From June 1-June 4, members of the medical equipment community will congregate at the Long Beach Convention & Entertainment Center in balmy Southern California for the AAMI 2018 Conference & Expo. And if past AAMI conferences are any indication of what’s to come, this year’s meeting will be another one for the books.
According to conference organizers, the AAMI 2018 meeting will provide:
- Valuable programs, events, and education sessions designed to help medical equipment professionals improve their knowledge
- Networking opportunities with other professionals to share best practices to improve patient safety and best practices
- A one-stop source for information about the latest innovations, upgrades, and advances in healthcare technology from more than 200 medical equipment manufacturers
Educational Opportunities Abound
Education, however, will be at the forefront of the AAMI 2018 Conference & Expo. Some of the educational highlights include “Cybersecurity and Operational Effectiveness for Healthcare Organizations,” presented by Scot Copeland, BSITSEC, Sec+, GICSP, a medical IT network risk manager at San Diego-based Scripps Health, as well as Daniel Howe and Sharon James of GE Healthcare; “A Collaborative Approach to Downtime Planning for Medical Device Systems,” given by Izabella Gieras, MS, MBA, CEE, director of clinical technology at Huntington Memorial Hospital in Pasadena, Calif.; and “The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Securing Connected Medical Devices,” presented by May Wang, PhD, the cofounder and chief technology officer of ZingBox.
Other sessions to consider? “Medical Equipment Cybersecurity Management: A Case Study,” presented by Hawaii Pacific Health’s Alan Ito, CISM; Timex Xayaseang; and Aaron Predum, CBET, MSM; and “The Internet of (Medical) Things and the Healthcare Revolution,” given by Mario Castaneda of HealthiTek, Inc.; Carla Gallegos of Enlighted, Inc.; Hiroki Igeta, CCE, of ASO Iizuka Hospital in Japan; and Jun Yoshioka, CCE, of the Japan-based Yamagata University Hospital.
Stellar Speakers
AAMI 2018 attendees will also have the opportunity to listen to two excellent speakers: Christine Cashen and Aron Ralston. The former—a motivational speaker known for her trademark humor—will present “Communicate, Collaborate, and Create! The Secret of Getting What You Want, Need, and Deserve!” on the main stage on Saturday, June 2. After the presentation, attendees will be able to handle conflict like a pro and boost their communication skills by learning to speak in different “languages,” according to AAMI officials.
Ralston’s address, which will take place on Sunday, June 3, will also leave attendees on the edge of their seats. A popular motivational speaker, Ralston is perhaps best known for surviving a conyoneering accident in 2003, in which he amputated his own forearm. (His story is also chronicled in the 2010 film 127 Hours, where James Franco portrayed him.) No doubt Ralston will have a captivated audience as he shares his story and discusses overcoming life’s obstacles—no matter how daunting.
Exciting educational sessions and speakers aside, AAMI 2018 will also enable attendees to rub elbows with “many of the world’s leading medical device manufacturers and service providers in the Expo Hall, as well as speak to recruiters and get career advice in the Career Center,” says AAMI spokeswoman Amber Logan. In other words, be sure to attend AAMI 2018. You’ll be glad you did.
