The 3rd Annual FOCUS Conference

Naomi Judd, RN

Here’s a simple recipe for a fantastic conference. Take 42 of the nation’s finest speakers lecturing in seven different tracks, throw in four bonus workshops, mix with a fascinating keynote speaker, fold in three free meals, whip up the event with an incredible opening reception featuring free food and live music, add two free Happy Hours and a “Who Wants To Be a Respiratory Care Thousandaire” game, and you have a dish that more than 2,500 of your colleagues have already enjoyed. The 3rd Annual FOCUS on Respiratory Care & Sleep Medicine Conference will be held on April 10-12, 2003, at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, Tenn.

George Burton, MD John Marini, MD Bob Kacmarek, PhD, RRT William Orr, MD James Stoller, MD Tim Opt’Holt, EdD, RRT Ken Wyka, RRT, MS Paul Mathews, PhD, RRT William Dement, MD

Focus Publications, publishers of FOCUS Journal for Respiratory Care & Sleep Medicine, is the master chef of this conference, and with two successful meetings under its belt, there is no doubt they have raised the bar. Indeed, the most often heard comment from past attendees has been, “This is an incredible conference and a heck of a value. How are they going to top this next year?”

Conference chairman Bob Miglino, RRT, MPS, sets the stage to do just that and with a package that is $100 less than the average fee for national conferences of this type. Two thousand respiratory care practitioners, sleep technologists, nurses, and pulmonary physicians, all of whom can earn continuing education units (CEUs), are expected to converge in Nashville as the word continues to spread via those who have been astounded by the freshness, originality, and the affordability of the previous two FOCUS conferences.

A review of FOCUS’ agenda shows that another superb conference is on tap, and, as we have reported for 2 years now, it appears that affordability for attendees plays as important a role as excellent education does as the driving force of the conference. The registration fee ($225) is an excellent value, especially when considering what is included in the fee. Students pay only $200, and there is even a “significant other” fee of only $150.

“We mix an exceptional academic program with a lot of fun and then we do unprecedented negotiating legwork with the hotels, airlines, and our suppliers to arrive at a fee that takes into consideration the fact that people are not being reimbursed to attend conferences the way they used to be,” Miglino says. “Our speakers are tops in their fields and 16 CEUs are available for four different disciplines. We are particularly proud of our sleep track this year, which features William Dement, MD, Meir Kryger, MD, William Orr, MD, Sharon Keenan, PhD, and Mary Carskadon, PhD. There will also be a special Who Moved My Cheese workshop based on Spencer Johnson’s bestseller. We top off the conference by having not only country music star Naomi Judd (who is a registered nurse) as our keynote speaker, but also by attending the live Grand Ole Opry show,” Miglino adds.

This conference has it all and saves attendees money and time. For more information, visit www.foocus.com or call (800) 661-5690. RT will be there, so drop by booth #425 to say hi.