BRI’s 6th Annual Leadership Conference: Another Success!
Ethics of the
Patient-Doctor Relationship
Forty-five eager medical students, expert speakers and BRI staff gathered in Columbus, Ohio on the beautiful OSU campus for BRI’s Sixth Annual Leadership Conference March 8 through 11, 2018.
From Direct Primary Care best practices to protecting patient privacy, from effective communication strategies to discerning what lessons we can learn from the holocaust—the conference offered medical students a wide variety of critical and current topics to ponder as they move through their medical school careers.
There were also a few firsts for conference attendees and the public. BRI held not one—but two—speaker sessions open to the entire OSU campus and general public. In addition to the almost 200 people in attendance at these two events, we live-streamed them internationally.
BRI touched young medical students all over the country. Schools from New York to Texas, Wisconsin to California were represented, as well as our international Nigerian and Tel Aviv chapters. Here’s what a few of our attendees had to say:
“BRI gets better every year at connecting with students more directly on the free-market topics that matter most to their everyday experience.” ~Joshua de Gastyne, entrepreneur|presenter
“BRI equipped me with a wealth of knowledge that I wish was mandatory at all medical schools. I could not recommend this organization enough.” ~ShelbyLuikart, MS1, University of Texas, Medical Branch
“Not having official exposure learning about the healthcare system, it was valuable to learn about a specific viewpoint and learn about the shortcomings of the current systems. In the few days of the conference, I was exposed to a variety of viewpoints and have a better idea of what to expect in the future, although there is much more to learn.” ~Dishaw Holiprosad, MS1, Stony Brook University School of Medicine
“I found the 2018 BRI leadership conference extremely beneficial in my development as a future physician. The speakers were informative and passionate, yet 
courteous to all. I have always been a proponent of free market approaches to healthcare so I enjoyed learning the reasons why such approaches are essential to satisfying patient needs and providing high quality, effective healthcare.” ~Matthew Kavalek, MS3, New York Medical College
BRI is grateful to the students who travelled to attend this conference, for the host BRI chapters at OSU and OU-HCOM who helped produce the event, and to all our fabulous speakers who inspired, led and motivated this year’s cohort! We also say “THANK YOU!” to all our generous donors and sponsors who helped make this happen—especially Liberty HealthShare for sponsoring our kickoff welcome reception featuring Dr. Robert Graboyes of The Mercatus Institute.
SPEAKERS
Raul Artal, MD, FACOG, FACSM will be our luncheon Keynote Speaker on the topic Medical Ethics and the Holocaust: Lessons From the Past.
Dr. Artal, a Holocaust survivor, was born in a Nazi concentration camp. He is the Chairman and Professor Emeritus of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health at Saint Louis University. He is a graduate of Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University (where BRI has thriving chapter!), the author of over 200 publications and three books and is internationally recognized for his expertise in high risk obstetrics, exercise physiology, and ethical standards in medical practice/research.
Viewpoint: Medicine After the Holocaust
Heather Bartlett, MD will be our Saturday Keynote Speaker on Direct Primary Care (DPC)—How it relates to the patient-doctor relationship.
Dr. Bartlett opened Columbus’ first direct primary care clinic, The Bartlett Medical Clinic & Wellness Center, in February 2016 after witnessing the frustrating experiences of thousands of patients across America within healthcare with both cost and reasonable access in her various roles in health care settings, as emergency room physician, healthcare system employed outpatient primary care physician, pre-admission screening physician, and finally as an urgent care physician at one of the busiest centers in Central Ohio. She wanted to help change both the access and cost issues to the uninsured, under-insured, and insured for primary care in Ohio’s capital, Columbus.
Dr. Bartlett earned her bachelor’s degree in science in biology and graduated from Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. She received her medical degree from St. Matthew’s University School of Medicine, Grand Cayman, BWI and completed her internship in general surgery at The Jewish Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. She completed her residency in family medicine as Chief Resident at Mount Carmel Health System in Columbus, Ohio. She is board certified in family medicine.
Twila Brase, RN, PHN is president and co-founder of the Citizens’ Council for Health Freedom (CCHF), a patient-centered national health care organization based in St. Paul, MN. In 2009, Modern Healthcare Magazine named her #75 on the “100 Most Powerful People in Healthcare” list of healthcare leaders in America.
Ms. Brase will discuss Winning the Individual Health Decision War: Restoring Patient Power, Individual Choice, Privacy Rights & Health Freedom
Dr. Robert S. Emmons is a Board Certified Psychiatrist / Neurologist – Clinical Neurophysiology practicing in Burlington, VT. Dr. Emmons graduated Summa Cum Laude, Luther College and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is affiliated with the American Association of Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS), and founder and Staff Psychiatrist of the Franciscan Free Psychiatric Clinic in Vermont.
Dr. Emmons will be speaking on Finding Our Way Back From Distributive Justice to Do No Harm in Medical Ethics
Rafael Fonseca, MD, is the Getz Family Professor of cancer and a Professor of Medicine. He is a consultant in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the Mayo Clinic, AZ and Chair of the Department of Medicine. Dr Fonseca earned his MD at Universidad Anahuac, Mexico. He completed a residency in internal medicine at the University of Miami, FL, and a fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at Mayo Graduate School of Medicine, Rochester, MN. He is a clinical investigator for the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Fund.
Dr. Fonseca will be speaking on From the Trenches: The Fiduciary Responsibility of the Physician to the Patient. He will expose students to considerations to be had during daily clinical practice that can erode the fiduciary responsibility that physicians have in the process of patient care. This will include discussions related to patient care, treatment selection, policies and value frameworks.
Dr. Robert Graboyes, PhD is Senior Research Fellow at the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Author of “Fortress and Frontier in American Health Care,” his work asks, “How can we make health care as innovative in the next 25 years as information technology was in the past 25 years?” His work has taken him to Europe, Sub-Saharan African, and Central Asia. He has taught mid-career health care professionals in master’s and doctoral programs since 1999. and will be speaking on innovation in medical delivery.
Dr. Graboyes will be speaking on Falcon Heavy Health Care—What can we learn from Elon Musk and apply to healthcare? Elon Musk’s Tesla roadster now orbits the sun, and two of the boosters that got it there performed a perfect, synchronized vertical landing straight out of 1950s sci-fi thriller. Musk’s engineering and showmanship got world buzzing about the possibilities of space, with an excitement largely absent since the final moon landing in 1972. Importantly, Falcon Heavy demonstrated the value of competition and entrepreneurship in a field many had seen as a purely governmental endeavor. What can health care learn from this achievement?
Merlin Huff, MFA
Merlin Huff earned an MFA from the Yale School of Drama, and has worked as both a film and stage actor. Owner of Huff Studios, Merlin helped actors and non-actors understand and step into the shoes of personalities and viewpoints very different from their own. Merlin spent two years as a management consultant, and now holds the role of Integrator at a real estate company in South Dakota.
He will be speaking on Effective Communication Strategies, and will share a panel with Katherine Restrepo and Dr. Haynes on Communicating Controversial Ideas, with Q&A
Sameer Lakha, MD, anesthesiology | BRI-Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai chapter founder and past president
Dr. Lakha will present two talks:
Single-payer: hopes, dreams, realities and Guerilla Marketing in the Marketplace of Ideas
Dr. Lakha is a distinguished scholar and doctor, receiving his undergraduate degree cum laude from Harvard University, and his MD with distinction in research from Icahn School of Medicine at Mt. Sinai, New York.
Jules Madrigal, MD is board certified in pediatrics and internal medicine. She completed her bachelor of science at the University of Texas at Austin while graduating Cum Laude. She received her Doctorate of Medicine at Texas A&M and finished her residency at the University of Oklahoma School of Medicine. She currently serves on BRI’s board of directors.
She will be presenting on The Sanctity of the Doctor-Patient Relationship.
Katherine Restrepo is the Director of Health Care Policy at the John Locke Foundation. Before joining the John Locke Foundation, she interned at the Cato Institute under the direction of Michael Cannon, Director of Health Policy Studies. Katherine’s research and expertise extends to freedom-advancing health care innovations such as Direct Primary Care and telemedicine. Katherine graduated from McDaniel College with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Spanish along with a minor in Communication. She earned her master’s degree in health care administration at the University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health. She is also a contributor to Forbes.
She will be presenting on Medicaid: Challenges and Solutions. For more from Katherine, click here.
AGENDA
Thursday, March 8: Welcome Reception & Chapter Reports
Venue: Black Point Prime Steak House, 570 N High St. • Columbus, OH 43215
6:30 – 8:00pm Registration & Reception featuring Dr. Robert Graboyes: Falcon Heavy Health Care—What can we learn from Elon Musk to apply to healthcare?
8:00 – 9:00pm Chapter Reports: BRI leaders and student attendees only
Friday, March 9: Day 1 of Conference
Venue: OSU Campus, Graves 1063
7:30 – 8:30am Breakfast provided at Red Roof Inn+ for students staying at the hotel.
8:30 – 8:40 Welcome Remarks
8:40 – 9:30 Robert Emmons, MD: Finding Our Way Back From Distributive Justice to Do No Harm in Medical Ethics
9:30 – 10:30 Rafael Fonseca, MD: From the Trenches: The Fiduciary Responsibility of the Physician to the Patient
10:30 – 10:40 Break (10)
10:40 – 11:30 Twila Brase, RN: Winning the Individual Health Decision War: Restoring Patient Power, Individual Choice, Privacy Rights & Health Freedom
11:30 – 12:00pm Transition to Meiling Hall, Room 112 | Pick up lunch at event
12:00 – 1:00 Luncheon Keynote — Open to greater OSU student body & General Public
FRIDAY LUNCHEON KEYNOTE:
Dr. Raul Artal, MD: Medicine After the Holocaust
1:00 – 1:45 Transition back to classroom
1:45 – 2:45 Sameer Lakha, MD: Single-payer: hopes, dreams, realities
2:45 – 3:45 Jules Madrigal-Dersch, MD: The Sanctity of the Patient-Doctor Relationship
3:45 – 4:30 Q & A Panel: Ask the Speaker: Challenges & Concerns: Drs. Emmons, Madrigal-Dersch, Haynes and Lakha, Twila Brase, RN
4:30 – 5:30 Break (90) & transition to Meiling 160
5:30 – 7:30 Panel Discussion @ OSU, Meiling 160 | Open to greater OSU student body & General Public
Are the Tenets of Social Justice Compatible with the Ethical Requirements of the Patient – Doctor Relationship?
5:30 – 6:00 Reception
6:00 – 7:30 Panel Discussion
7:30 – 8:00 Transition to Martini’s Restaurant, 445 N. High Street, Columbus, OH
8:00 – 10:00 Dinner for BRI student attendees, speakers, panelists and moderator
Saturday, March 10: Day 2 of Conference
Venue: OSU Campus, Graves 1063
7:00 – 8:00am Breakfast
8:00 – 8:20 Debrief on last night’s Panel Discussion
8:20 – 9:50 Merlin Huff, MFA Effective Communication Strategies
9:50 – 10:00 Break (10)
10:00 – 10:30 Beth Haynes, MD: Is healthcare a right? Communicating on controversial topics
10:30 – 11:30 BRI Staff & Students: Creating BRI’s Vision: The next 10 years
11:30 – 12:00 Transition to Lunch
12:00 – 1:30pm Lunch
SATURDAY LUNCHEON KEYNOTE:
12:00 – 1:30pm Keynote: Dr. Heather Bartlett: DPC—How it relates to the patient-doctor relationship
1:30 – 2:15 Student presentation(s): Adi Segal, Joshua de Gastyne, Aisha Olanlege
2:15 – 2:45 Sameer Lakha, MD: Guerilla Marketing in the Marketplace of Ideas
2:45 – 3:00 Break and Networking (15)
3:00 – 4:00 Katherine Restrepo Medicaid: Challenges and Solutions
4:00 – 5:00 Panel: (speakers and doctors) Communicating Controversial Ideas, with Q&A
5:00 pm Conference adjourns.
Evening: Free to explore Columbus!
Sunday, March 11: Day 3 of Conference
7:30 – 8:30 Breakfast
8:30 – 10:00 BRI Staff & Students: Chapter Awards, BRI Logistics and Networking
10:00 – 10:15 Break (15)
10:15 – 11:30 Merlin Huff, Katherine Restrepo, & Beth Haynes, MD: Communicating Controversial Ideas, with Q&A
11:30 – 12:00pm Wrap up and final networking
12 noon Conference adjourns
FRIDAY KEYNOTE SESSION IS OPEN TO THE GREATER OSU STUDENT BODY, OTHER LOCAL UNIVERSITIES AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
RSVP is required from all who request a lunch. RSVP here.
(Students already accepted to the entire Leadership Conference do NOT need to RSVP.)
FRIDAY LUNCH KEYNOTE:
Raul Artal, MD, FACOG, FACSM will be our luncheon Keynote Speaker on the topic Medical Ethics and the Holocaust: Lessons From the Past.
Dr. Artal, a Holocaust survivor, was born in a Nazi concentration camp. He is the Chairman and Professor Emeritus of the Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Women’s Health at Saint Louis University. He is a graduate of Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University (where BRI has thriving chapter!), the author of over 200 publications and three books and is internationally recognized for his expertise in high risk obstetrics, exercise physiology, and ethical standards in medical practice/research.
Viewpoint: Medicine After the Holocaust
FRIDAY EVENING PANEL DISCUSSION IS OPEN TO THE GREATER OSU STUDENT BODY, OTHER LOCAL UNIVERSITIES, AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC.
RSVP is required in order to ensure enough reception food for all. RSVP here.
(Students already accepted to the entire Leadership Conference do NOT need to RSVP.)
5:30 – 7:30 Panel Discussion @ OSU, Meiling 160 | 370 W 9th Ave, Columbus, OH 43210 Are the Tenets of Social Justice Compatible with the Ethical Requirements of the Patient – Doctor Relationship?
5:30 – 6:00 Reception outside the lecture hall
6:00 – 7:30 Panel Discussion
Moderator: C. Alex Grieco, Assistant Professor of Biomedical Education and Anatomy
Alex Grieco is an Assistant Professor of Biomedical Education and Anatomy and an Assistant Professor of Radiology within the Ohio State University College of Medicine. He works in the Office of Medical Education and Student Life, and serves as Special Assistant to the Vice Dean of Education. Alex directs the Radiology Medical Student Program at OSU, and is a part of the leadership team for the Clinical Applications component of the Lead-Serve-Inspire Medical Curriculum. He is the College of Medicine Career Advisor, and has the privilege of working with students throughout the various phases of their journey, from early career discernment through residency applications and the Match. He is a Portfolio Coach for the medical class of 2020, working with and mentoring students related to curricular and extra-curricular elements of the medical school experience. Alex grew up in Elmira, New York, the son of two elementary school teachers. He graduated from Bucknell University with Honors, achieving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Biology, and attended medical school at the State University of New York at Buffalo. He completed his residency in Diagnostic Radiology at Penn State Hershey, and went on to a fellowship in Body MRI and Cardiac Imaging at Thomas Jefferson University.
Representing that the tenets of social justice are compatible with the ethical requirements of the patient-doctor relationship:
Daniel Skinner, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor of Health Policy in the Department of Social Medicine at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, in Dublin, Ohio, Adjunct Assistant Professor in the Department of Pediatrics, The Ohio State University (at Nationwide Children’s Hospital), and Assistant Director of the Health Policy Fellowship, a certificate program of the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine. His areas of expertise include health care politics and policy; the politics of medicine and disease; hospital-community relations; and health care for vulnerable and underserved populations.
Dr. Francis Blais is Clinical Professor of Medicine, OUHCOM, Associate Director, Rural Underserved Scholars Program, and has served 40 year career in infectious diseases at three osteopathic medical schools. Dr. Blais has an ongoing interest in underserved populations. He received his medical degree from Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine and has been in practice for more than 20 years. He is a board member and volunteer for Physicians Care Connection.
Representing that the tenets of social justice are not compatible with the ethical requirements of the patient-doctor relationship:
Dr. Ryan Nash, MD, MA, FACP, FAAHPM, is the Director of The Ohio State University Center for Bioethics and Director, Division of Biomedical Education and Anatomy. He is an Associate Professor of Medicine and holds the Hagop Mekhjian, MD, Chair in Medical Ethics and Professionalism at the College of Medicine. In addition to practicing Palliative Medicine, Dr. Nash is a Clinical Bioethics consultant and Healthcare Ethics Advisor for the OSU Medical Center. He has published one book, three book chapters, and several essays related to bioethics and has presented numerous scientific papers and invited lectures at national and international meetings. In addition, Dr. Nash currently serves on the Ethics Committee for the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
Dr. Robert S. Emmons is a Board Certified Psychiatrist / Neurologist – Clinical Neurophysiology practicing in Burlington, VT. Dr. Emmons graduated Summa Cum Laude, Luther College and is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology. He is affiliated with the American Association of Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS), and founder and Staff Psychiatrist of the Franciscan Free Psychiatric Clinic in Vermont.
Moderator: TBA
DATES & VENUES
Thursday, March 8th @ 6:30pm – Sunday, March 11th @ 12 noon.
Thursday, March 8th WELCOME RECEPTION: Black Point Prime Steak House
570 N High St. • Columbus, OH 43215
6:30 – 9:00pm Registration
7:00 – 9:00pm Reception
9:00 – 10pm Chapter Reports
HOTEL accommodations will be at Red Roof Inn Plus, 111 E. Nationwide Blvd., Columbus, OH 43215
Friday, March 9th: EVENING PANEL DISCUSSION @ OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE, Meiling Hall.
For more information, see “Panel Discussion Details,” below.
Sunday, March 11th: LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE ENDS @ 12 NOON.
PANEL DISCUSSION DETAILS
Discussion Panel Focus: Can expanding the scope of practice for non-physicians increase access to high-quality primary care and help lower healthcare costs? Are Missouri’s new Assistant Physicians able to provide safe, high-quality care?
Time:
Pre-event Reception: 6:30 – 7:00 pm
Panel Discussion: 7:00 – 8:30 pm
Venue: OSU Campus, Meiling Hall, Room #160
6:30 – 7:00 pm Reception
7:00 – 7:05 Welcome and Introduction of the Topic/Moderator
-OSUMC BRI Representative
7:05 – 7:15 Moderator NEUTRAL Comments on the Topic and Introduction of Panelists
7:15 – 7:35 Panelist 5 Minute Statements
7:35 – 8:00 Q/A Directed by Moderator
-Open to Audience
8:00 – Event Concludes
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE NEWSLETTERS
To be added as they are released.
FAQs
Q: How many students may come from our chapter?
A: We guarantee two attendees from each chapter. We also have four chapter Awards, and the winning chapters will be eligible to send a third student. We will invite these and other additional attendees based on budget allowances. The host chapters OSUMC and OU-HCOM/Dublin and /Athens may send more students.
The President or chapter leader should work with his or her chapter members and officers to determine which students should attend. Typically, incoming M1S and M2S who will be taking over leadership are the first ones considered, but all interested students should complete the registration form as soon as possible. Then we will notify you and the Chapter Leader(s) which additional students have been accepted.
If you are able to acquire additional funding from outside sources (school, local medical society, philanthropist), GO FOR IT! You will be able to send more students the more funds you provide.
Q: Do all attendees have to be BRI members or chapter leaders?
A: All attendees need to be BRI members and have access to the Student Leader Portal. Chapters should work together to determine which students to send to the conference, whether or not they hold official BRI chapter officer titles.
Q: What are the four Award categories?
A: All awards are given based on data from the first day after last year’s leadership conference to a specified date prior to the next conference. This year, the dates are February 6, 2017 through February 28, 2018. Chapter events scheduled after the registration acceptance cut off date of January 22nd will count towards awards. The categories are:
1) Most events held
2) Most attendance at all events
3) Highest attendance at a single event
4) Most volunteer|charitable events held
Q: How can I find out our chapter’s status in the Award categories?
A: We will make every effort to keep active chapters updated on their event progress, and make room on this information page where you can view it.
Q: How do I know if our Chapter qualifies for more than two students?
A: Your chapter president will be notified as soon as possible, based on the Award criteria and budget allowances.
Q: When do I need to apply to attend the conference?
A: The registration form is available now, so the sooner you complete that the sooner we can confirm your attendance. As soon as you are notified of your acceptance, you should book your flights, taking advantage of lowest fares.
Q: When will I know if I have been accepted?
A: We will make all notifications on or before Monday, February 15, 2018.
Q: When do I need to make travel arrangements?
A: Please make travel arrangements as soon as you know you’ve been accepted. We may be capping the amount we can spend on airfare, so the sooner you get everything in motion, the better your chances are of getting an airfare that will be 100% reimbursed.
If you are pre-approved, you may be able to purchase your flights now, and you should send that information to Charlotte (Charlotte@BenjaminRushInstitute.org) asap. Students most likely to be pre-approved are incoming chapter presidents, or leaders who have produced two or more large events already. If you request pre-approval, please contact Beth (Beth@BenjaminRushInstitute.org) directly.
Q: What if I’m local—will parking or other transportation be covered?
A: Yes. Local students should retain any gas, parking or transportation (bus, Uber, train, etc.) receipts and submit them at the end of the conference on the Conference Evaluation form.
Q: What is the best airport to fly into?
A: John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH).
Q: How do I get from the airport to the hotel?
A: If you fly in to the conference, we recommend Uber Pool, Uber, taxi or Metro from the airport to the hotel. If you get in late at night take Uber or a cab. You will be responsible for any charges associated with home <—> airport | airport <—> hotel transportation.
Q: How do I notify you of my travel arrangements?
A: Upload your itinerary including cost to your Conference Logistics form. (You will be sent a link to this form once you are accepted.) If you completed a logistics form prior to booking your travel, email all itinerary receipts (showing flight times and costs) to Charlotte Monte (Charlotte@BenjaminRushInstitute.org) as soon as you have your bookings.
Q: What if I don’t apply or make my travel arrangements in time?
A: The longer you wait, the more expensive airfare becomes, and we may cap the amount we reimburse for airfare in order not to impact the number of students we accept to the conference. Also, the hotel room rate may increase after a certain deadline. If your application and/or logistics form is not in and approvable in time, we will ask you to make up any difference in room cost, and we may not be able to reimburse travel 100%.
Q: How do I pay for my travel arrangements, and how do I get reimbursed?
A: If you are driving or carpooling, please keep track of your mileage. We will reimburse at the current standard compensation of 54.5¢ per mile, which typically includes gas, tolls, etc. Those traveling by air or ground (train, bus, etc.) will need to purchase airline or other transportation tickets asap. Please seek the least expensive fares, and try to keep airfare below $500 if possible. We will not reimburse local transportation from your home to the airport, the airport to the hotel and back again. If you have hardship in regards to this rate of reimbursement, please contact Dr. Haynes.
In order to be reimbursed, you fulfill three requirements within 30 days:
-
- Complete a Conference Evaluation (the link to this form will be given to you before the Conference concludes).
- On this form, you will submit all receipts
- And a 500-800 blog post suitable for publication, or have one event scheduled after the Conference within 30 days. (The event does not need to take place within 30 days, but needs to be solid and confirmed on the BRI calendar within 30 days.)
Reimbursement checks will be mailed within 2 weeks of completing these parameters. (The event may be held after his 2-week window.)
Q: Do I need to rent a car?
A: There is no need for you to rent a car. Our venues are all pretty close to each other and for those who would prefer not to walk, join up with four or five others in an Uber. The person paying for the Uber should submit the fare receipt at the end of the conference for reimbursement.
Q: Why do you need a Conference Evaluation, and how do I fill it in?
A: Before the conference ends, you will be given a link to access the Conference Evaluation Form. Your honest feedback about the conference is very important to enable us to continue improving BRI training and programs.
Q: What costs will be covered by BRI?
A: BRI will cover your transportation (flights*, train fare or mileage), hotel accommodations, conference fees, breakfasts, lunches, and other meals associated with the conference. *Note on flights: Due to BRI’s very restricted budget this year, we may need to cap the amount we will spend on airfare. The sooner you begin the application process and can book less expensive airfare, the better chances you’ll have of having your flights 100% reimbursed.
Q: What costs will I have to cover myself?
A: Attendees are responsible for getting themselves to and from their home airport, and to and from the airport and hotel. You will also need to pay for any extra charges incurred to your hotel room (room service, etc.) and for any extra-curricular meals or entertainment costs during the evenings or after 12 noon on Sunday. Room incidentals, meals and excursion costs unrelated to the conference are not covered.
Q: Will you accommodate my food preferences and/or food allergies?
A: We will do our best to accommodate food preferences and allergies.
Q: Do I have to make my own hotel room reservation?
A: No, please do not make your own hotel reservation; Charlotte will do that for you and notify you of your room confirmation number and roommate(s) if applicable.
Q: Will my roommate request be accommodated?
A: We will honor all roommate requests to the best of our ability.
Q: Do I have to share a hotel room?
A: You do not have to share a room; however, BRI will only reimburse half of the double occupancy rate.
Q: What are Chapter Reports?
A: On Thursday evening, after the formal part of the Welcome Reception, generally from 8-9pm, chapter representatives have the opportunity to present their state-of-the-chapter reports. This could include when the chapter was founded, how many members currently participate, what’s been accomplished so far, what breakdowns or needs they have, and their vision for the future.
Q: What is the “Papers & Projects” segment of the Conference?
A: If time allows, we have a section for student presentations. Many students have published prestigious and/or influential white papers and articles. Others have worked on noteworthy projects in the area of healthcare, innovation and/or technology. Still others are knowledgeable about best practices in running and sustaining Chapters. If you would like to be a student presenter, you can indicate that on your application.
Q: What is the dress code for the event?
A: Please remember that you are representing BRI at all times, in all venues. Also, we will have a videographer filming most portions of the events, so it is important to look well-dressed. Business casual is recommended at a minimum. Suits and dresses are appropriate for the Welcome Reception on Thursday, and Friday evening debate. Casual attire may be worn Sunday, but remember: videotaping is still happening, so please dress accordingly.
Q: What if I have other questions?
A: Please email Charlotte (Charlotte@BenjaminRushInstitute.org) or Beth (Beth@BenjaminRushInstitute.org) with any other questions or concerns. We look forward to working with you in Columbus!