The 2020 AAMI Exchange scheduled to be held in New Orleans this June will not happen.
“After careful consideration of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, AAMI has made the difficult decision to cancel our annual conference and expo, the AAMI Exchange, that was scheduled for June 12-15, 2020 in New Orleans, LA. As with any AAMI event, the safety, health, and well-being of our attendees, exhibitors, and staff is paramount. It was clear that we would not be able to make that assurance if we proceeded with the 2020 event,” an email sent to exhibitors on Friday states.
“We know that you look forward to the AAMI Exchange as a chance to connect with colleagues and customers and refresh your commitment to our critical field each year,” the email continues. “We share the disappointment that this news brings, but we remain committed to supporting you and the health technology community as always. We hope that you will stay engaged and connect to AAMI throughout the year as we look forward to our next opportunity together at AAMI Exchange 2021 in Charlotte, N.C.
The email was signed by AAMI Vice President of Education Sherrie Schulte and Senior Vice President of Education Robert Burroughs.
A post on the AAMI Exchange website provides more details as shown below:
2020 AAMI Exchange Cancellation Information
After carefully considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, AAMI has made the difficult decision to cancel our annual conference and expo, the AAMI Exchange, which was to be held at the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center from June 12–15, 2020. We made this decision to protect the health and safety of our community.
We share in your disappointment, and we understand that many of you will have questions about our next steps, including refunds and the potential for alternative educational opportunities. We hope that many of your questions are answered below. Should you have any further concerns or questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us directly at education@aami.org.
Why was the 2020 AAMI Exchange cancelled?
One of AAMI’s fundamental goals for any event is to ensure the health, safety, and well-being of our staff, attendees, and exhibitors. It became clear as the COVID-19 crisis progressed that we would be unable to achieve that goal and that we would have to cancel this event.
Will the AAMI Exchange be rescheduled for later in 2020?
AAMI will not be rescheduling the Exchange in 2020. Instead, we hope you will plan to join us at next year’s AAMI Exchange June 4–7, 2021, in Charlotte, NC.
Will the AAMI Exchange be delivered virtually?
While we do not plan to fully recreate the AAMI Exchange in a virtual environment, we are actively developing new education experiences for the HTM, sterilization, and medical device communities. Stay tuned for more information.
Will attendee and exhibitor registrations be refunded?
AAMI will refund registration fees to all registered attendees for the AAMI Exchange. Attendee refunds will be processed and issued within 30 days.
AAMI will issue and process full refunds for exhibit booth fees and sponsorship fees within the next 60 days. AAMI will contact exhibitors with booth selection plans for the AAMI Exchange 2021 within the next few weeks.
How can I cancel my hotel room reservation?
If you booked your room through Connections Housing, your hotel reservations will be cancelled automatically with no penalty and no further action needed by you. If you have already cancelled your reservation directly with your hotel, you do not need to take any further action.
If you have questions, please contact us via email at aami@connectionshousing.com.
If you reserved a hotel reservation outside the official AAMI Exchange room block, please contact the hotel directly to cancel your reservation.
Will attendees and exhibitors be refunded for airline tickets or travel expenses?
AAMI is unable to provide refunds for personally booked travel expenses. Please work directly with your airline, or, if you purchased travel insurance, please contact your provider for information and next steps. Many airlines are currently waiving change fees and updating their policies daily.
How can I attain the continuing education units (CEUs) that I was planning on from my AAMI Exchange attendance?
AAMI is actively exploring different virtual education options for certificants. More information will be provided as soon as we are able.
Who do I contact with any additional questions?
For AAMI Exchange attendees and speakers, please contact fmoxley@aami.org.
For exhibitors, sponsors and advertisers, please contact sschulte@aami.org