AACOM In-Person Meetings on Hold through June 30, 2021
Published June 11, 2020
2020
Effective immediately, the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine has placed a hold on all in-person meetings sponsored by the organization between now and June 30, 2021. This decision was made to help ensure the safety and wellbeing of those who attend these meetings, including AACOM staff, students, faculty and staff from AACOM member Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine (COMs) and other key constituents.
This decision affects Educating Leaders 2021, the AACOM Annual Conference, as well as other various meetings of its Assemblies, Board of Deans, Councils and other working groups over the coming months.
AACOM also has suspended staff travel, with few exceptions, affecting AACOM attendance at events and meetings sponsored by other organizations.
“Consistent with our mission and other decisions and recommendations we’ve made recently that affect travel, we believe in putting the health and wellbeing of people first,” said Robert A. Cain, DO, AACOM president and CEO. “We are still at a critical and uncertain stage in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic. This decision not only reduces the need for travel, but also helps the many medical professionals who attend these meetings to continue to serve patients by remaining present in their hospitals and communities at this time.”
Cain added, “While we continue to value the benefits of in-person meetings, and look forward to re-convening in the future, making this decision at this time also gives AACOM the opportunity to reimagine how we deliver our osteopathic medical education content in the most effective and engaging virtual manner possible. In the meantime, we will continue to monitor public health and safety conditions in the coming months. As the situation changes, and federal guidelines regarding social distancing evolve, we will reassess our decision and determine if it’s possible to hold and attend in-person meetings prior to June 30, 2021 in a safe manner.”
Visit AACOM’s coronavirus resource center to stay up-to-date on the latest scientific and medical education information and resources, as well as communications regarding how AACOM and osteopathic medical schools are participating in public health and educational activities during the pandemic.
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