Table 1.

Lessons learned for a successful virtual conference

Frequent and concise communication to participants and speakers is imperative.

Assign explicit and discrete production roles and have a robust communication mechanism among the production team (Table 3).

Prepare speakers with a protocolized speaker training session (Table 2).

The moderated chat box was a welcome addition to the conference and added unforeseen value.

Use online collaborative document software and interactive polling to improve interactivity.

A shorter agenda with more frequent breaks can mitigate “screen fatigue.”

There is no replacement for in-person networking. Build in time and encourage participants to set up “virtual happy hours” to connect with colleagues.

Assign and educate facilitators to each breakout room to help keep participants on time and on task.