LKPAC Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 I get the impression that not many on this board are going to the conference in Las Vegas. Why is that? Don't like Las Vegas? (which I can't imagine), don't like AAPA? don't need CME? expense? what? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mgriffiths Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 If I wasn't a first year PA-C then I would likely go, but the conference doesn't fit with my schedule this year - and I don't have much flexibility. Hopefully next year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted April 4, 2017 Administrator Share Posted April 4, 2017 Don't think conferences in general are a good use of time/money, have closer options available if I did, have other organizations whose national conferences I would rather attend than AAPA if I DID go to a conference, don't like Las Vegas, don't need CME. Oh, and not an AAPA member, but that's really not a big part of the decision--I got burned out on conferences long before I switched from IT to medicine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CAAdmission Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Love conferences. Hate Vegas. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sas5814 Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 I actually booked a vacation house for that week before I had the conference in my sites. I was planning on coming to haunt the HOD and help PAFT with their events but...vacation pre-booked and non-refundable Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKPAC Posted April 4, 2017 Author Share Posted April 4, 2017 Love conferences. Hate Vegas. Don't you like to have fun? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest UVAPAC Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 I would love to go but the fact of the matter is that our hospital continues to make drastic budget cuts... The hospital nickel and dimes and fights with you over every single penny. Technically I should get $1,500 a year for CME credits. In reality I am lucky to get $1,000 approved, and it all has to be approved by our departments medical director. "Why would you go to Las Vegas there are conferences closer by" "Airfare and hotel room are unnecessary expenses" "Conference doesn't solely pertain to our speciality and therefore there are better conferences" "We can't afford to have you out of the office for more than a day or two" Take your pick... but I have heard them all before... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BruceBanner Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Meh. I'd rather use my CME money on a place I actually want to visit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
camoman1234 Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Too far, hate vegas, I'd rather support my local state chapter conference that gives me 40 CMEs, and is ~ 40 mins down the road. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Paula Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 I'll be going next year as I'm on the HOD then. I'm not thrilled with the location for next year. I've been there, done that, oh well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blazergrl91 Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 I get the impression that not many on this board are going to the conference in Las Vegas. Why is that? Don't like Las Vegas? (which I can't imagine), don't like AAPA? don't need CME? expense? what? I had the intention of going, however, I'm was in the middle of my semester for my masters program, and unfortunately didn't collaborate well with time off/time to study/etc. But I agree, it would've been so beneficial and interesting to have gone:-/ Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bandidorooobs Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Would love to go but no money for it as a student. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MT2PA Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 As a student who has the time to go and isn't yet jaded by the AAPA drama/conferences, I'd go but...meh...Vegas. I wouldn't even mind spending the money on flight/hotels if it were somewhere else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatswain2PA Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 Dont like Vegas Don't like AAPA Don't need CME. If it were somewhere I wanted to go, and wasn't AAPA, then i'd go. As a 1099/IC I get to spend as much/as little as I want on CME. Vegas is good to go to once every 10 years or so, other than that....meh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
treejay Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 I would have gone if it were in an interesting place to visit. Vegas sux Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
south Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 Vegas hate huh? Come on, it's a cool place to look at, and they have great shows and spas and restaurants and stuff in the casinos. Stay at my secret Motel 6 on Flamingo near MGM grand for $29. Recently remodeled and well kept. Who needs to gamble? Who has time with all the other cool stuff going on? If you haven't taken the Hoover Dam tour, it's only 30 miles away, so unbelievably cool. They also have the Nuclear testing museum which I haven't been to. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boatswain2PA Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 Vegas IS a cool place to go. Once every decade or so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pavlovacloud Posted April 5, 2017 Share Posted April 5, 2017 My friend is going, but hotel alone cost over $1.2K for the week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator ventana Posted April 5, 2017 Moderator Share Posted April 5, 2017 vegas = yuk Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CAAdmission Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 Don't you like to have fun? Vegas just makes me sad. Watching a bunch of retirees with nothing better to do than blow their social security playing games that are all more or less rigged in the favor of the house. Crowds, noise and lights I can do without. Give me a conference with good lectures someplace with a little fresh air. I'd rather walk in the woods than on the Strip any time. PS: Regarding next year, New Orleans is a cesspit, too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrator rev ronin Posted April 6, 2017 Administrator Share Posted April 6, 2017 With the availability of free or cheap online CME, are conferences ANYWHERE really worth the time and effort? Between recerting ACLS, PALS, etc. in person; UpToDate credit for things I actually use; teaching EMT class; Journal-based Cat 1 CME; and a few other miscellaneous sources, I routinely exceed 100 hours of Cat 1 CME per year. I would rather network locally than nationally, because I'm already living and working in my chosen community. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator EMEDPA Posted April 6, 2017 Moderator Share Posted April 6, 2017 I go to AAPA generally as a social event or because it is in an interesting city. At this point in my career most of the cme in my specialty is presented at a level which is too basic with few exceptions , like the excellent sepsis small group panel I attended last year. this is a great conference if youhave been in practice less than 5 years or are changing specialties. If you are looking for hard core, cutting edge cme in a specialty probably better to go to a specialty specific pa or physician conference(for me this would be sempa or acep). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LKPAC Posted April 6, 2017 Author Share Posted April 6, 2017 I agree with some of you. CME online is easier and cheaper, but sometimes I like to see a real speaker, maybe even ask a question. I also like to interact with other PAs. Maybe run into an old classmate. Regarding Las Vegas, I enjoy it there. Even for people who don't gamble, there's lots to do: great restaurants, spas, fancy hotels, golfing, some terrific shows, museums, outdoors experiences. I find that most people who "don't like Las Vegas" don't realize how much it offers. That's OK. Less crowded for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DogLovingPA Posted April 6, 2017 Share Posted April 6, 2017 I too like conferences more than online CME - as online, let's face it, half the time I'm barely paying attention to what I am reading. But I have all the CME I need for this cycle and I'm already taking 3 weeks away from work/home to go to Iraq so I'd rather not spend another week away when I don't need it. I'm 4 yrs out from graduation, haven't attended the AAPA conference yet, did go to SEMPA last year. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
IdahoPA Posted April 21, 2017 Share Posted April 21, 2017 My school does a yearly primary care conference. I think the lectures are relevant, and I get to visit friends/places in my old city. Win-win! Vegas is...overrated, in my opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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