By John Wallace and Jena Mattison
MD Expo rocked Music City in April with one of the most successful conferences ever. More than 100 companies exhibited in a packed expo hall where close to 800 attendees checked out the latest HTM technology and solutions.
MD Expo, which is presented by parent company MD Publishing, continues to grow as it serves the HTM community. MD Publishing President John Krieg said almost 1,000 people attended MD Expo Nashville and “several people commented that we had the industry’s most prominent and influential people.”
“It’s becoming a must-visit event based on the factors involved with cost, opportunities, the TechNation 20 Leadership Summit and Reverse Expo and how we are helping to shape the future of the HTM industry,” Krieg shared.
The Music City added its unique flavor to the biannual conference.
“Everyone raved about Nashville and how much it has grown and how much fun it is,” Krieg added.
“It was great to have the MD Expo back in Nashville as it such a centrally located city that it is accessible to so many which I think directly attributed to the impressive attendance we had at this year’s conference,” MD Publishing Vice President Kristin Leavoy said. “As always MD Expo strives to provide the best education and overall conference experience for its attendees, and I think the Nashville event succeeded in that fully.”
Energy levels were high from the very beginning with the CBET review class by CABMET’s David Scott and the TechNation 20(TN20) events.
Attendees benefitted from afternoon workshops followed by the Sodexo-sponsored Welcome Reception where exhibitors and attendees socialized over delicious eats and complimentary beverages. Some attendees even enjoyed a free Florida-Georgia Line concert on Broadway.
TN20 is a unique event that brings together clinical directorsfor a networking dinner and day of discussion on timely topics in HTM. This year, 20 states were represented and conversation was lively. Summit Imaging, Tri-Imaging Solutions and PartsSource all helped make the TN20 events possible for these decision-makers. The reverse expo provided an opportunity for TN20 participants to engage in one-on-one meetings with vednors prior to the exhibit hall grand opening.
A continental breakfast sponsored by Zing Box helped fuel up attendees and presenters ahead of the educational sessions. The Exhibit Hall Grand Opening that included lunch, sponsored by Renew Biomedical and Asset Services, added to the festive atmosphere followed by a happy hour sponsored by Select Biomedical.
AAMI President and CEO Robert Jensen provided an insightful keynote address the following morning as HTM professionals enjoyed a delicious breakfast. The Sodexo-sponsored event also included a panel discussion with tons of great information. The day continued with educational sessions and an exhibit hall lunch sponsored by Southeastern Biomedical Associates.
Day three at MD Expo Nashville was capped off with another signature event – a rooftop party at Rock Bottom Brewery in the heart of Music City. The AIV-sponsored grand finale of the conference provided a great venue for networking as attendees and exhibitors enjoyed delicious food, live music by The Outliers and a variety of complimentary beverages.
Some additional features of MD Expo Nashville included an event app sponsored by MedWrench and free WiFi via 626 Holdings. Also adding to a great conference were sponsors Elite Biomedical Solutions, USOC, Avante, PartsSoure, Summit Imaging, Innovatus, RPI, Mobile Medical Repair and Maintenance, Tri-Imaging Solutions, Stephens International, Maintenance Connection, AlphaSource Group, Intermed, Siemens Medical Solutions, MW Imaging, GE Healthcare and OneSource.
Representatives from companies exhibiting at MD Expo shared positive comments about the event via an electronic survey.
“Classic industry gathering with a focus on networking – nothing phoney or overblown. Well attended and supported by the key players in the industry,” The InterMed Group Director Ken Staab said.
“Great event for networking with existing clients and establishing new clients to develop new business,” Health Tech Talent Management’s Jenifer Brown said.
“It’s an excellent networking opportunity that brings leaders and highly talented individuals together in a collaborative environment,” one exhibitor who wished to remain anonymous said.
“The MD Expo is the place to truly experience the professionalism, diversity, and passion of the HTM Community. It reminds you of why you chose it in the first place. The educational sessions consists of things that are relevant to us today, the networking opportunities allow us to build strong relationships and see our customers face-to-face,” Redwell Education Management Corporation President and Executive Director Jewel Newell said.
“Great place to meet people who actually work in the industry. A much more casual and friendly atmosphere than AAMI. This makes the MD Expo more valuable, as there are more people you can actually talk to and learn from,” Phoenix Data Systems’ Terri Garrett said.
Draeger Inc. Marketing Manager Robert Rejmaniak said MD Expo provided “very meaningful conversations with customers and partners.” He also said that it is “very beneficial to attend” and that he always learns something when speaking to customers at MD Expo.
Attendees also had great things to say about the spring conference in Nashville.
“A lot of great interactions and a lot of great information,” Baxter Regional Medical Center Supervisor of BioMed Dan Campbell said.
“Insightful for any HTM employee,” said VHA Biomedical Engineer Gregory Apers.
Norma Hopkins, CBET, from Franciscan Health Olympic Fields said she would tell an HTM professional thinking of attending an MD Expo that it is “lots of fun, great education and so many vendors!”
Southern Illinois Healthcare Director of Clinical Engineering and Telecommunications said MD Expo provides “pertinent information and discussions with like minded people.”
“This is the best value of all the conferences,” Doylestown Hospital Biomedical Site Manager Randall Guess said.
“A great place to learn new things and network,” Braeutigam Enterprises President David Braeutigam said.
Several people also commented on MD Expo while in attendance.
Network Imaging Systems General Manager Bruce Hull said the conference was a success for him. He explained that it was his first conference in a long time and he found a company that can help with a new issue he was working to overcome.
“It’s a great show,” Hull added.
Kent Roberts, site coordinator for clinical engineering at Centra Health, sees great value in MD Expo.
“It’s a good place to get great education and you can find whatever you need really,” Roberts said.
“They have all been good, but this one seems to be more focused and streamlined,” said Piedmont Healthcare’s Diagnostic Imaging Repair and Biomedical Engineering Manager Steven Kelley. “I’ve added a lot of connections. I was a part of the reverse expo and really enjoyed that. When you are walking through the exhibit hall you walk past some vendors and don’t connect. In the reverse expo you can find a connection and realize you need to talk to them and that way my time is focused when I go into the exhibit hall.”
Joey Jones, a biomedical instructor at the only BMET program in Kentucky at Madisonville Community College, was blown away by his first MD Expo.
“I’ve been to AAMI and I like this a lot better,” Jones said. “AAMI is overwhelming. This is more doable.”
“MD Expo is more balanced,” he added. “Y’all have done a great job of providing a wide spectrum of classes. I’ll definitely be coming to another MD Expo before AAMI.”
Stephen Glasgow with Multi-Medix said he traveled all the way from the United Kingdom to attend MD Expo. He said he meet three new customers at the Nashville conference and is already making plans to attend MD Expo Seattle this October.
“MD Expo is excited to be heading to the Pacific Northwest in the fall,” Leavoy said. “Seattle is a new location for the conference and we hope that it will bring new faces to the exhibit hall and classroom and encourage those in the region to come join us for three days of education, networking and fun!”
Additional information about MD Expo Seattle is available online at MDExpoShow.com.
