Learning to live with COVID-19 has shown the resiliency of our nation and our profession, and adapting to living in a world with this virus requires a tremendous amount of thought and consideration. This also applies to the way we approach professional gatherings, like our Annual Convention and Scientific Sessions. Last year we were able to successfully launch a fully virtual event, however, we missed the opportunity to reconnect with our colleagues in person, many of whom were deep in the fight against COVID and defenseless without a vaccine to protect us.

For this year’s Annual Convention, we are better prepared with most of the the medical community vaccinated against COVID-19. The ACOI is grateful for the opportunity to present a hybrid meeting featuring 28 hours of CME live on-site in Orlando, Florida, as well as a virtual event for those unable to travel, for a total of approximately 60 AOA Category 1A/AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.

We recognize that this has been a trying year for everyone, especially physicians, and we hope that many of you will use this time to reconnect with your colleagues and recharge with up-to-date clinical education. We know that this novel coronavirus will be with us for many years and we look to lead the way in a safe environment for our colleagues. We are very committed to safely holding this in-person medical conference and have worked very hard with our Marriott hosts to ensure this end. In doing so have worked to put the following guidelines in place:

• We ask all attendees to wear face masks for indoor activities and while in meeting spaces
• Meeting rooms will accommodate social distancing.
• ACOI encourages all attendees to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19
• All ACOI staff at convention will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19
• A commitment to extra sanitizing measures, especially in high-touch areas

For those of you unable to get away at this time, the 2021 Annual Convention virtual experience is an excellent opportunity to learn and network from home.

• All attendees (in-person and virtual) will have access to the full content of the Convention online.
• Events in Orlando will be livestreamed and recorded, and additional sessions will be available on-demand.
• We will have approximately 60 AOA Category 1A/AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™, available online through December 23, 2021.

As we recognize the losses of September 11th 20 years ago, and the difficulty many of us have faced throughout the pandemic, we are encouraged by the strength of all in this country to forge ahead and return to a life of human fulfillment and experiential grown. As venues and events open around the nation, we feel that it is important to also provide in-person events for medical professionals.

We hope you are able to join us in Orlando, Florida and look forward to seeing our friends and colleagues in this learning environment. We also look forward to reconnecting with those unable to travel virtually and hope you will be able to join us in some way this fall. I hope you take the time to register today!

As always, we thank you for your support of the ACOI and appreciate the opportunity to serve your profession.

Thank you,
Michael A. Adornetto, DO, MBA, FACOI
President