Colleagues, I joined the Biden Administration three months ago as Director, Agency for. Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). It has been many years since I have been to the ARM while I served as RWJF Professor of Family & Community Medicine and Economics and founding Executive Director of the RWJF Center for Health Policy at the University of New Mexico. So, I am looking forward to seeing old friends and colleagues and meeting new colleagues at this year's ARM in Washington, D.C. I look forward to meeting many of you at the AHRQ booth and conference events. I look forward to learning what healthcare professionals and health policy analysts think and what actions we must take to turn our violent society around so that the daily carnage in our neighborhoods and schools stops. We must all do our part. It is way past time for us to act. Healthcare professionals address these traumas daily along with fighting the COVID pandemic and its persistent effects on patients, healthcare workers, and healthcare systems. Now is the time for action. Wishing you safe and uncomplicated travels! The excitement begins.
Submitted by
Robert Valdez
on Thursday, June 2nd, 2022 at 7:54 am
Next month, AcademyHealth will host the first in-person Annual Research Meeting (ARM) since 2019. Attendees will spend four days, June 4-7, learning about the latest in health services research and connecting with a diverse group of stakeholders and experts at the intersection of health, health care, and policy. Whether this is your first ARM or your first in a while, we want to ensure that attendees know what to expect on site, including tips to navigate our packed agenda, options for networking activities, and more.
Navigating the Agenda
One of the most significant changes to this year’s agenda is that ARM will begin on a Saturday. We’ve added an extra day to cover as many timely, important topics as possible for our audiences. Highlights from our agenda include a Fireside Chat on wellbeing as a systemic issue with United States Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, a plenary session on funding and sustaining a diverse and inclusive workforce, and a special session on telemedicine as a standard of care.
An Agenda at a Glance is available on our website, as well as a full online agenda. The online agenda allows you to search for content by day, theme, session type, and speakers. Take advantage of this tool and start mapping out your ARM experience now!
Go Beyond the Plenary Sessions
There are a variety of exciting activities and events happening at ARM beyond plenaries and breakout sessions. Here are some boxes to check while you’re at ARM:
Visit the AcademyHealth booth! The booth will be located in Exhibit Hall E in the Washington Convention Center. The booth hours are Sunday, June 5 from 9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. and Monday, June 6 from 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Stop by the booth to learn more about AcademyHealth, meet staff members, and pick up some swag. The booth will also have a photobooth opportunity, so bring your friends. Stay tuned for more information about meet and greet opportunities, including a meet-up for Twitter users (a tweet-up!).
Register for a pre-conference event! This year we are offering two pre-conference events; a workshop on embedded pragmatic clinical trials (ePCTs) and an event hosted by the Interdisciplinary Research Group on Nursing Issues (IRGNI) on topics relevant to nursing. Pre-conference events require separate registration from the main meeting, and we ask that you register ahead of time. You are welcome to register for a pre-conference event regardless of whether you plan to attend the main meeting. Please visit our pre-conference page for more information.
Attend a networking event! There will be several opportunities throughout the conference to network and connect with other attendees and speakers, including:
- Informal coffee chats led by co-facilitators on Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday morning
- Themed networking pods
- The Chat Corner
- A “Continue the Conversation” Theater for Q&A with select speakers
- And more!
More information including time and location is forthcoming for these events. Please make sure to check the online agenda for updates.
Those looking for an opportunity to connect with colleagues working in health policy contract research are encouraged to attend the Contractors Networking Breakfast and the Contract Researcher Job Fair. These events are free and open to anyone registered for ARM. To learn more about the role of contract research in health policy, check out this recent AcademyHealth blog post. Please visit our adjunct events page for more information about these events.
Safety and Location Logistics
AcademyHealth has put numerous health and safety protocols into place for the ARM. Those who attended the 2022 Health Datapalooza and National Health Policy Conference will be familiar with our vaccine, masking, and social distance-related policies. These protocols reflect the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and World Health Organization guidelines, as well as industry best practices. All attendees, staff, and contractors must be fully vaccinated two weeks prior to the meeting date to participate. Verification of vaccination status will be conducted via the CLEAR app. Face masks are required for all indoor activities at the conference, except while actively eating and drinking. Please visit our health and safety protocols page for more information.
The 2022 ARM will be held at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. This will be an exciting time to be in D.C. as there are several other events happening near the conference venue and hotel. In addition to ARM, the Convention Center will be hosting another large event, so make sure to book your room as soon as possible. ARM attendees must use the L street entrance to the Convention Center.
We are excited to bring everyone back together in-person once again. Over the years, ARM has become a well-known gathering place and forum to discuss critical and emerging issues in health services research, health policy, and health care. We are thrilled to finally be convening in-person, and we look forward to seeing you there.
Looking for guidance on how to ease back into in-person meetings? Take a look at our tip sheet.