Feature Article: April 2021 – AMMG Would Like to Thank Our Attendees and Sponsors for their Support

AMMG Would Like to Thank Our Attendees and Sponsors for their Support

Jeff Morris

After 18 months on the sidelines, Clinical Applications for Age Management Medicine returned two weeks ago in Miami, Florida.

The in-person conference was not held at all during 2020. But it finally returned in a big way from April 15th to 18th, and everyone involved, from attendees to organizers, staff, faculty and exhibitors, could not have been happier.

“We were cutting edge,” said AMMG Executive Director and Co-founder Rick Merner. “We were one of the first conferences to come back and be held this year. We took a big risk, but we got a lot of appreciation from both attendees and exhibitors, who were all so grateful to have things get back to the way they used to be.”

Said Partner and Director of Education Greg Fillmore, “We know that COVID makes travel difficult, yet our attendees and exhibitors came through for us. After 18 long months of no conference, we just want to thank everyone.”

“We had over 300 attendees, and even though that was down from our normal attendance, the conference was exceptionally well received,” said Merner. “We got a lot of compliments both during and after the conference.” He continued, “Everybody was just excited to be there. It was an upbeat environment and atmosphere. I’ve been doing this a long time, and it was literally the first conference where we didn’t get a single complaint; everybody was just so grateful to be back.”

Fillmore noted that AMMG, like other small businesses, has struggled this past year. “Eighteen months with no event has been difficult for us, our staff, our attendees and our sponsors,” he said. “We understand all too well the issues that surround travel, and wearing of masks for long periods and the precautions that each of you had to take to attend. We cannot thank you enough for your interest and support of AMMG and Age Management Medicine.” Fillmore concluded, “I, for one, want to say that it feels great to get back to a more normal way of life.”

Merner noted that the conference featured a full exhibit hall. “Even knowing that there wouldn’t be as many attendees, our sponsors were fully supportive, and we are very thankful to them,” he said.

Merner said the Practice Management Workshop on Wednesday got consistently high marks from attendees. “That was our first time launch of a practice management workshop,” he said, “so I couldn’t be more pleased at how it turned out.”

Merner pointed out that the conference was fully set up for social distancing and safety protocols, and everything went very smoothly. “Our attendees are medical professionals, so they know how to behave in a COVID environment,” he said.

Looking to the future, Merner said, “I think this bodes well for our November conference, in Dallas.”