Welcome to the PAS 2020 Meeting! You are about to embark on a wonderful experience. You are here to learn, network, and grow, and this guide is designed to help you arrive and thrive. This is a great opportunity for you to enhance both your personal and professional growth as a pediatric researcher. With can’t-miss experiences and key learning sessions, our journey map  will help you navigate the meeting by laying out everything you need to know.

Each year, the PAS Meeting brings together thousands of physicians, researchers, and Allied health professionals from around the world to share research, explore new ideas, build career opportunities, establish meaningful connections, and experience the best the pediatric research field has to offer. Over 1,000 international attendees from 62 countries came to the meeting last year. Once you attend the PAS Meeting, you’ll want to come back again and again.

Why attend PAS? There are so many reasons, the latest scientific advancements in pediatric research, incredible networking opportunities with 8,300+ attendees, presenting your research and access to innovative technologies, products and services just to name a few!

Here are some helpful tips to help you arrive prepared, make the most of the meeting and maximize your experience after the meeting ends.

As the premier North American scholarly child health meeting, the PAS meeting is worth the trip. If you are not a U.S. citizen and are planning to attend the PAS 2020 meeting, advance planning is critical.

Citizens of some foreign countries will need a visa to enter the United States and attend the ASH annual meeting. Because of U.S. State Department regulations, U.S. embassies and consulates may require a face-to-face interview for most non-immigrant visa applications. Therefore, you should apply for your visa at least three to four months before the annual meeting.

To schedule an interview for the visa application process, please contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. For more information, please visit travel.state.gov/content/visas/en.html.

Requesting a Letter of Invitation from PAS

If you would like to request an invitation letter from PAS for your visa application, you must first register and pay in full for the meeting. To obtain a visa invitation letter, have your registration email ready and visit here.

Visa Waiver Program and ESTA Authorization

Effective January 20, 2010, citizens of countries participating in the Visa Waiver Program may be unable to enter the U.S. without Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) approval from the U.S. government.

For information on participating countries and to apply for ESTA authorization, please visit http://www.cbp.gov/travel/international-visitors/esta.

  • Check out the Information for All Attendees
  • Convince your Leadership
  • Register for the meeting
  • Letter of Invitation
  • Book your Hotel
  • Choosing Interesting Sessions
    During the PAS 2020 Meeting, attendees will discover a curated lineup of top-quality educational and scientific programs covering a spectrum of specialties, including approximately 4,000 abstract presentations (3000 Posters), 380 science sessions, 100+ workshops and 36+ Special Interest Groups. The PAS Meeting provides access to cutting-edge pediatric research, the latest in scientific findings and great networking and career development opportunities. While it is impossible to attend every session, a little planning beforehand can help you maximize your time.

      • Study the Schedule at a Glance, and learn about all the program options available each day–don’t just focus on one track! Conference registrants are welcome to attend any education sessions and meetings. The complete Program Guide will be available soon.
      • Read through the session lists and pick at least ONE session in each time slot, then pick a back-up.
      • You don’t have to stay for the full length of a session. The speakers and their presentation titles for each session in the scientific program or mobile app are listed in the order in which they will be presented. If you plan on staying for just a short period of time, grab a seat near the door so you can easily slip out.
  • Download the PAS 2020 Meeting App in early April so you can have all the session handouts and presentation materials submitted by presenters. **Please note that not all presenters provide handouts to post.**
  • If other staff members are going to the conference with you, we recommend daily strategy meetings — decide who will attend each session, visit the exhibit hall, etc. It’s also helpful to recap the day’s events each afternoon.
  • Follow us on PAS 2020 Meeting on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. You don’t have to wait until the meeting to start tweeting, use #PAS2020 now!
  • Make New Contacts
    Networking opportunities are a vital component of your conference experience and can help lay the groundwork for future professional collaborations and opportunities.  Last year, over 8,300 attendees, from 62 countries joined us for the PAS Meeting. For PAS 2020 we are building a great program of unique opportunities for meeting other attendees.

    • Start things off with Friday in the PARC – Pediatric Science and Research Career Day, a new focus for Friday’s full day of pre-conference programming that creates opportunities for PAS Partner and Alliance societies to continue growing the pediatric research pipeline and to feature their career development initiatives. Full event list here.
    • Don’t miss the PAS 2020 General Opening Session with our keynote speaker Dr. Francis S. Collins M.D., Ph.D. Join 3000 + colleagues for the Saturday morning program!
      • PAS Complimentary Opening Coffee Break.  . . . 10:00am – 10:30am
      • PAS Opening General Session. . . . . .  . . . . . . . . . 10:30am – 12:00pm
      • PAS Complimentary Opening Luncheon . . . . . . .12:00pm – 1:00pm
    • Check out our exciting NEW PAS 2020 Lab innovations
  • New at PAS 2020! PAS International Reception – Sponsored by: CHOP – International attendees will love this networking event held on Sunday, located in the Howe/Lescaze Room at the Lowes Hotel. Hors d’oeuvres, wine, beer, soft drinks, and water will be served starting at 7pm and ending at 8:30pm.
  • Throughout the meeting there will be designated coffee breaks for you and other attendees to meet and make new friends, find old colleagues and begin building a strong network.
  • Make a point to share contact information if you meet someone at the conference. They will remember you and be interested in following up after the Conference to keep in touch.
  • Tweet using #PAS2020! If you’re enjoying a session or event, let other attendees know about it.
  • Poster Presentations
    Another opportunity to discuss and meet authors of poster presentations on a variety of topics.

  • Visit the Exhibit Hall – The Latest Technology & Innovation
    The PAS exhibit hall is a fun and exciting place, so you will want to drop in and see the abundance of ideas and the latest tools available.

    • More than 150 exhibitors will be on-site to offer you a hands-on opportunity to explore new technology, services, and innovative products. You’ll need to wear your name badge to enter the hall, as well as to attend sessions.
  • Tips from veteran Annual Conference attendees:
    • Wear comfortable shoes
    • Dress in layers – the convention center stays cold
    • You don’t need to bring a water bottle this year because they will be provided to attendees
    • Stay safe – don’t wear your badge outside of the convention center, unless you are at a conference event.
    • Look at attendee badges – and introduce yourself. More than likely the person sitting next to you is just as shy as you are.
    • Know the PAS Code of Conduct/Ethics Policy.

  • Continued Learning
    With so much to discover and learn during the 6 action packed days and 831 hours of scientific content you will be sure to find tons of practical takeaways and ideas for you to reference keeping you ahead in your future collaborations.

    • Every year, shortly after the meeting, registrants will be emailed a link to an electronic survey. Your experiences and opinion of the meeting will help us to plan and organize future meetings and events.
    • Follow up with your new contacts. Send an email to those you’ve networked with to follow up on a question or discussion, or just to say “It was a pleasure meeting you.
  • Claiming CME Credits and MOC Points
    • If you are planning on claiming CME credits or MOC points, visit here.
    • Log in by entering the email address used to register for the PAS Meeting. Enter your unique Access Key. This would have been provided in an email from Baylor College of Medicine. You may also click on `Resend Invitation Email’ to receive a new Access Key.
    • For complete details visit the CME Credits and MOC Points section.
  • Registration receipts/confirmations
    • Registration receipts/confirmations will be emailed, however if you do not receive a receipt, visit the website, enter the email address used to register and resend it.

PAS Meeting attendees are the influencers of growth in the pediatric research field. From building excitement among first timers to experienced veteran researchers, PAS 2020 inspires colleagues and collaborators of all ages and background.

A wide variety of specialties attend PAS — including Neonatology, General Pediatrics,  Nephrology, Hospitalists and many more.