The SSCI relies heavily on grant support from industry to make our annual meeting a success. Our not-for-profit scientific organization is committed to the academic development of trainees and junior faculty (see our homepage and other sections of this website for more information about us). As such, our annual February meeting in New Orleans (Southern Regional Meeting) is heavily attended by resident and fellow trainees. It includes a broad medical audience with general internists, medical subspecialists, and pediatricians, all in academic medicine. The slant of the meeting is toward clinical investigation. We need your support to strengthen the meeting and continue the growth in attendance that we have enjoyed over the past 5 years. There are several venues by which industry can support our meeting and academic mission.

1. Trainee Travel Awards - To make it practical for trainees to come to the Southern Regional Meeting, financial support for their travel expenses must be provided. Our goal is to award a $500 travel supplement to all trainees who are presenting their work at the meeting. Last year, we funded all 100 trainee presenters and we would like to continue that precedent. All of this support, however, comes from fundraising (registration fees do not cover any of this cost).

2. Plenary Sessions - There are several plenary sessions at the meeting that are theme-based and part of the main program. This year, there will be one on Obesity and one on the Gut as an Immune Organ. Support (travel, hotel, honoraria, etc.) for the nationally-recognized we invite speakers is needed.

3. Dinner Programs - Each of the medical subspecialties (GI, Pulmonary, Nephrology, etc.) looks forward to having an educational program in their field, usually on the first evening of the meeting, to bring colleagues together. These can involve a single speaker or a symposium format with a theme and 2-3 speakers. SSCI members seek the support of industry to fund these events.

4. Poster Exhibits - The Southern Regional Meeting provides exhibitor space to companies that wish to present their product(s) or provide educational materials. The exhibitor section is directly adjacent to the main lecture halls and is where refreshments are provided to assure adequate exposure to meeting participants. If you are interested in exhibit space for one day or throughout the meeting, please contact Joan Kemp for further details.

If you are contacted by an SSCI or SAFMR member seeking support for one or more of these activities, we hope you will consider their request (our Tax ID# is 58-153-5730). If you would like to support one or more of the above activities but have not been contacted, please email Joan Kemp, Executive Director of the SSCI, and she will place you in contact with the appropriate faculty member organizing that event. We hope you can help us in our effort to support the future of academic medicine.