Meeting Announcement

MEETING ANNOUCEMENT

American College of Medical Genetics 2005 Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting March 17-20, 2005 Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, Dallas, Texas

Dear Colleague,

It is with great pleasure and excitement that we invite you to participate in the American College of Medical Genetics 2005 Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting, to be held March 17-20 at the Gaylord Texan Resort and Convention Center in Grapevine, Texas, just outside Dallas.

The 2003 and 2004 Annual Clinical Genetics Meetings were enormously successful. Professional attendance and the number of exhibitors increased nearly 60% over prior years, the number of contributed papers doubled, and both exhibits and sessions were rated very highly. The 2003 and 2004 conferences set the tone for the continued growth and success of the ACMG meeting!

The 2005 Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting will offer four days of superb educational opportunities, ranging from plenary and concurrent sessions and platform presentations to poster sessions, exhibits and Exhibitor Laboratory Theaters. A second session of platform presentations from submitted abstracts has again been added, nearly doubling the number of talks by attendees. Exhibitor Laboratory Theaters will again offer half hour stand-alone presentations showcasing the latest products, services and developments coming from industry. The first Industry-Sponsored Symposium was offered in 2004 and attracted over 200 attendees. We hope to offer more such symposia in 2005, providing increased learning opportunities in 90-minute breakfast sessions on Thursday, Friday and Saturday mornings. From the cutting-edge clinical and research presentations to the latest products and services in the exhibit hall and the opportunities to network with colleagues, the 2005 meeting can't be missed!

Our meeting site in 2005 is a new one for ACMG. Just minutes from the Dallas/Ft.Worth airport and nestled on a peninsula along picturesque Lake Grapevine, the magnificent new Gaylord Texan is pure Texas in décor and style. Room rates for ACMG participants will be lower than the 2004 rates, only $185 single/double, plus tax, and there will not be a resort fee. As a guest of the resort, you'll experience the best of the Lone Star State under the signature glass atrium where you can dine, shop, socialize, and be entertained among four-and-a-half acres of lush indoor gardens. Furthermore, within a short walking distance from the hotel, you can shop at the Grapevine Mills Mall and dine in a multitude of settings from local favorites to international fare. You will find family restaurants, an historic inn, themed restaurants and outdoor cafés.

Once again, contributed papers will be accepted electronically. The deadline for receipt of on-line submissions is December 10, 2004. Detailed instructions regarding the submission of abstracts are located at the ACMG website (www.acmg.net).

We are confident that the 2005 Annual Clinical Genetics Meeting will be highly relevant to your practice and will be a truly memorable meeting. Be sure to visit our website (www.acmg.net) on a regular basis for the latest updates on the meeting, ranging from educational offerings to the list of exhibiting companies.

We look forward to seeing you next March!

Elaine B. Spector, PhD, FACMG

2005 Program Committee Chair

University of Colorado Health Sciences Center

Denver, Colorado

Charles J. Epstein, MD, FACMG

President 2003-2005

University of California School of Medicine

San Francisco, California