Convention 2015, Philadelphia

I would like to congratulate Dr. Parameswaran Hari , Dr. Krishna R. Prasad and the Las Vegas Organizing Committee on the success of the 2014 Las Vegas AKMG Convention. We thoroughly enjoyed the conference activities in Las Vegas and the city itself.

It is a pleasure and honor to have the opportunity to be the convention chair of the 36th annual AKMG convention 2015 which will be held in Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Hotel, September 4th (labor day weekend ).

As Chair for the next AKMG Convention, I am already looking into the arrangements, with the leadership of President Dr. Alex Thomas and help from the Organizing Committee. In order to make it a success, the Organizing Committee has been working hard to plan events that will be appealing to all AKMG members and family.

The city of Philadelphia provides many opportunities that will appeal to our convention attendees. As a city of history, art, and culture, Philadelphia has offerings for our members who come with their families and those who come with friends. Philadelphia is known as the City of Brotherly Love and has an incomparable place in American history. However, it also holds importance as a place of medical history and progressive change. Philadelphia is a city of many firsts, especially in terms of medical history. For example, in 1762, the first school of anatomy in North America was opened in Philadelphia. It was also where the first formal medical school opened in the United States. Furthermore, the first medical society of North America was found in the city.

Philadelphia Marriott Downtown Hotel is one of the premier hotels in Philadelphia. Its proximity to the Philadelphia International Airport, train stations and subway lines, historical attractions such as Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, and shopping and entertainment venues makes it a great location for our Convention.

Travel: For those who live in the tri-state area, Philadelphia will be easy to get to through major highway routes. Members and guests who are traveling from other parts of the United States and other countries will also be able to arrive in Philadelphia by flying into the Philadelphia International Airport. The Airport has many airline options to choose from. It is also undergoing a renovation which will make it even more accessible to visitors from all over the world.

Dinner Cruise: We are arranging a boat cruise with dinner around the city on Friday evening, Sept . On-board entertainment is planned for making it an enjoyable evening. This will provide a th 4 unique perspective of the city and kickoff the convention.

CME lectures: Our Continuing Medical Education (CME) lectures will present on current topics in medicine and the innovative developments in the field. They will provide AKMG members with information that will benefit them professionally. We are designing our lectures to support our members in their desire for additional knowledge and information on the changes in the medical field. We will work to ensure that the material selected is engaging and also provide our members with several options to appeal to their varying interests.

Evening Entertainment: The Philadelphia AKMG Convention will be planning evening entertainment that will appeal to members with families and members who are attending the conference with friends. This evening entertainment may include performances that highlight Indian culture and comedy and dancing to appeal to all ages.

Activities for the Young Adult AKMG Members: This year we are planning to have an exclusive program for the young members of AKMG. The program will be organized with the leadership of some of our youth members. This will give a great opportunity to our younger generation to actively participate in the conference. Young adults can enjoy the many wonderful restaurants Philadelphia has to offer. Our young adult members will also be planning a social event for people in their age group. This event will allow our younger members to get to know each other, have a good time, and make the most of their stay in Philadelphia

Medical History: Philadelphia has several museums which would be interesting to our members. AKMG members could take time to visit the Mutter Museum, a museum focused on medical history. AKMG members may also be interested in visiting the Academy of Natural Sciences, which has many visually appealing exhibits.

Art and Culture: If AKMG members are interested in art history, they can take some time to visit the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Barnes Foundation, the Rodin Museum and other museums in the city.

Activities for Young Children: Children may enjoy the Philadelphia Zoo or the Franklin Institute, which provides opportunity for fun and learning. Families can also enjoy many murals and parks that are found throughout the city. The Organizing Committee is working extremely hard to ensure that the 2015 AKMG Convention in Philadelphia is a success. We are planning the conference so that is informative to AKMG members and enjoyable for all who attend. As we move forward, we need the support of AKMG members. In 2015, we would like to see all our members at the Convention with their friends and families.

Joseph Mathew, MD