Hey, gang — it’s your old pal Derek here to tell you about a very special offer for CMEpalooza, coming up just around the corner on April 25-26. Before I tell you about our amazing new offer, though, let me first remind you to check out the agenda for CMEpalooza if you haven’t already done so. You can read about all the sessions on your own time, but I do want to once again point out that CMEpalooza is slightly different this year in that rather than one long full-day, it will be held over two short-days. Why? Don’t ask me. You guys are the ones who wanted to do it this way. I’m fascinated to see how it will play out.

Anyway, back to the special offer. We here at CMEpalooza are huge fans of the NBA’s Philadelphia 76ers (note from Scott: for the 90% who will understand little of the basketball-ese to come, just nod your head and play along. Humor the guy). You may recall a blog post that Scott wrote a few days back in which he recounted our attending a Sixers basketball game together. I believe he referred to me as the “most pessimistic ‘fan’ I have ever met.” Sadly, this is not untrue. I am not exactly delightful company when it comes to watching sporting events in which my favorite teams are playing, the Sixers in particular. The song Pancho & Lefty by Townes Van Zandt opens with lines that sums up my Sixers fandom pretty well:

Living on the road my friend,
Was gonna keep you free and clean
And now you wear your skin like iron,
And your breath as hard as kerosene

Despite my omnipresent pessimism, the team has done fantastically well this year. Like, unbelievably well, in fact. I’ve even caught myself thinking, “OK, I think they can probably win this one” before a few games. They are headed to the playoffs for the first time in years, have two of the top young players in the game, and the team’s unofficial slogan of “Trust the Process” has exploded into meme-worthy status. Even my bff Joel Embiid breaking his face didn’t slow them down as they are currently in the midst of a record-breaking 16-game winning streak to end the regular season. Everything is coming up Sixers!

In honor of the success of our beloved home team, the CMEpalooza crew is prepared to make our most amazing offer ever. As of this moment, registration for CMEpalooza is now…ABSOLUTELY FREE! Yes, you read that correctly: 100% free. This is a one-time offer*, so be sure to tune in on April 25 & 26 to take advantage of it. Trust me, it’s only because we are in such a good mood about the Sixers that we are doing this**. Normally, registration fees are quite expensive***. The only requirement to take advantage of this incredible offer is that you must play the video below and sing along at the top of your lungs.

Clap your hands everybody. Trust the Process.

*Not true. It’s always free.
**Also not true. We are in a good mood, but it’s always free.
***Again, not true. Never expensive. Always free.

 

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.