid to challenge yourself professionally during and after the conference, she says.
For many attendees, the biggest challenge will be how you communicate with colleagues about what you learned, Baynard says. Start by being prepared for questions, such as:
- Why did a presentation or poster really stick with you?
- What about the presenter’s style made it easy to take in or difficult to appreciate or understand?
- What did you learn from the networking sessions?
- Did you visit with exhibitors? Are there new products or services that would be good additions to your lab?
“Many times this professional challenge comes in the form of communicating with our colleagues in one shape or another,” Baynard says. “Everyone should have an opportunity to share what they learned, liked, didn’t like, and have meaningful conversations. These things will make you a better communicator faster if you pay attention to them.”
“I think we all have Zoom fatigue and yearn for human connection,” Lovato says. “Networking is more fun when you can speak with a researcher directly and engage in their poster rather than view a static image online. Virtual meetings cannot substitute for standing in a coffee line and realizing you and the person in front of you both trained in the same lab. Those magical moments that happen at meetings cannot be replicated in a virtual environment.”
Lovato says attendees need to plan and tailor their schedules in advance because sessions at a meeting this large inevitably overlap and there’s always the potential for information overload. She also encourages attendees to pre-determine who to engage with during the various networking sessions.
How to Overcome the Networking Jitters
Attendees get the most out of professional development conferences when they attend interesting sessions and take part in valuable networking opportunities.
“Networking is really important, especially for trainees, but across all career stages,” says Kirsteen Browning, PhD, professor at Penn State College of Medicine. “This may be one of the few opportunities you have to meet the people in the research and science community who are of great relevance to you.”
But networking does not come naturally to everyone. “Networking jitters are real and you’re not alone,” says Tracy Baynard, PhD, professor at UMass Boston. “This is one of the reasons why I so enjoy connecting folks together at conferences. I know how hard it can be but how important it is for one’s development.”
Some tips to make your networking experience a good one:
Before the Summit
- Identify people you are interested in meeting, do some research on their work and visit their website.
- Prepare a few questions and talking points for when you meet them.
- Practice your introduction.
At the Summit
- Be yourself. Remember: Everyone was in your shoes at some point.
- Attend the networking events, including the morning coffee gatherings, poster receptions and the Trainee Bash.
- Don’t be afraid to have fun while remaining professional.
- Connect with others via social media and post before, during and after the conference using the Summit’s hashtags (#APS2023, #MeetMeAtTheSummit).
“We’re releasing the Summit mobile app on April 3,” De Cagna says. “We encourage attendees to spend time in the app, planning your schedule, making appointments, viewing science content, creating your profile and connecting with others. Preparing ahead of time will help you to acclimate easier. When we hit go on April 20 at 4 p.m., we’re off the races!”
While APS is putting resources into building a robust mobile app, Lovato hopes attendees will enjoy Long Beach and its many museums and restaurants and vibrant shopping scene, which is within walking distance of the convention center.
“The days can be long, but they are so fulfilling,” Lovato says. “You will never regret the decision to invest in your professional development.”
This article was originally published in the March 2023 issue of The Physiologist Magazine.
“We’re really looking at the breadth of the science and touching on topics that you may not normally expect at this type of meeting. Hopefully, we can bring physiology to a new audience.”
Kirsteen Browning, PhD
The Physiologist Magazine
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“Virtual meetings cannot substitute for standing in a coffee line and realizing you and the person in front of you both trained in the same lab. Those magical moments that happen at meetings cannot be replicated in a virtual environment.”
Kathy Lovato, APS director of scientific meetings and events
Are Business Cards Still Useful?
Bringing a stack of business cards with you to a large conference may seem outdated in the digital age, but they are still the quickest and simplest way to share your contact information when you’re making a first impression in a face-to-face environment.
A business card with your relevant information—name, job title, phone number, email address and website, and ways to connect on social media—is an entry point, a physical reminder of who you are and what you discussed.
Many physical business cards are now printed with QR codes that can be scanned by a smartphone or tablet that sends a person to your website. If you have a card with an NFC (near field communication) microchip, a person can access your website or app simply by placing their device near it.
Speaking of apps, a host of digital business cards can be found in the App Store and Google Play. Adding basic information is generally free, but you can pay for add-ons such as the ability to embed YouTube videos or attach PDFs and PowerPoint presentations. Many of the apps also allow you to scan a physical business card to digitize the contact’s information.
Make the Most of PhysioHub
If you are looking for career and professional development that is not directly related to foundational science, the PhysioHub is the place to be in the Long Beach Convention Center.
An innovative space for scientific exchange and networking, the PhysioHub is the “heartbeat of the meeting,” says Kathy Lovato, APS director of scientific meetings and events. Those who visit the hub will find:
- Scientific posters
- Networking lounges
- Industry partners
- A community service project
- Technology product theaters
Four stages showcasing scientific and career programming, including information on publishing your research The PhysioHub will also offer a Career Showcase that will focus on nonacademic and nontraditional careers, showing how you can use a physiology degree outside the research and teaching arena. Scientific publishing sessions will focus on the peer review process, ethics, rigor and reproducibility, and promoting your research.