Congresses
The Pacific Coast Surgical Association (PCSA)
17-Feb-07 – 20-Feb-07 Fairmont Orchid, Kohala Coast, Hawaii
On behalf of the Alaska/British Columbia/Washington Caucus, I invite you to attend the 78th Annual Meeting of the Pacific Coast Surgical Association, to be held President's Day Weekend, February 17 - 20, 2007, at the Fairmont Orchid Hotel on the Big Island of Hawaii.
The meeting dates have been changed to ease the airline travel crunch to Hawaii over the holiday weekend; but I urge you to make early travel plans as flights to the Big Island are limited and in great demand in February. The meeting will begin Saturday, February 17, with the New Members' Dinner on a beautiful ocean-side venue. The scientific sessions will begin Sunday morning and end with the business meeting at noon on Tuesday, February 20. Sunday evening will be a free evening for members to enjoy with family and friends. The golf and tennis tournaments are scheduled for Monday afternoon. The President's Reception and Dinner will be in the Grande Ballroom of the Fairmont Orchid on Monday evening.
The Program Committee, chaired by Fred Weaver, has issued the first Call for Abstracts in anticipation of a stimulating scientific program. The Poster presentation session will be an electronic presentation this year in conjunction with a wine and cheese reception. The topic of the panel presentation will be "The Next Generation of Surgeons: Who Are They, What Do They Want, and How Do We Train Them?" I believe every surgeon, whether community-based or academic, new in practice or retired, will find this panel valuable and informative. We are also planning a scientific panel with a focused topic to be determined by the submitted abstracts. The resident paper competition has been expanded this year to include more resident papers and prizes. As always, the Association encourages abstracts from new members, residents, fellows and junior faculty. Our commercial supporters will also be on hand to display their products and services.
We are planning the meeting as an informal family affair (the dress code will be resort casual for scientific sessions and social events, although the President's Reception and Dinner will remain black tie or Hawaiian formal). Multiple activities are available for spouses and for children of all ages. An optional one time activity fee ($27/adults, $18 children) covers all snorkel, soft surfboard, kayak, etc. equipment throughout your stay. In addition, child care and baby-sitting services are available during evening events based on availability. The Fairmont Orchid has extended the room rates for 5 days prior and 5 days after the meeting dates, so this is an ideal opportunity to extend your stay. Members are encouraged to bring guests, who are invited to participate in the meeting and social events.
The Alaska/British Columbia/Washington Caucus is working hard to make this year's meeting memorable and enjoyable and I encourage you to join us on the Big Island. Registration opens in November. Please view our website www.pcsaonline.org for the latest information regarding the meeting and ongoing updates.
Terry and I look forward to seeing you in February.
With warm personal regards,
Michael J. Hart, M.D.
PCSA President
The 78th Annual Pacific Coast Surgical Association meeting will be held at the Fairmont Orchid, on the big island of Hawaii. The hotel is located on the Kohala Coast, on the northwest side of the island of Hawaii. Hawaii's Big Island is ripe with endless opportunities to explore its natural wonders. This lush, tropical island is the largest and most diverse in the Hawaiian archipelago, and boasts the world's largest mountains, and Kilauea, the world's most active volcano--home to Pele, the fiery Hawaiian volcano goddess. On the Big Island, you'll find diverse rainforest ecosystems, tumbling waterfalls and a warm and compelling culture whose people embody an authentic and heartfelt Aloha Spirit. A variety of on- and off-property excursions include sailing aboard an authentic Hawaiian sailing catamaran, waterfall hikes, horseback riding, driving adventures, deep-sea fishing, kayak excursions, star gazing, night diving with manta rays, mountain biking, tours of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, mesmerizing botanical gardens, just to name a few. To learn more about the Orchid and everything it has to offer, please visit :
Airport
Most travelers will want to fly into Kona International Airport at Keahole, the largest on the island, which is approximately 25 minutes from the Fairmont Orchid. Hilo International Airport is another option however it is about 90 minutes away from the hotel. For more information on Kona, visit:
http://www.hawaii.gov/dot/airports/hawaii/koa/index.htm
For travelers planning to book their flights using frequent flier miles, it is recommended that you book as soon as possible. Award travel to Hawaii often fills up a year in advance.
Because of the remote location of the Fairmont Orchid, a car rental is recommended. Watch PCSA's web site for a discounted car rental program, arranged specially for PCSA.
Island Information
To learn more about the big island of Hawaii, be sure to visit these sites:
Event contact details:
Managed by: Pacific Coast Surgical Association
t: 800-274-9083
f: 312-202-5003
email: pcsa@facs.org