If you’ve taken a look at our website or socials, you know that SciGen has a long and cherished history of cooperation with the American Society of Anesthesiologists. In this blog post, we’ll look at all the developments and changes to the ASA’s poster program through the years, to give you a better idea of the wide range of capabilities of eposters and how they can be used to transform any scientific meeting, large or small.
ePosters, 2012 to Today
Back in 2012, the ASA realized the benefits of eposters and decided to take the leap from printed posters to digital. That year, they worked with us to organize a pilot e-poster session for a fraction of the selected abstracts. Because of its success, ASA converted all poster sessions to electronic poster sessions going forward.
For the rest of the history, we’ll quote our interview with Rachel, ASA Senior Education Programs Specialist:
In subsequent years, the ASA added Abstract Group Discussion sessions and Young Investigator sessions, which were a hybrid of electronic poster and slide presentation sessions to the program. ASA also launched the Medically Challenging Case electronic poster program and in more recent years added the Global Scholars and Quality Improvement Project ePoster programs. SciGen has developed new technologies that ASA is fortunate to utilize, including a robust ePoster OnDemand system which allows attendees to view the electronic poster presentations prior to, during, and even after the meetings. SciGen has always ensured the success of all of ASA’s electronic poster programs and since 2020 has taken on the management of the now virtual scientific oral/slide session program.
To-date, ePostersLive has hosted tens of thousands of ePosters for the ASA’s annual event, with the highest number being over 3,000 posters in a single year. Today the conference has five different and simultaneous modes of poster presentation: time-scheduled posters, timed eAbstract sessions, podium oral presentations, eAbstracts on demand, and virtual oral sessions. Here is an overview of all five presentation modes:
- Fully Automatic Time-scheduled ePoster Sessions
These posters are on an automated schedule to ensure all presenters get equal live presentation and Q&A time. There are two main categories, Medically Challenging Cases (MCCs) and Quality Improvement Projects. With the presence of two moderators per presentation, these are the most well-attended sessions.
- Presentation of eAbstracts in Timed Sessions Handled by a User
These sessions take place on discussion monitors where all the participants and presenters are gathered, boosting interactivity and engagement.
- Podium Oral Presentation Sessions
These sessions take place in separate rooms and only include a low number of posters. Presenters take turns on the podium with plenty of time available for extensive discussion and interaction.
- eAbstracts on Demand
Photo from ANESTHESIOLOGY 2021
There are several locations within the venue with laptops available for on-demand use of the eAbstract system, including presentation details.
- Virtual Oral Presentation Sessions
These are online sessions for abstracts accepted as oral presentations. Using an advanced, hybrid model of presentation, authors and participants from all around the world join a virtual environment to watch and interact with each other.
These various modules were adapted from years of experience and listening closely to the needs of organizers and attendees. When the pandemic hit, we took things fully virtual so that the conference could still happen online. Since 2020, we have worked with the ASA to bring back most elements to the in-person event while keeping the virtual pieces that worked well. The result is a hybrid event that is both more accessible and has greater, longer-lasting impact.
Live ePoster Support
Each year, ePostersLive also provides in-person and remote support as attendees enjoy electronic poster viewing and more recent features, like the Oral/Slide Presentations. Getting to travel to attend the ANESTHESIOLOGY Annual Conference onsite is a highlight!
Photo from ANESTHESIOLOGY 2022
Through the evolution of eposters in collaboration with the American Society of Anesthesiologists, we've witnessed the remarkable transformation of a scientific meeting. From the pioneering leap into digital posters in 2012 to the diverse modes of poster presentation used today, the ASA's commitment to innovation has been unwavering. Through our partnership, we've seen eposters become a dynamic tool for knowledge dissemination, engagement, and scholarly communication in the field of anesthesiology.
We are really looking forward to seeing everyone next month at ANESTHESIOLOGY 2023 in San Francisco. Best of luck to all submitting authors and presenters–we’re proud to promote your important research and thank you for working with us.
Have questions about how we can support your meeting? Want to know what we would suggest based on your event parameters? Send an email to [email protected] or book a call with us.