Exhibit Hall Is Place to Be!

The Exhibit Hall continues to offer attendees new and engaging activities as well as opportunities to learn about new products and services related to psychiatry. After last year’s successful Annual Meeting in New Orleans—where it was obvious that APA members were glad to gather in person once again—exhibitors are gearing up on a larger scale this year to interact with attendees and share information. Over 250 exhibitors are expected—check out the list of names and a map of the Exhibit Hall in the Annual Meeting Program Guide available at Registration and on the APA Meetings App.

APA continues to put safety first for the health of APA attendees, exhibitors, vendors, and staff. This year’s COVID guidelines require that all attendees at the meeting be fully vaccinated against COVID-19. By attending the meeting, each individual attests and affirms compliance with this request.

The Exhibit Hall is an integral part of the meeting, and the schedule has been carefully planned. To encourage attendance at plenary sessions and to allow exhibitors a break, the Exhibit Hall will be closed each day from 10:30 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. The Exhibit Hall will resume with a Mid-Day Mingle where light food and snacks will be available.

The Stage will serve as the main hub for attendees to meet up with colleagues; charge personal devices; listen to lively presentations; or just take a few moments to rest between sessions in a casual, relaxed setting. Non-CME presentations will be offered in a few formats. The Product Showcases, which will be held in two theaters in the Exhibit Hall, include 16, 60-minute sessions. For early risers, Product Showcases have been added each morning at 9:30 a.m. to include breakfast items along with coffee and tea (dependent on company preference). The 30-minute Huddles and 30-minute Coffee & Conversations sessions will also take place at The Stage. The popular Coffee & Conversations sessions are designed to promote engagement among attendees with APA thought leaders and dynamic presenters on exciting and timely topics.

Therapeutic Updates are an extension of the Exhibit Hall. They will be held at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square. Sessions are planned Saturday to Monday, May 20 to 23, from 7:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. All non-CME sessions are on a first-come, first-served basis, so be sure to mark your calendars to attend!

The new Mind & Body Pavilion will be available to encourage attendees to focus on their well-being in three areas: Calm, Create, and Challenge. In the “Calm” area, attendees can get a massage with a licensed massage therapist trained to address any tension areas in the upper body. In the “Create” area, attendees can collaborate and paint selected works of art. In the “Challenge” area, attendees can compete with each other in various games such as giant Jenga^® and Connect Four^® games.

Don’t forget to drop by APA Central and learn more about the benefits of membership. Check out the PsychPRO booth, APA’s mental health registry, and sign up to participate if you haven’t already. Purchase your DSM-5-TR at the APA Publishing Bookstore at a discount. The Career Expo offers recruitment possibilities for those searching for employment opportunities, and the Publishers Expo provides the latest publications you need for your professional library.

We are looking forward to a great meeting, so plan now to take part in all the Exhibit Hall offerings and the Annual Meeting as a whole. ■