Held at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, the World Marketplace Exhibition will feature more than 650 exhibitors occupying over 350,000 square feet of exhibition space, which is equivalent to about six football fields.
The ADA Annual Session, the largest event held in San Antonio this year, will contribute some $36.4 million to the local economy. The event offers attendees unique learning opportunities, cutting-edge technology and a "Distinguished Speaker Series" that features NBC News' Tom Brokaw and ABC News' Bob Woodruff, two of the nation's premier journalists.
Marketplace of Ideas, Technology and Products
Over 150 of the top minds in dental education will present more than 225 relevant and topical continuing education courses, with the majority of them free for registered attendees. Registration also includes entrance into the World Marketplace Exhibition, the largest dental exhibition in the U.S., and access to the acclaimed "Distinguished Speaker Series."
New for 2008 are unique learning opportunities such as the "Live Operatory Center" featuring a Laser Pavilion, CAD/CAM technology and 3-D Imaging Center.
"The Live Operatory Center (LOC) is a breakthrough in dental meeting education," said Dr. Chip Mohme, program chairperson ADA 2008 Annual Session. "Without leaving the exhibit floor, dental professionals can receive continuing education credit in three of the highest tech areas of a dental practice. The ADA Annual Session is the only place where you can see live demonstrations of 3-D imaging and CAD/CAM dentistry, and work hands-on with multiple dental lasers. The LOC will change attendee expectations of what they should see at large dental meetings."
Additionally, the newly introduced "ADA365.org," an educational networking Web site, allowed participants in more than 50 Annual Session CE courses to begin their educational experience this past summer, well in advance of the four-day Annual Session, and for months after the event.
Now in its second year, the ADA's "Education in the Round" learning format offers dental professionals a series of courses in a unique, interactive, multi-media setting that uses live patients to teach dental techniques.
"Distinguished Speakers Series" feature NBC's Tom Brokaw, ABC's Bob Woodruff
Registered attendees receive free entry to ADA General Sessions, featuring the "Distinguished Speaker Series," sponsored by the Johnson & Johnson Healthcare Products Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc.
Award-winning NBC "Nightly News" anchor and broadcast journalist and author Tom Brokaw will kick off the 2008 ADA Distinguished Speaker Series on Friday morning, Oct. 17. Mr. Brokaw's political reporting and documentaries have earned him many accolades, including Peabody awards, Emmys and the Edward R. Murrow Lifetime Achievement Award. He has covered every presidential election since 1968 and moderated nine primary and general election debates.
On Saturday morning, the Distinguished Speakers Series will feature Bob and Lee Woodruff, authors of the book In an Instant. In January 2006, within weeks of his appointment as co-anchor of ABC's "World News Tonight," a roadside bomb in Iraq nearly killed Mr. Woodruff. Since that day, his remarkable recovery has inspired people all over the world. Their presentation explores their story of survival, and of marriage for better and for worse.
Visit www.ada.org/goto/session or call 800-232-1432 for more information. At this Web site, you also can download the entire preliminary program; search for continuing education courses by date, topic or speaker; and access the interactive World Marketplace floor plan and exhibitor list.
About the American Dental Association
The not-for-profit ADA is the nation's largest dental association, representing more than 156,000 dentist members. The premier source of oral health information, the ADA has advocated for the public's health and promoted the art and science of dentistry since 1859. The ADA's state-of-the-art research facilities develop and test dental products and materials that have advanced the practice of dentistry and made the patient experience more positive. The ADA Seal of Acceptance long has been a valuable and respected guide to consumer dental care products. JADA, a monthly journal, is the ADA's flagship publication and the best-read scientific journal in dentistry. For more information about the ADA, visit the Association's Web site at www.ada.org