Towards Equity: Rheum for Everyone
Change of Format! The 2022 CRA & AHPA Annual Scientific Meeting will be held exclusively online.
With the rapidly rising COVID-19 cases in Canada and the uncertainty posed by the Omicron variant, the Canadian Rheumatology Association (CRA) has made the decision to host the 2022 CRA & AHPA Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) exclusively online. We are taking this step out of an abundance of caution, to protect the health and safety of the rheumatology community, including our members, patients, supporters, partners, and staff.
This means we will no longer be meeting in person at the Québec City Convention Centre. The ASM will continue to be hosted virtually from Wednesday, February 2 to Saturday, February 5, 2022 as scheduled (if there are any schedule changes necessary, they will be minimal).
If you’re already registered for the Hybrid or Virtual ASM, no further action is required. The CRA will take care of switching hybrid registrations to virtual only and issuing refunds as required. All delegates will have access to the live virtual conference and on-demand recordings. Access details will be emailed to all registered delegates closer to the conference.
Rest assured, as the ASM had been planned as a ‘hybrid’ event (virtually and in person), this switch to an exclusive virtual delivery will not impact the quality or content of the conference. Delegates can expect an outstanding virtual program, with enhanced networking opportunities, crowd-sourced workshops, interactive programming, content from leading experts, and more!
What you need to know:
Conference Registrations
For all registered delegates – no further action is required.
- If you purchased a hybrid ticket, your ticket will automatically be switched to virtual, and you will be refunded the difference within the next eight weeks. If you prefer a different course of action, please contact us.
- For delegates who purchased a virtual only ticket, there will be no changes to your registration.
- All headshot, guest gala dinner and guest welcome reception tickets that were purchased during registration will be refunded. We anticipate processing your refunds within the next eight weeks.
Accommodations
If you booked accommodations at one of the host hotels for the conference (Fairmont Le Château Frontenac or Delta Hotel by Marriott Québec) via the links provided on the CRA website, these reservations will automatically be cancelled on your behalf by the CRA. Should you still wish to retain your reservation, please contact the hotel directly to reinstate.
If you booked accommodations at an alternate hotel, please contact your provider directly to cancel any applicable reservations.
Travel
If you booked airline tickets or other transportation for the conference, please contact your providers directly to cancel any applicable reservations.
For more details on how this change might impact you specifically, please click here.
Please contact us directly at info@rheum.ca if you have any have any further questions. The CRA team appreciates your patience and understanding as we modify our conference plans. The decision to pivot to a virtual exclusive conference was difficult but made with the utmost concern of our delegates in mind. We recognize that many delegates were excited to convene in-person and wish that the circumstances allowed us to facilitate this.
We look forward to seeing you virtually this February!
ASM + SATELLITE PROGRAMS AT A GLANCE
AHPA Pre-Course (Virtual) | January 28-29
CRA Review Course (Virtual) | January 28
CRA Residents’ Pre-Course – Offered in Two Parts:
Part 1 (Virtual) | January 21
Part 2 (Virtual) | February 2
Annual Scientific Meeting (Virtual) | February 2-5
Canadian Arthritis Research Conference (Virtual) | February 7-8
ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS
- State-of-the-Art & Crowd-Sourced Workshops
- Keynote Lectures
- Abstracts and Poster Tours
- Satellite Symposia
- Clinical Pearls and Mysterious Cases
- RheumJeopardy
- The Great Debate
- Awards of Distinction
- Exhibitors’ Hall
- … and much more!
ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING KEYNOTE LECTURES
Dunlop-Dottridge Lecture by Dr. Simon Carette, on advances made in the management of vasculitis. Dr. Carette is a rheumatologist and Professor of Medicine at the University of Toronto. He trained at Laval University, McGill, the University of Toronto, the National Institutes of Health, and the University of Cambridge. His area of clinical expertise is vasculitis, and he is the director of the Vasculitis Program at Sinai Health Network since 2001.
State-of-the-Art Lecture by Dr. Tuhina Neogi, on pain in adult and pediatric rheumatic diseases. Dr. Neogi is a Professor of Medicine and of Epidemiology at Boston University Schools of Medicine and of Public Health, and Chief of Rheumatology. As a rheumatologist and epidemiologist, her research focuses on osteoarthritis, gout, and pain mechanisms.
Keynote Lecture by Dr. Grace Wright, on Equity, Diversity and Inclusion within the rheumatology community. Dr. Wright is a rheumatologist and Founder and President of the Association of Women in Rheumatology (AWIR). Founded in 2014, AWIR has grown to over 30 local chapters throughout the United States as well as a growing number of international chapters. Dr. Wright has served as the President of AWIR since its inception.