How to get the most out of your conference experience

NP Spotlight

Throughout my time at The University of Georgia College of Pharmacy, my focus was predominately on upcoming exams and assignments, but my attention remained fixated on grades and student leadership responsibilities (as well as my post-graduation plans). Even in my student leadership roles, my concentration was solely on the next duty or event, neglecting professional activities beyond the comfort of campus. I have since realized that I wasted valuable opportunities by not engaging in the greater reach outside of university organizations. Although I attended conferences, it wasn’t until my final year that I began to establish new connections.

Now that I completed a residency at APhA and recently experienced the APhA Annual Meeting & Exposition as a staff member rather than as an attendee, I now better understand how you can maximize engagements at conferences and how to most effectively expand your network as a New Practitioner.

Take advantage of association engagement

During APhA2024 and other conferences I have attended, I observed that many New Practitioners still gravitate toward familiar faces rather than using the opportunities to broaden their network. I understand the anxiety associated with meeting new people and trying to make organic connections when there are hundreds of others around you.

However, joining associations and participating in meetings and conferences presents a significant opportunity for career development. One of the main purposes of associations is to serve as a means for pharmacists to interact and network. Therefore, neglecting these opportunities hinders a new professional from gaining the full potential of association engagement.

How to be an active participant

To extract the most from their membership, new professionals should avoid passive participation. Just joining an association without active participation in programming or meetings deprives members of the true benefit of the association. The first step to avoiding passive membership is attending events and meetings. Once you decide to attend a meeting, there is a list of things you should do to get all you can out of it.
Prior to attending the meeting, review the agenda to help find sessions that align with personal interests and goals. Additionally, you need to prepare a concise elevator pitch to help introduce yourself to new people and market yourself.

Once you arrive at the meeting, it can be comfortable to converse with familiar faces. However, I think it is a disservice to waste time only speaking to people already in your network. Actively seek to interact with speakers and other attendees to establish new connections.

Networking isn’t confined to just sessions. Exploring receptions and other activities outside panel presentations provides ample opportunities for in-depth conversation and solidifying connections. As a New Practitioner, you will be invited to many receptions or events happening “after hours” during meetings. Even if you are not specifically invited, plan to attend open receptions. Everyone remembers what it is like being a New Practitioner, and many people will be eager to help you make connections. You just need to know what you are looking for, so evaluate the receptions and events being held and make plans to attend them with the goal of meeting people who align with your future aspirations. Once you get to the reception, the rest will take care of itself.

Strengthen your new connections

The work doesn’t stop when the meeting is over. After meetings, follow-up with the other people you met through LinkedIn or email to help maintain and strengthen connections.
There is an old saying that states “It’s not what you know, it’s who you know.” Since graduation, I have seen this statement repeatedly proven to be true. Membership is what you make of it, so make sure you are using the opportunities afforded to you by associations. By building a diverse network, new professionals enhance their chances of discovering precisely what they seek in their careers and set up the path to achieve it.

Parth Patel, PharmD, is the APhA senior manager of student development in Washington, DC. He is passionate about mentoring and precepting the next generation of pharmacists, and helping them achieve their professional goals. He is also dedicated to serving underserved patient populations through his work in associations and community service. Additionally, he enjoys traveling, hiking, and special effects makeup.