Two years, we pulled off the impossible here at Nottingham by organising the World Congress of Dermato-Epidemiology without drug company sponsorship

http://www.bees.org.uk/meetings/related/BEES_hosts_World_Congress.pdf .

Our null hypothesis was that it was impossible in 2008 to organise a dermatology meeting and break even without Pharma support. But we did it, and made a few hundred pounds profit which we ploughed into publishing the meeting abstracts.

Our key factors in determining the success included:

1. Choose topics and speakers that are really interesting

2. Work with a cracking local team

3. Use University student rooms when students are on holiday, plus University lecture space

4. Attract less numbers of people who really want to be there

5. Invite talented local speakers (we were very lucky in having a Nobel prize winner)

6. Source local entertainment

OK, it sounds impressive, but Dermato-Epidemiology is a small field, and we are only talking about a 100 people or so. But still it was a major achievement which shows that it is still possible for medical education to occur in the absence of industry support.

best wishes

hywel

– we organised an international dermatology meeting without any sponsorphip from the Pharmaceutical industry whatsover, thereby forcing us to acept