Jan D'Arcy's Blog

Presentation Format with a New Twist July 29, 2009

This last week, I was privileged to hear Nobel Prize winner, Dr. Lee Hartwell, in his role as Director of the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, speak about the advances being made in the international war on cancer. His opening remarks were followed with an interesting format.
Dr. Peggy Porter, Dr. Edus Houston and Dr. Ann Duerr each gave a 15 minute presentation on breast cancer, HIV and immunotherapy, respectively. Then the audience of 100 people who wore color-coded badges, broke up into three small groups and the doctors conducted an intimate Q &A. The audience remained seated and each doctor moved to a new group.
It was a lively exchange and much more interactive than a panel. Sometimes people are reluctant to ask questions about complicated subject matter but this arrangement made it non-threatening. Give this format a try if the physical site permits!