This past week, I was elated to keep the appointment I scheduled with myself and the iPad to start planning my Annual Meeting experience!

Yes, I would like to emphasize that I am starting to plan as this is indeed an elaborate process, and I have to say I do get quite a bit of mileage out of the ePlanner. My itinerary is essentially double- and triple-booked for many time slots as there is just so much to do and see and learn and experience at the Annual Meeting.

I’ll be honest and say that while I generally like to plan everything out to the nth degree, too much planning can be a bit stifling so I don’t always know which of the two or three sessions I have on my itinerary I will actually attend—I let the spontaneity of the moment guide the final choice. And I rest assured because I will pick up any sessions I may miss with the Virtual Meeting tool.

While there are many sessions that I am looking forward to, I thought I would highlight a few:

• Clinical Care in Oncology for the Advanced Practice Provider pre-Annual Meeting Seminar. ASCO, the Association of Physician Assistants in Oncology, and the Oncology Nursing Society are co-sponsoring this event, which offers Physician Assistants and Nurse Practitioners an opportunity to come together to discuss progress in the treatment of breast, lung, colon, and prostate cancers; treatment strategies for multiple myeloma, AML in older adults, and MDS; communication techniques for difficult conversations; and key points about targeted therapies.
  
  
• Education sessions related to the ASCO Top Five List and the Cost of Cancer Care. These sessions provide the opportunity for us to expand our knowledge of these pressing issues and how to address them.
  
  There is a notable eSeminar on this topic as well and a chance to share your thoughts through a survey.
  
  
• Addressing the Imbalance of Supply and Demand: Integrating Advanced Practice Providers into Survivorship Care. Thankfully, the number of survivors of cancer is growing. With the looming workforce shortage, how can advanced practice providers contribute to the longitudinal care of cancer survivors?
  
  And on the topic of survivorship, be sure to check out the invaluable information in the Focus Under Forty curriculum on ASCO University.
  
  
• Plenary Session: Always compelling and cutting edge and always a “must attend” event!
  
  
• Social Media in Oncology for Education and Patient Engagement. Social media is such a hot topic, and I appreciate that there will be a session to address what tools are out there and ways they might be used in our practice.
  
  
• Physician Wellness: Coping with Repetitive Loss and Work-Related Stress. I am very much appreciative of education sessions that address this topic and discuss strategies for self-care.
  
  
• When Cancer Becomes Personal: The Physician’s View of Patient Care. How can the perspective from the other side of the stethoscope improve the way we care for our patients?

Okay, I shared more than just a few sessions of interest but that is truly the excitement of the Annual Meeting: there is an abundance of remarkable learning opportunities for all.

Enjoy planning your path, and may you be inspired by the many offerings at this year’s Annual Meeting!

As a postscript, I highly recommend checking out the 2012 ASCO Annual Meeting iPlanner mobile app!