Attending EWC? Here’s What You Need to Know
In addition to celebrating its 30th conference (a monumental feat), this year’s Executive War College gathering will be the largest, most attended, and likely most consequential in years. Over 1,000 industry professionals are expected to attend, and no wonder: There will be critical sessions and panel discussions tackling how to make AI practical, our industry’s labor shortage, and even creating new sources of revenue.
Whether this is your 30th or your 1st, we did some homework for you to help plan for an exemplary, productive EWC experience that will send you home with a suitcase full of swag and a head bursting with new ideas.
- Early Check-in. On Monday, April 28th, get down to the Empire Foyer and register early. The table will open at 4:00 pm and the team signing in attendees will be there until 7:00 pm. This is much better than dealing with the inevitable long lines on Tuesday morning, at the start of the show. Besides, you don’t want to miss a minute of the …
- Get Acquainted Reception. The importance of this informal gathering cannot be overstated. We’re happy to say our business is still about people working together, and nothing beats the casual conversations that happen person-to-person, which often lead to professional partnerships and solutions. This networking event starts at 5:30 pm and goes until 7:30.
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Come place your bets Monday, April 29th, when we host Casino NIght 7 pm to 10 pm!
Casino Night. But wait, there’s more – starting at 7:00 pm in that same area is Casino Night. As a Benefactor and Partner of EWC, we are hosting a fun, networking-friendly opportunity. We are stationing 10 tables (black jack, craps, and roulette) with professional croupiers around the Empire Foyer, so we’re talking serious fun. All attendees get a ticket for $500 worth of chips, and those who sign up for a meeting with us get double that. To make it meaningful, we’re playing for three worthy charities. The top three winners of the night “cash out” and choose to donate to Americares, the NOLA-based Second Harvest Food Bank, or the Remote Area Medical (RAM) organization’s Virginia location that offers a free medical clinic. This goes until 10 pm – not too late so you are ready for the early morning benefactor sessions.
- Continental Breakfast. Get motivated to hit this free breakfast right when it opens, 7 am. Getting food when you’re hungry can be challenging in this town normally, so don’t miss a quick bite that offers another important opportunity to network. The Tuesday and Wednesday breakfasts are only a half hour, so plan accordingly.
- AI Sessions. There are eight sessions on this topic, but the one we’re excited about will skip the theoretical and get to the practical: Digital AI-Powered Labs: From Concept to Actionable Results. Featuring Eric Glassy (Providence Little Company of Mary Medical Center) and Lynn Brock (Chief Innovation Officer at Sagis Diagnostics), it’ll be moderated by our own Laurie Huard and will explore how AI, digital pathology, and innovative technologies can streamline your laboratory operations. You’ll come away knowing how to do more with less, increasing efficiency and thus profits by learning real-world solutions that you can implement. It happens Tuesday, April 29th, at 8:30 am at the Hyatt’s Foster 2 room.
- Keynote Speakers. The EWC always does a good job bringing in great keynote speakers, and this year is no exception. Starting Tuesday, April 29th, at 9:30 am, we have Robert Michel, editor-in-chief of the Dark Intelligence Group, kicking it off with “Healthcare at a Tipping Point: Why Lab Opportunities and Challenges in Coming Years Will Be Different Than Those of the Past 30 Years.” His annual state-of-the-industry talk is always a must-attend event. Another one we’re looking at is David Dexter, President/CEO of Sonora Quest Labs, speaking about “Harnessing Innovation” to engage vendors and deliver more value to doctors and patients; it happens at 11:05 on that Tuesday. On Wednesday at 11:20, Ted Schwab speaks on “Disruptive Change Ahead: What to Know about Healthcare Today and What’s Coming Next.” This is an especially anticipated talk as well.
- Grand Reception. Long ago the EWC hit upon a wise plan: Evening events piled with apps ending early enough to go to those important client dinners. Everything the planning team behind these conferences does is an effort to maximize networking opportunity, and this is one of the biggest ones, so be sure to stop by and strike up a conversation.
Of course there are many more great sessions and happenings over the three-day conference. We recommend spending some time on the section of the website and formalizing your plans on what best suits your needs and goals.
Personal Tips
We’ve been to quite a few of these and have learned a few things along the way.
- Pack well. Put some thought into it, and dress as comfortably as the “business-casual” unwritten rule allows. It’ll be in the mid-80s and New Orleans can already be a bit sticky in April. But often hotels crank up the A/C and err on the side of being cool in these rooms. One word: layers!
- Pace Yourself Professionally. Get a good night’s sleep, spend a few minutes with coffee getting your game face on, and hit the conference. There is inevitably a lull we feel in the afternoon from all the walking, talking, engaging, and thinking … know when to take a little break, even if it’s 10 minutes in a quiet spot off from the action.
- Pace Yourself Personally. We were recently discussing that many of us are hardworking, nose-to-the-grindstone folks not accustomed to being out in a city with a well-deserved reputation for partying, like New Orleans. And with the French Quarter a mere Mardi Gras beads’ throw away, definitely enjoy the music and the people watching, just pace yourself and stick to your plan of getting a good night’s sleep. Bonus tip: Maybe don’t drink anything that if its name were real, could kill you … the Hurricane … the Hand Grenade … and perhaps anything with the word “voodoo” in it.
A lot of ideas are exchanged – and business done – at the cocktail parties.
The Art of Networking
As if all these points weren’t enough, there are other practical reasons to come to New Orleans for this conference. Not enough can be said about the importance of networking. It’s always the spontaneous moments, that unplanned meeting, that serendipitous conversation, that end up being valuable.
It is understandable to want to sit with your team, or some old friend you talk to frequently. But we recommend using these many networking opportunities to get out and meet others, engaging in conversations you might not otherwise find yourself in. It’s been noted that the people attracted to this industry tend to be introverts by nature. But not only is this the most important gathering for our industry, it’s also the friendliest. After all, we are all united by a common goal: improving patient care. So even if it’s out of your comfort zone, get out there and strike up a conversation.
Don’t know where to start? How about visiting us in Room Strand 4, where movie-style popcorn awaits you. We’re looking forward to talking with you!
U.S. HealthTek has Strand 4 as a meeting room, and our panel discussion will be held in Foster 2. The Empire Foyer is where our Casino Night will be held!