Another record-setting number of entries for our sponsor event, CMEpalooza Pursuit, this spring.

Due to the overwhelming response, we invited dignitaries from many exotic and far-flung lands — like New Jersey — to attend our prize drawing. People bundled up in the frigid weather to participate in our festivities, which included a t-shirt cannon, an appearance by Christian Slater, and Derek leading the crowd in a rousing rendition of “Michael, Row Your Boat Ashore.” It was quite the spectacle.

Here are the lucky few who emerged as winners in our prize drawing this year (it was apparently helpful to be named Amanda):

• Grand Prize winner ($100 Amazon gift card) — Jill Hays, Primary Care Network
• Second Prize winners ($50 Amazon gift cards) — Jesse Steltzriede, ASCO; Audrie Tornow, Paradigm Medical Communications; Amanda Kaczerski, ACHL; Edeline Mitton, SUNY Downstate Medical Center
• Third Prize winners $$25 Amazon gift cards) — Joanne Wise, University at Albany School of Public Health; Whitney Smalley-Freed, Precise Medical Writing; Greg Paladino, ACHL; Amanda Glazar, Postgraduate Institute for Medicine; Amanda Jamrogiewicz, Cardiometabolic Health Congress; Allyson Baer, ASCO; Caroline Pardo, Prime Education; Kristi English, MD Anderson

Now you know who to hit up for a loan.

For all of you procrastinators out there, a final reminder that the entry forms for CMEpalooza Pursuit, our blockbuster sponsor event, are due by 11:59 p.m. ET tonight (Wednesday, April 4).

I don’t have to remind you what’s at stake… but I will anyway. We’re giving away $500 in Amazon gift cards as prizes – there will be 13 winners of between $25-100. And that’s right Johnny, you could be one of them!

Here is what real people are saying about CMEpalooza Pursuit:

• “I love these Pursuits – I learn so much about the different organizations that I normally wouldn’t take the time to learn.”
• “Genius idea! Truly brilliant.”
• “Let your sponsors know it works – I spent more time than intended poring over their website info!”

Here is what celebrities might be saying about CMEpalooza Pursuit (we’re currently confirming):

• “I found out I was fired in a tweet last week. The only thing that cheered me up was the chance to play CMEpalooza Pursuit. Now I’m 400 pages into my tell-all book about the White House. Thanks for giving me motivation!”
• “The Queen Mother keeps insisting that Meghan and I personally meet with every single vendor who will be working at our wedding. Enough with the florists already! I tell them that I’m doing research on the proper hue of calla lilies, but I’m really playing CMEpalooza Pursuit. A toast to you all!”
• “Since my recent eye surgery has me laid up in the hospital thanks to my clumsy teammate, I’ve been playing CMEpalooza Pursuit for hours. Rihanna better be impressed!”

See, everyone loves CMEpalooza Pursuit! Surely you can carve out a few minutes during today’s lunch break to join the in-crowd.

A few things to update you on:

1. There have been a few additions and adjustments to our Spring agenda. Most notably, you’ll see our Thursday lunch session sponsored by ACHL now has a title, full description, and faculty. It’ll be a unique session focused on the CME implications of the rise in legalization of medical marijuana across the United States. Both the president and CEO of the ACCME, Graham McMahon, as well the president of the ACEHP, Steven Kawczak, are confirmed as panelists. Should be interesting. And, of course, I couldn’t resist a few wisecracks based on the session topic (ie, “Let’s change the start of the session to 4:20” and “Gives a new meaning to the term ‘joint provider'”). Feel free to come up with one of your own in the Comments section below this post.

2. You have less than a week to submit your entry for CMEpalooza Pursuit. We’ve got $500 in Amazon gift cards to give away, but like anything else, you can’t win if you don’t participate. All of the information you need to play can be found in our recent post.

3. I had the “pleasure” of sitting next to Derek at a recent Philadelphia 76ers game. The dude is the most pessimistic “fan” I have ever met. The opposing team scored the first basket of the game and he grabbed his coat and was ready to leave. He wasn’t even kidding. As usual, I ignored him and he sat back down, only to moan and groan the remainder of the evening. The 76ers have lost only one home game since the start of the new year – I’ll let you guess which night that occurred on.

Happy spring everyone. The snow will melt eventually. I hope.