ADA launches virtual component of 2011 Annual Meeting

In addition to Facebook, Twitter and a mobile app, the American Dental Association (ADA) is offering its members the opportunity to attend a virtual version of the ADA’s 152nd Annual Session and World Marketplace Exhibition, which takes place at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, October 10-13, 2011, in Las Vegas, Nev. ADA members will be able to access a variety of events, programs and activities taking place at the meeting free of charge.

“The ADA Annual Session is such an awesome experience that we want to share as much of the event as possible with all of the profession,” said Kevin Laing, D.D.S., chair, Council on ADA Sessions. “Unfortunately, not everyone is able to be with us in Las Vegas, so we are reaching out to them in their homes and offices with live feeds from the meeting.”

The new ADA365, the virtual extension of the Annual Session, will go live starting with the Opening General Session on the morning of October 10 – including a live stream of the Distinguished Speaker Series presentation by Condoleezza Rice, Ph.D., former U.S. Secretary of State.

While the remainder of the Opening General Session will be accessible on demand by all virtual meeting attendees, Dr. Rice’s presentation will only be available live for ADA members, from approximately 8:30-9:30 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time. Virtual meeting attendees will be able to log in to the site in the days before launch beginning the week of October 5, in order to become familiar with the site before the live broadcasts begin the morning of Monday, October 10.

ADA members will also have exclusive, free access to six Education in the Round courses, which offer live patient procedures in a fully functional dental operatory, and two Open Clinical and Science Forums, which offer the opportunity for open discussion and debate. Virtual attendees will be able to interact with the speakers in real time via the website during the live streaming of these events.

“The Council on ADA Sessions is confident that those who experience our virtual meeting will want to plan on being on-site at a future ADA Annual Session,” said Dr. Laing. “The council’s goal is to give all attendees a great experience, whether it is in person or online.”

Portions of the virtual meeting will also be open to ADA nonmember dentists, dental team members, exhibitors and others. All viewers can access programs such as Going For the Gold! Learn to Function Like a Champion Olympic Team (course 5304), presented by Terry Schroeder, Olympic water polo coach; the opening remarks from the Opening General Session; and other elements such as video from the ADA’s “LOC” (Learn, Optimize, Connect) educational area on the exhibit floor; video from the Adult Preventive Care Practice of the Year Competition and more.

Facebook users planning to attend the 2011 Annual Session can connect with their colleagues and get the latest news about the meeting by joining the ADA Annual Session Facebook group.

The Annual Session smartphone app offers a link to the Facebook group and includes messages sent by the ADA Annual Session through Twitter. Information about downloading the app is available at www.ada.org/session/5739.aspx on the Annual Session website.