Courses to take at ACEP convention?

[LeilaZ]

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Hey, I'll be a 4th year med student at Georgetown next year, I'm planning to go the the ACEP Scientific Assembly in New Orleans in October and I'm looking for some advice about what's worth doing.

Are any of the skills labs worth the extra $100? I've never even seen a slit lamp, so I thought that might be cool/useful.

Any particular courses/lecturers you'd recommend?

Also, other than the EMRA residency fair, any EMRA stuff worth attending?

Should I plan to stay for the entire convention, or is it smart to leave a day early and get back to an ER away rotation? (unfortunately that would mean missing the Wilderness Med course that looked interesting on Wed morning). They told me it was no problem to attend the convention, as long as I make up any missed shifts.

Any ideas on how to defray hotel costs by finding roomates? There's a hostel a few miles from the convention center that gets good reviews online, but it's $50 for two people, can't book for one.

If you happen to live in New Orleans and want to toss in any extra advice about things to do/see/avoid, please feel free.

Thanks

 

[dlung]

I went to ACEP last year as a 4th year student. Frankly, I was too cheap to pay for any of those skills labs... I wanted to spend that money on PS2 games and my month of wandering around Europe.

I wouldn't worry about not having skeels right now. If your 4th year EMed rotations are at any hospital with crazy-huge number of sick people flooding through its doors, you'll get plenty of skeels... I went to a couple county programs and got a chunk of experience doing slit lamps, FAST exams, LPs, femoral lines...

...too bad my year of medicine totally screwed that up... good grief... I just did my first LP and slit lamp exam since my 4th year of med school last week.

 

[Hercules]

I went to ACEP last year as a 4th year student. Frankly, I was too cheap to pay for any of those skills labs... I wanted to spend that money on PS2 games and my month of wandering around Europe.

I wouldn't worry about not having skeels right now. If your 4th year EMed rotations are at any hospital with crazy-huge number of sick people flooding through its doors, you'll get plenty of skeels... I went to a couple county programs and got a chunk of experience doing slit lamps, FAST exams, LPs, femoral lines...

...too bad my year of medicine totally screwed that up... good grief... I just did my first LP and slit lamp exam since my 4th year of med school last week.

Totally agree. I went as a 4th year when it was in San Fran and as an intern this year. I wouldn't pay extra for anything.

 

[bky3c]

Things to do/see/avoid...

Definitely treat yourself to some beignets at Cafe du Monde (way down Decatur, at the edge of the Quarter, across from Jackson Square, by the river). (This will make sense when you get here and pick up a map of the Quarter.) Where else can you get so much deliciousness in one bag for $1.25? This description will not even begin to do them justice, but they're sort of like funnel cake, only in puffy rectangles, and with a LOT more powdered sugar. They're okay at other places, but Cafe du Monde is the original and the best. Their chicory coffee is pretty good, too. They're open 24-7, except Christmas.

An evening on Bourbon St. is just one of those things you have to do if you're in New Orleans. Any night is a good night. Have a hurricane at Pat O'Brien's and a Hand Grenade at Tropical Isle. Check out Utopia, BBC, Bourbon Cowboy, Cat's Meow, and Razoo for typical club stuff, and poke your head into the little hole in the wall places for more intimate, jazzy stuff. If you're from New York, you'll be disappointed in the Lucky Dogs (hot dogs... also known as Yucky Dogs). Go earlier in the evening if you want to find a table on a balcony and people watch... this is usually interesting, because people seem to think that it's always sort of Mardi Gras here.

Try taking the streetcar uptown (up St. Charles Ave. and back) for something different during the day. It's nice to get out of the Quarter, and it's cheap. Uptown is a nicer, less tourity part of New Orleans. There's a daiquiri shop at the end, where the streetcar turns around, so you can get out and grab one and then get back on. It'll still be pretty warm here in October, so it will taste good! You can walk around freely with an alcoholic drink here, as long as it's not in a glass container. There are also a couple of good restaurants and a sports bar in that area, and the Mississippi River is just up the hill. (Yes, up. The city really is a bowl.)

As far as meals go, of course there are a ton of great restaurants here. Just about anything you come across will be good. Try some red beans, jambalaya, oysters, crawfish, alligator, etc. The expensive places are well worth it, but the cheap ones are fantastic, too. It just depends on the atmosphere you're looking for.

There's a long, skinny park along the Mississippi River next to the Quarter, at the end of Canal St. Good for running, walking, or stopping at a bench to eat your beignets. The ferry that goes across to Algiers is free for pedestrians, and even if you don't get off in Algiers (not much to do there, unless you like old, pretty houses), it's still kind of a neat ride.

That's everything that comes to mind at the moment. Hope you have a good time here.

 

[DrQuinn]

I agree, I wouldn't pay "extra" for any courses. Definately try to attend the residency fair, as well as any student-oriented lectures. Don't put too much stock in the residency fair (as in giving you a HUGE edge in the match), just use it as a way to say "hello" and get some basic info.

There are quite a few good lectures out there. You can't go wrong with any EKG courses or lectures. Honestly I would just go to whatever topic you find interesting. And don't think by going to ACEP you're going to prepare for residency. Just try to find some interesting topics.

I'll see you at G'town in July!
Q

Hey, I'll be a 4th year med student at Georgetown next year, I'm planning to go the the ACEP Scientific Assembly in New Orleans in October and I'm looking for some advice about what's worth doing.

Are any of the skills labs worth the extra $100? I've never even seen a slit lamp, so I thought that might be cool/useful.

Any particular courses/lecturers you'd recommend?

Also, other than the EMRA residency fair, any EMRA stuff worth attending?

Should I plan to stay for the entire convention, or is it smart to leave a day early and get back to an ER away rotation? (unfortunately that would mean missing the Wilderness Med course that looked interesting on Wed morning). They told me it was no problem to attend the convention, as long as I make up any missed shifts.

Any ideas on how to defray hotel costs by finding roomates? There's a hostel a few miles from the convention center that gets good reviews online, but it's $50 for two people, can't book for one.

If you happen to live in New Orleans and want to toss in any extra advice about things to do/see/avoid, please feel free.

Thanks

 

[LeilaZ]

Thanks for all the input so far--no lab skills courses for me (more to spend on local food/beverages, yes?), I'll pick an EKG class or two, and beignets at Cafe du Monde definitely seem to be in order.

I got to go to a day and a half of the convention last year when it was in my hometown DC (was granted one day off from Ob/Gyn). I just popped into a couple of courses and the residency fair to check into where I might want to do away rotations 4th year.

I also went two years ago when it was in San Francisco (where I used to live so I had friends to stay with) and basically went to all the imaging courses, which I thought were extremely useful, and Jeopardy Dermatology which was cool but over my level.

I've pretty much already decided which programs I plan to include on my match list, so this year is mainly to have a good time hanging out with emed folks, see a bit of New Orleans, and maybe learn an interesting thing or three.

I just figured it couldn't hurt to ask for a bit of advice, and happily y'all are telling me useful stuff. No illusions about getting a big edge for the match or prepping for residency, but I figure shmoozing can't hurt *grin*

 

[dlung]

I also went two years ago when it was in San Francisco (where I used to live so I had friends to stay with) and basically went to all the imaging courses, which I thought were extremely useful, and Jeopardy Dermatology which was cool but over my level.

heh. The Jeopardy Derm quiz-attending was my advisor in med school. 🙂

 

[colforbinMD]

As an U/S freak in the making I would say go to at least one if not a few U/S talks and don't miss Dr. Mattu's yearly missed MI scarefest (he's great for EKGs too). Otherwise just pick what interests you. If EM is right for you then you will most likely have more to pick then you can go to. Often I wish I could be in two places at once at ACEP. Make sure you have some time to enjoy New Orleans but don't party so hard that you miss some of the next day. I'm guilty of this at AAEM in San Diego 2 years ago and in hind sight I regret it.

 

[mfleur]

Where is everyone staying?

 

[trkd]

Where is everyone staying?

Yeah, I looked into those "discounted" hotels, very expensive! What a killer!

 

[EM_Rebuilder]

I am planning on going and taking an RV. However, I called a few places just after a quick search on the net as far as RV parks and they were all FULL and told me good luck finding an RV spot within 100 miles!

Its still many displaced Katrina people as well as workers/contractors/etc that are staying in the area to rebuild...

Now my question is, has anyone actually been to the place where this is at and do they know if my RV would be safe/fine just sitting in the parking lot (or would something like that even fit) as I could just boondock/dry camp.

 

[LeilaZ]

I posted the message below in the new EMRA Discussion Forums under Conference Housing--Medical Students, thought y'all might find it useful. I haven't booked anything yet, still looking for roomates at a real hotel before resorting to a hostel:

Posted: Sat Jun 17, 2006 12:45 am Post subject: Looking for roomates for ACEP in New Orleans Oct. 14-18

Hey, I'm a 4th year (as of today, hooray) at Georgetown and I'll be heading down to the ACEP convention. I've been looking at the housing options and was hoping to find 1 or more roommates, otherwise I'll stay in a hostel dorm by myself *sniff*.

The cheapest of the official convention hotel is Holiday Inn Select $169/single or double, $189/triple or quad, right across the street from the convention center and 14 blocks from the headquarters hotel the Marriott. If we can get four of us it would only be approximately $50 per person per night, or $200 apiece (pretty much my upper limit of affordability).

Anyone have an in for a discount at Harrah's? It's only 0.6 miles from the convention center and would be really cool to staty at, as long as I stay away from the poker tables!

I've checked online and the cheapest housing options seem to be the 4 hostels/guesthouses in New Orleans. At three of them you can stay as a single in dorms for $17-25/night. However, the one with the most consistently good online reviews only offers double rooms for $50/night ($25/ea). This one is St. Vincents Guesthouse 1.2 miles SW of convention ctr, twin bed private room $50/night for 2 people (can't book for one) x 4 nights = $100/person, 1507 Magazine St, with AC, wifi, swimming pool, linens/towels.

Lemme know if you're interested in the Holiday Inn or St. Vincent's, or if you have any other suggestions.

http://www.hostelz.com/hostels/USA/Louisiana/New-Orleans

FYI the other 3 hostels are:

Marquette House, 1.58 miles SW on St. Charles, 2249 Carondelet Street (504) 523-3014 $20/night for single sex dorm, with AC. Can't seem to book this one online, but I called and they said there's plenty of space in October.

India House Backpackers hostel, 2.74 miles NW of Convention center directly down canal st., 124 South Lopez St $17/night x 4 nights = $68 for 8-bed M/F/mixed dorm, with linens, swimming pool, wifi, AC, age restriction, bicycle hire

Joe & Flo's Candlelight hostel, 2.5 miles N of convention ctr., 1129 N. Robertson Street $25/night 3/4-bed mixed dorm x 4 nights = $100 with towels/linens, AC, airport pickup, 5 blocks from french quarter, ceiling fan, cable tv

 

[mfleur]

I was also thinking about the Holiday Inn.

 

[trkd]

LeilaZ, check you private messages. I PMed you last night.