Tips for Getting the Most Out of AMCHP 2025
January 27, 2025

By Stacey Neumann, AMCHP Member, Alabama

 

Is 2025 your first time attending the AMCHP Conference? Are you wondering what to expect and how to make the most of your experience?

Here are some tips from my experience attending the AMCHP Annual Conference in previous years.

REALLY Know Before You Go

Take advantage of the AMCHP 2025 conference platform. Full disclosure – I did not utilize the conference platform prior to attending the conference and learned from experience that there is a better way! AMCHP does an amazing job of providing valuable information to help attendees plan ahead and make the most of their time at the conference.

What can you find on the conference platform?

  • Conference Schedule: Did you know you can explore the full schedule by day to review the available sessions before you go? Reviewing the schedule ahead of time allows attendees to identify which sessions will benefit them the most. Sessions are conveniently organized along subject matter tracks such as Family and Community Engagement and Partnership and Workforce Development and Leadership. As someone who works with children and youth with special health care needs, I find it especially helpful to narrow down the many available options. Taking the time to familiarize yourself with the schedule prior to attending the conference allows you to plan out your day and ensures your time at the conference is well spent.
  • Poster Session Schedule: Are you asking yourself what a Poster Session is? There is so much great work being done in the Maternal and Child Health (MCH) arena, and posters are a great way to share some of this work. If you have never attended a Poster Session, then you are missing out because individuals have a lot of great information to share. Strolling through the posters allows you to talk with the poster representatives about their work, and you might find something that you want to replicate in your state. So, take the time to browse the poster schedule in advance of the conference to give yourself an idea of which posters you want to visit.

Don’t be Shy

Challenge yourself to break out of your comfort zone and make new friends. I remember being new to the MCH world and attending my first conference. It was such a daunting experience being in a room full of over 1,000 people and not knowing anyone or attending that first session and trying to find a table to sit at when they all looked to know each other. The good thing is we are all in this together, and our main goal is to improve the lives of mothers and children in our state. So don’t be shy and sit down by someone at a plenary session or at that table full of people during a session. I also strongly recommend participating in any social networking opportunities offered by AMCHP. Last year, there was an amazing outing at the Oakland Museum of California. I usually shy away from social events, but in 2024, I participated, and it was a night to remember! You might surprise yourself and make a new friend to help you along the way. The conference is such a great experience to meet individuals from other states who are eager to help you make a difference and Partner with Impact!

Visit the Exhibit Hall

AMCHP is such a large conference that some individuals attend without knowing that there is an exhibit hall. I am here to tell you there is an exhibit hall and it is not to be missed! As a seasoned exhibitor, I know how much work goes into becoming an exhibitor at a conference, from registering to setting up and dismantling an exhibit. I encourage attendees to visit with the exhibitors to learn about what the organization or entity is offering. The exhibitors want to talk with you and have so much information to share to help improve the lives of women and children. Stay true to the conference theme of Partnering with Impact and visit the exhibit hall to find an exhibitor you can partner with to make a difference!