{"id":973,"date":"2024-08-26T18:03:02","date_gmt":"2024-08-26T18:03:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.socra.org\/blog\/?p=973"},"modified":"2024-08-26T18:03:04","modified_gmt":"2024-08-26T18:03:04","slug":"finding-success-and-belonging-at-the-socra-annual-conference","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.socra.org\/blog\/finding-success-and-belonging-at-the-socra-annual-conference\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding Success and Belonging at the SOCRA Annual Conference: A First Time Attendee\u2019s Experience\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Holly Crandall<\/p>\n\n\n\n

BSN, RN, CCRP<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Indiana University School of Medicine <\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

This time last year, I was unsure if traveling to Montreal for the SOCRA Annual Conference would be a worthwhile investment in my career. As a research nurse, I\u2019ve attended several conferences specific to my clinical field, which provided valuable knowledge about the disease states I work with. However, the SOCRA Annual Conference was different. It offered new tools and ways of thinking about my daily work. Entering a poster into the Poster Program also gave me a greater sense of involvement. I left energized by the passion of the other participants and excited for this year\u2019s conference in Las Vegas.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

While many of our team members are SOCRA certified, none of us had attended the annual conference before. My colleague and I had spent several years working on a study in partnership with a community HIV center, and we were eager to share our results. SOCRA was the obvious place to do so. Although the decision to attend and present felt like a stretch, we believed in our work. We also figured that, even if nobody was interested, we\u2019d at least get to spend a long weekend in Montreal! Unsure of what to expect, we decided to dive in. We registered for the conference, a preconference workshop, and SOCRA Night Out.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Preparing our abstract and poster took about a month. We started a few weeks before the due date, wanting to ensure we had ample time to get feedback from colleagues before the July deadline. The most challenging part was organizing our data. We had a story to tell but weren\u2019t sure of the best way to tell it. At a SOCRA meeting the previous year, I\u2019d learned that presentations should be clear, uncluttered, and easily accessible\u2014limiting long text passages and including simple graphics. After several drafts, we whittled our message down to three key points and condensed our abstract to 250 words. This guidance helped us create a concise and approachable poster and abstract.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When we arrived at the conference, we were astonished by how welcoming the other attendees were. The excitement and relief at being in person after years of virtual conferences due to COVID was palpable. The environment was inclusive and supportive, with a mix of long-time attendees and wide-eyed newcomers like us. At every workshop, talk, and social event, we met representatives from all areas of our field. We shared stories, ideas, and laughs with people we would never have met otherwise. Above all, a shared sense of purpose united us.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m so glad I attended the project management preconference workshop, which set the tone for the entire conference. Within moments of sitting down, I was talking with SOCRA members from around the world and comparing notes about our sites. The presenter was phenomenal, sharing insights from years of experience, and the materials provided were incredibly useful when I returned home. I had never before attended a workshop so tailored to the work I do. It reassured me that I\u2019d made the right decision in attending.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The speakers throughout the conference were inspiring. Looking around the auditorium during the Opening Plenary and seeing so many people passionate about clinical research was an unparalleled experience. Hearing from top FDA and Health Canada leaders about regulatory updates was valuable, but the most impactful speaker for me was Annie Ellis, an ovarian cancer survivor who shared her experience as a clinical trial participant. She spoke at the end of the first full morning, and her words stayed with me for the rest of the conference. I still think of her talk when considering how to make clinical trial participants feel comfortable, informed, and supported.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the greatest challenges I faced at the conference was choosing which workshops to attend. The SOCRA app was a lifesaver, helping me navigate the schedule and jump between different tracks as I found workshops of interest. It also made it easy to track my CMU credits for renewing my membership later this year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

During the conference<\/a>, presenters were asked to stand by their work and engage with attendees who had questions. I found this a fantastic way to share our work and network with others. I loved answering questions and delving deeper into our subject. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and we received suggestions for new directions to take our research.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Beyond the workshops and presentations, there were plenty of opportunities to have fun! The other participants were eager to connect and share experiences, and the networking opportunities were endless. The SOCRA Night Out was unforgettable, with a walking tour of Old Montreal and dinner. Being in small groups allowed us to get to know each other in a relaxed setting. As we laughed and shared stories, I knew I\u2019d made the right choice in stepping out of my comfort zone to attend the conference. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We were surprised but thrilled to be one of the posters asked to present. Presenting our work to a room full of people was nerve-wracking, but the support from other presenters and reviewers was palpable. I (almost) forgot my nerves because the other presentations were so engaging and thought-provoking. I left with ideas to improve our site\u2019s operations and learned so much from the experiences shared by others. The poster presentations at future Annual Conferences will be a must-attend for me to continue learning from how other sites manage challenges and implement new ideas.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Holly<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Winning the Special Recognition Award in the Management Track was a huge honor, but I felt like I\u2019d won long before that. The entire experience was worth every penny and minute spent. The workshops and speakers renewed my passion for my work and provided ideas to bring back to my site. Being part of the poster presentation gave me a greater sense of involvement in the conference and connected me with more people than I would have otherwise. It was exciting to share our work with peers and even more exciting to see how well it was received. If you\u2019re considering attending or presenting at this year\u2019s conference in Las Vegas, I encourage you to do it. I promise I\u2019ll be there to cheer you on!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2023 Clinical Research Management Category Winner<\/strong>\nImpact of Community Partnership in Recruitment for Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Clinical Studies in Persons With HIV <\/a>\n\n<\/em>Holly Crandall, BSN, RN, CCRP, Indiana University School of Medicine \nMontreca Releford, CCRP, Indiana University School of Medicine \n<\/pre>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Holly Crandall BSN, RN, CCRP Indiana University School of Medicine This time last year, I was unsure if traveling to Montreal for the SOCRA Annual Conference would be a worthwhile investment in my career. As a research nurse, I\u2019ve attended several conferences specific to my clinical field, which provided valuable knowledge about the disease states … <\/p>\n
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