Dawn and Amy Carroll-Scott at the 2007 Annual Meeting.

As many of you are aware, the APHA Annual Meeting will be held in San Diego this year from Oct. 25-29. Hopefully, the majority of you have made arrangements to attend. Last year was my first conference, and I had a wonderful experience. I really wanted to attend because it was held in Washington, D.C. No matter what your motivation is for going, make the most of your experience.

These tips should help you make the trip worthwhile and fun:

Do not be afraid to attend alone:  I realize not everyone is like me: I can be dropped off in a major metropolitan city with a map and directed to public transportation without any fear. If your friends are unable to attend, that does not mean your time in San Diego will be any less meaningful or fun. Take the opportunity to meet new people and make connections. Plus, you will have the freedom to roam around San Diego without considering other people’s plans. Self-sufficiency is liberating!

Plan:  Decide a purpose for yourself; one or two goals you would like to accomplish. You have invested a great deal of money to come here — do not waste your time. Some of you may want to network (it paid off for me last year — soon after, I was offered the position of Student Rep for Communications). Others may be unsure of their next step after graduation (more education vs. job hunting). Go to the main page of the APHA Web site, review the itinerary, and make a tentative schedule for yourself, but don’t make it too stringent. Unexpected opportunities or events may arise, and you want to be able to participate if they interest you.                                                 

Dress:  Business casual is appropriate — do not feel the need to bring suits with you. Gentlemen, don’t feel the need to wear a sport coat. Ladies, high heels are beautiful (personally, my very best friends) but not conducive for the long days; a ballet flat or low heel will be your friend. You will be constantly moving during the day, and some days may begin as early as 6:30. Be appropriately presentable, yet plan for comfort.

Attend business meetings:  This was the best choice I made last year. Each business meeting has a different purpose, and unfortunately, those are not advertised in the program. Do not let that deter you. If a section other than CHPPD interests you, then go. Last year, I had a break between two sessions I wanted to attend, and I found myself at the CHPPD Vision Meeting. I had the opportunity to meet wonderful people (e.g. Amy Carroll-Scott, who took the time to speak to me about my future goals after the conference), and CHPPD is now my primary section.

Presentations:  This is where your planning will come into play significantly. You’ll soon learn that various presentations are held at other sites, and getting to and from these locations may be a hassle despite the transportation available. For the sake of your sanity and efficiency, I suggest that you rank presentations based on their level of importance to you.

Socials:  This year CHPPD will not he holding a social, so use this opportunity to attend other socials. Be warned that many socials are held at concurrent times, but you do not need to stay at one social the entire time. Give yourself the freedom to float around and meet people. If you have the opportunity to go back to your hotel, I suggest dressing up as if you were attending a nice dinner. Do not feel the need to go over the top and buy cocktail wear or something similar.

Booths:  We all like free stuff. Your suitcases, however, may not. Once you return home, you may forget why you took some of it in the first place. Rather, go to a booth, speak to the people manning it, and learn more about the organization or group. Be sure to say hello to the fabulous people at the CHPPD booth!

Enjoy San Diego:  Yes, you came to San Diego for the conference, but you should also enjoy San Diego itself. You do not want to burn yourself out with too much public health. Find time during the day or evening to roam the city, even if only for a few hours. Last year I went to a play at the Shakespeare Theatre, and the opportunity to get away was relaxing. This year I plan on visiting the San Diego Zoo.

If any one has any questions about the conference, please feel free to contact me. If I do not know the answer, I’ll find someone who does. I truly enjoyed my time last year. This event is a welcome break in the semester and valuable for your future goals in public health.

See you all in San Diego!

By Dawn Alayon, Student Representative, dcalayon@hotmail.com.