On behalf of the Board of Directors of the National AHEC Organization, the Planning Committee for the 2018 Conference invites you to submit a proposal for a presentation during the upcoming conference scheduled for July 8-11, 2018, in Washington, DC.

The conference theme for 2018 is AHEC on the Hill:  Diversity, Distribution and Practice Transformation. The goals of the conference are 1) to provide practical skills and information to implement or improve AHEC-sponsored programs; 2) to enhance the professional development of AHEC directors, staff and board members, and 3) to enable participants to develop new approaches that advance the AHEC mission.

Submission timeline:
  • Submission deadline January 19, 2018 11:59 p.m. EST
  • Notification on or before March 9, 2018
  • Acceptance Deadline March 16, 2018
  • Presentation slides due on or before June 1, 2018
PRESENTATION FOCUS AREAS

In planning your session, please emphasize one or more of the focus areas as applicable.  Below are some examples of presentation topics that might fall under each of these focus areas (this is by no means meant to be a comprehensive list of topics). 

Diversity:  Health Disparities and Inequities; Students in Rural America; Teaching Social Determinants of Health; Implicit Bias in Medicine

Distribution: Successful Pipeline Program and Recruitment Models; Addressing Critical Workforce Shortages; IPE Initiatives in Underserved/ HPSA Areas

Practice Transformation: Utilizing Technology to Improve Outcomes; Reducing Barriers to Equitable Care; Involving HP Students in Quality Improvement Projects

AHEC Fundamentals and Operations: Innovations and/or Best Practices; Entrepreneurship; Board Development; Data Management and Security; Contract Negotiations 

Click here to view a longer list of potential topics
GENERAL SUBMISSION GUIDELINES

  1. Presentation proposals will be submitted online and must be complete. Incomplete submissions will not be reviewed. Click here to create an account or to login and submit an abstract.

  2. You will need to submit the following:
    (a) Three measurable learning objectives
    (b) A 300 word (maximum) summary of your presentation
    (c) 2-4 current bibliographic references that relate to your topic
    (d) A brief bio for each speaker

  3. Separate submissions must be made for each presentation you wish to present.

  4. If you want to alter some other details once you have submitted a presentation proposal, do not submit the proposal again. Click here to log in with your proposal ID and password you selected when you first submitted your presentation proposal. You can only make changes to your presentation if you originally clicked "Save and Continue Later". If you clicked "Save and Submit" then the proposal is locked from editing. After that you can only make changes by totally resubmitting.

  5. Letters of confirmation will be emailed on or before March 9, 2018.

  6. If you are selected as a presenter, an electronic copy of your handouts is due no later than June 1, 2018.  

  7. Conference presentations should not be used solely to market products or services. 

  8. Standard audio/visual equipment provided by the NAO includes a computer for PowerPoint presentations, LCD projector, screen, and a lectern with hardwired lectern microphone. An internet connection will also be available in the breakout rooms.

  9. Presenters will be required to register for the conference at the standard conference registration rate and are responsible for all travel expenses related to attendance.

  10. IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that while you are entering the proposal information into the online submission system, DO NOT use the “back” button of your internet browser. You will need to click "Save & Continue Later" if you need to leave the submission application page. Also, if for any reason, you feel you may need to return to your abstract to make any changes at a later time, please click "Save & Continue Later". Be sure to make any changes prior to the deadline date of January 19, 2018 and click "Save and Submit".

  11. For technical assistance, please email us at NationalAHEC@conferencedirect.com. For all other inquiries please email conference@nationalahec.org.
SUBMISSION CATEGORIES

Oral Presentations
Presenters may elect to conduct either a single session (one hour and 15 minutes in length including10 minutes for Q&A) or may opt for double sessions (back-to-back one hour and 15 minute sessions) for topics that require additional time for task completion or that contain a skills-development component.

  • Single Sessions provide a forum in which a new concept or review and reworking of an established idea can be presented, demonstrated, and discussed to enable the participants to assimilate the concept into their work. Single Session presentations may be conducted by an individual or may include the collaboration of multiple AHECs or disciplines. Typically more didactic in nature, opportunities for participants to ask questions and engage in dialogue with Single Session presenters are encouraged.
  • Double Sessions provide a task-oriented, small group educational experience directed toward the understanding and acquisition of specific knowledge, skills, and/or attitudes. These sessions should accomplish specific learning objectives designed to provide participants with increased competence in some area related to the AHEC mission. Double Sessions should include opportunities for practice and feedback. When this is not possible, Double Sessions must include time to discuss how skills can be applied in the participants’ work settings. 

 Posters
Poster Presentations provide a brief overview of an existing program or intervention with information on how to implement the program and measure its impact. Posters must be printed by the presenter in a 36x48 inch poster format that will be mounted for viewing with the presenter present at the viewing/judging session on Sunday, July 8, from 5:00-7:00 p.m.

PLEASE NOTE: The Conference Program Committee may wish to combine two or more single-session proposals into a combined multi-presenter panel with 2-3 presentations on similar topics given in the space of a single shared session. Presenters will be informed if this is the case at the time they are notified of acceptance and given the option to decline.