FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 16, 2005

CONTACT:
David Layman
Jennifer Palcher
(404) 252-3663

ATLANTA—Packing in a record 176 attendees, this year’s seventh annual Healthcare Convention and Exhibitors Association (HCEA) Healthcare Exhibit Marketing Summit in Philadelphia surpassed last year’s record attendance of 158. The Summit was held January 27 at the Philadelphia Marriott Downtown.

The Summit’s high-level program showcased sessions on topics including regulatory compliance and improving healthcare exhibition traffic. Educational sessions included a keynote address by Minnie Baylor-Henry, RPh, JD, Vice President, Medical and Regulatory Affairs, McNeil Consumer & Specialty Pharma, who talked about the current regulatory environment surrounding healthcare exhibitions.

Other highlights included a presentation by Priscilla Ray, MD, on the AMA Code of Ethics, which outlines recommendations for physicians’ interactions with industry, and a lively panel discussion, “Getting Attendees into the Exhibit Hall: Association Perspective,” which featured representatives from three leading healthcare conventions.

Medical device exhibit marketers learned about compliance issues specific to their industry from Heather Zimmerman, Associate, Reed Smith LLP, and pharma companies got an insightful update on how major drug firms compare in today’s market from Dr. William Trombetta, Professor of Pharmaceutical Marketing, St. Joseph’s University.

Many thanks to HCEA’s 2005 Summit sponsors: Gold Sponsors: AllService Event Solutions – A Rent-a-PC Company; Poretta & Orr, Inc.; Sho-Aids, Inc.; and Sparks Exhibits & Environments; and President’s Circle Sponsors: Exhibit Works; Group 360, Inc.; H.B. Stubbs Company; Impact Unlimited; Live Marketing; Marketech Inc.; Photosound Communications; and PMSI - Professional Marketing Services, Inc.

HCEA is the only association solely dedicated to improving the effectiveness of all conventions, meetings and exhibitions for the healthcare industry. HCEA represents nearly 700 member organizations involved in healthcare exhibitions and conventions.