Join the American Association for the Surgery of Trauma for the 79th Annual Meeting of AAST & Clinical Congress of Acute Care Surgery.

On Monday, June 8th the AAST Board of Managers voted unanimously to move the 79th Annual Meeting of AAST and Clinical Congress of Acute Care Surgery that was to be held September 9-12, 2020 at the Hilton Waikoloa in Waikoloa, HI to a full virtual format.

This was not an easy decision and it was based on the safety of the AAST members, attendees, and guests who attend the meeting. Other deciding factors include the mandate from the State of Hawaii that requires social distancing of 6-feet in the ballrooms and the unpredictability of a resurgence of COVID 19 in the Fall.

While I am disappointed to miss the in-person event, the AAST staff and Program Chair, Patrick Reilly, are working diligently on other ways we can connect during the AAST Annual Meeting, including virtual social events, the ability to search/contact other attendees via the virtual meeting platform, the ability to comment on/discuss a speaker’s presentation right on the meeting website, and more.

As always, we will deliver the same cutting edge science that you always receive and expect at an AAST meeting. A message from Dr. Reilly, the finalized program, and the outline of the meeting will be coming out shortly.

Additional information will be sent out to presenters in the next few weeks regarding the scientific podium presentations, quickshots, and posters.

Let’s embrace this time to try something new and utilize the technology available to us – whether that be networking virtually with your colleagues or focusing on the great content we have lined up - you’ll still receive the same great AAST experience that you’ve had at previous meetings. As trauma surgeons, we adapt - this is what we do every day.

David A. Spain, MD

AAST President