Friday, October 16, 2009
Rheumatology: Ill-advised session titles
Another conference, another edition of Ill-advised Session Titles. The American College of Rheumatology is meeting in Philadelphia next week and we will bring you some serious news from there. But first, some semi-funny titles. (Not to start a turf war or anything, but rheumatologists just don't seem to be as creative as the medical group managers.)
We've got some metaphors: "Getting a Grip on Arthritis" and "Tip-Toeing Around Arthritis and Foot Pain" and one movie reference: "Something's Gotta Give: Couples Coping with Chronic Pain." I know, not very hilarious.
The sad thing is that rheumatology has lots of potential. Take this session, for example: "The Effect of an Iyengar Yoga Program to Minimize Falls and Build Balance Confidence, Postural Stability and Improved Gait in Women Between Ages 60 and 75." How much more likely would you be to attend if it were called "Downward dog for dowagers" or "Say 'Om,' Grandma"?
Labels: Ill-advised session titles, rheumatology
posted by Stacey Butterfield at
9:00 AM
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Friday, October 9, 2009
MGMA: Ill-advised session titles
I'll be blogging from the annual conference of the Medical Group Management Association next week, so it's time for another edition of Ill-advised Session Titles.
After years of study, it has become clear that there are certain best practices for attracting potential attendees' attention. First, resist the impulse to explain your catchy title with a subtitle.
For example, MGMA's "Can't We All Just Get Along? Successful Conflict Management Strategies" is eye-catching, but you can also guess pretty well what the session will entail. How much more intriguing are these sessions?
"Can We Talk?"
"Why People Do What They Do"
"Not All Patients Are Created Equal" and last but certainly not least,
"Execute for Results!" (Who or what are we executing? Aren't you dying to know the results?)
There's also something appealing about undercutting your topic in the title, as evidenced by these two sessions: "Successful Transition to a Hospital-Employed Practice Model (While Maybe Keeping Your Job)" and "Hospital Employment for Radiology: Maybe Not as Bad as You Think." (It's perhaps not coincidental that these sessions deal with the same issue.)
And finally, this session wins our award for best visual image: "Help Your Physicians Wear Their Many Hats." Fedoras, bowlers, ski caps?
Labels: Ill-advised session titles, MGMA conference
posted by Stacey Butterfield at
9:00 AM
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Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Digging for fun in the scientific program
With Internal Medicine 2009 less than a week away, it's time for another edition of "Ill-advised Session Titles." We are disappointed to report that ACP presenters are unusually matter-of-fact in their session-naming. Still, there are some awards to be distributed.
Best pun: Shocking Developments in Resuscitation
Most likely to be a spam email: How to Live (and Want) to Be 100!
Most likely to be a cable show: The V Words
Best session for the whole family: Adventures in Liver Land
Best follow-up to the above: Adults Beware! Children Are in the Building
And finally, the grand prize goes to the session that makes us nervous about wandering the halls here at headquarters: Anorectal Disorders Encountered in the Office Setting
Labels: Ill-advised session titles, internal medicine 2009
posted by Stacey Butterfield at
4:29 PM
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Monday, October 20, 2008
One more ill-advised session title
I'll be blogging from the annual meeting of the American College of Rheumatology next week, and for the most part, their session titles are depressingly matter-of-fact. "Translating Rheumoatoid Arthritis Treatment Guidelines into Quality Measures" and that sort of thing.
Some of them are intimidatingly specific: "Elevated Production of Interleukin 1β (IL-1β) and Tumor Necrosis Factor α (TNF-α) by Perpheral Blood Mononuclear Cells (PBMC) is Associated With Increased Hip Fracture Risk in Elders: The Framingham Osteoporosis Study."
But only this one caught my eye for sheer weirdness of imagery: "Preserving the Beans and Other Points in the Evaluation and Management of Chronic Kidney Disease." Yum.
Labels: Ill-advised session titles, rheumatology
posted by Stacey Butterfield at
2:57 PM
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Ill-advised session titles
In perusing the online schedule for the Chest 2008 conference (Oct. 25-30 in Philly), I've discovered an atypical attention to alliteration. Here are the titles of three sessions in a row:
Peculiar Pleural Problems
Perplexing Pulmonary Pressures
Propitious Pleural Problems
"Propitious?" Holy 800 SAT Verbal!
Then the next day we have these:
Pulmonary Puzzlers
Miscellaneous Mish Mash
Capricious Cancer Cases
Followed by:
Extraordinary Endobrachial
Malevolent Mestastacies
Wild ILD
and
Freakish Fevers
Speaking of freakish, how about this title:
"Surgeons: 6, Mortality: 0".
I, for one, am intrigued.
Then we have those titles that fall into the category of overly-sweeping and grandiose. Like this one:
"Women and Tobacco: A lesson for mankind"
Finally, there is an event called "Asthma Bingo" in the exhibit hall, with the prize being a free CPAP machine. (just kidding. The prize is a laptop.) Instead of numbers, do they shout out allergens? ("B- Dander!" "G-Pollen!")
I can't wait to find out.
Labels: Ill-advised session titles
posted by Jessica Berthold at
9:00 AM
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Monday, September 1, 2008
It's that time again
After the traditional summer slowdown, conference season is about to get underway, and that means it is once again time for...Ill-advised Session Titles. Here are a few treasures from the Medical Group Management Association, whose annual meeting I'll be blogging from Oct. 20-22.
"The Ring in the Rubble: Dig Through Change and Find Your Next Golden Opportunity" People, how many times do we have to tell you that metaphors are like fudge--a little bit is amazing, but a lot is unhealthy and nauseating?
"How to Get Your Front End to Meet Your Back End" What do you bet several attendees arrive with absolutely the wrong idea in mind? This is a business seminar!
"I Hate to Wait!" Fair enough, but I'd better not have to sit around while you fiddle with your PowerPoint.
and our nominee for Excessively-Wordy-But-Can't-Miss-Session-Title, "Our Physicians Make More Money, Go Home on Time and Provide Better Care".
Labels: Ill-advised session titles, MGMA conference
posted by Stacey Butterfield at
12:00 PM
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Sunday, June 15, 2008
Endo 08: Ill-advised session titles
I'm at the Endo '08 conference in San Francisco this week, which means it's time for another round of Ill-Advised Conference Session Titles. Without further ado:
Female Reproduction: Follicle follies in the ovary
Male Sexual function: Turning it on, off and keeping it alive
and my favorite:
The Thyroid & the Heart: A Lifelong Intimate Relationship.
...Feel free to vote on your favorite!
Labels: Endo 08 news, Ill-advised session titles
posted by Jessica Berthold at
11:00 AM
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Thursday, May 15, 2008
When adjectives attack
We go to a lot of medical conferences, and have noticed that some folks like to snazz up their session titles. The effort is valiant, but at times, overreaching. As such, we thought it apt to institute an occasional feature called "Ill-Advised Session Titles." Please feel free to submit your own from any conferences you attend.
IM '08 turns out to have a small selection. We found two:
"Irritable Bowel Syndrome: What's hot and what's not"
"Sailing out of the doldrums towards effectiveness and meaning"
Let us know if we missed any...
Labels: Ill-advised session titles
posted by Jessica Berthold at
10:34 AM
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