Newswise — The American Society for Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology broke a record this year by registering more than 10,100 attendees for its 46th Annual Meeting, held in Atlanta earlier this month.
Of the 10,121 attendees of the meeting, 6,662 were healthcare professionals, including physicians, nurses, physicists, radiation therapists, radiation oncology administrators and dosimetrists. The remaining attendees were exhibitors and exhibit hall personnel.
"I'm thrilled with how many of the attendees came to ASTRO to hear the cutting-edge science that was presented," said Theodore S. Lawrence, M.D., Ph.D., ASTRO Chair. "My colleagues and I worked hard to put together a program that would appeal to a wide audience and I'm delighted so many people traveled to Atlanta to hear the science as well as view the new technologies from our exhibitors."
The scientific portion of the meeting was led by more than 800 abstract presenters showcasing the latest results in clinical cancer research. More than 200 expert faculty members complemented this research by leading educational sessions to ensure that radiation oncologists and other healthcare professionals are aware of all the latest developments in cancer treatment.
The technical exhibits were represented by 240 companies that filled more than 100,000 net square feet of space in the Georgia World Congress Center. ASTRO's exhibit hall has grown exponentially since its 2000 Annual Meeting in Boston that saw 220 companies occupying 87,400 net square feet of exhibit space. It is due to this impressive growth that ASTRO has been recognized for two consecutive years by Tradeshow Week magazine as one of the 50 fastest growing meetings in the United States and Canada.
"Our meeting in Atlanta was a huge success not only with regard to the outstanding science that was presented, but also in terms of the record high attendance and participation in the exhibit hall," said Laura Thevenot, ASTRO Executive Director. "We were fortunate to have such a dedicated corps of volunteers and professional staff working together to put on a truly outstanding event. I am hopeful we can repeat or exceed our success next October 16-20 in Denver."
ASTRO is the largest radiation oncology society in the world, with more than 8,000 members who specialize in treating patients with radiation therapies. As a leading organization in radiation oncology, biology and physics, the Society is dedicated to the advancement of the practice of radiation oncology by promoting excellence in patient care, providing opportunities for educational and professional development, promoting research and disseminating research results and representing radiation oncology in a rapidly evolving socioeconomic healthcare environment.
RSS