IMATA – ABMA Joint Conference

IMPORTANT CONFERENCE UPDATE
26 October 2020

Given the challenges and risks associated with planning a symposium-type event (and its accompanying social activities) during COVID-19, IMATA and ABMA’s leadership teams have made the difficult decision to postpone our joint-conference originally scheduled for 18-23 April 2021 in Atlanta.

This decision was based on these guiding principles:

• The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) considers the risk of COVID-19 spreading at events to be highest when:
  • there are large in-person gatherings where it is difficult for individuals to remain spaced at least 6 feet (2 meters) apart
  • attendees are traveling to the event from outside the local area
• The more people an individual interacts with at a gathering and the longer the interaction lasts, the higher the potential risk of becoming infected with COVID-19 and COVID-19 spreading.
• Even with the employ of personal prevention practices (such as frequent handwashing, social distancing, and mask wearing) and environmental prevention practices (such as cleaning and disinfection), postponing the event is the most prudent course of action to prevent the risk of COVID-19 exposure and spread to conference attendees.

As part of the decision making process, IMATA’s Conference Committee did explore options for creating a “virtual” conference for 2021. Unfortunately, the technology and labor required to execute a well-produced, high-quality product was cost-prohibitive and outside of our budget constraints.

As far as the postponed event is concerned, IMATA and ABMA will be working together to determine when we might coordinate a joint conference in the future. For now, IMATA’s next annual conference is scheduled for spring 2022 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.