Sometimes, it can be really hard to come up with new blog post ideas. Case in point: I needed yet another concept to remind all of you to submit an abstract for CMEpalooza Spring (abstracts are on due on February 15). These are the ideas I considered before scrapping them for one reason or another:

• • Burns Night was a few nights ago. In celebration of Scotland’s ‘National Bard’ Robert Burns, I could write an Ode to an Abstract in the style of Burns’ famous Address to a Haggis (“Fair fa’ your honest, sonsie face, Great Chieftain o’ the Puddin-race!”) Reason rejected: I would need to use a Scots-English Dictionary, and that would take way too long. Still, it would almost be worth it just to see Scott’s reaction. (note from Scott: I scratch my head when Derek tells me many of ideas. This might have been the scratch-iest idea of them all)
  • I could remake the lyrics for the 1982 Steve Miller Band hit song Abracadabra. Reason rejected: I couldn’t think of any lyrics beyond:Abra abracadabstract
    You should should submit one, that’s a fact

• I’ve been watching The Last of Us (it’s great) on HBO and could do some sort of zombie-themed post. Reason rejected: Other than that show, I’ve never been much of a zombie guy, unless listening to the Hooters’ All You Zombies on repeat counts as being a zombie guy.
• I could do another list. Reason rejected: No way! I just did a list. I can’t do another one so soon…though I could make a list with bullets instead of numbers and maybe no one would notice. Hmmmm…no! No, I won’t do another list, even with bullets. That’s admitting defeat, and I’m better than that. No lists.

While I’m trying to think of a good blog post idea that doesn’t involve writing a poem, remaking song lyrics, or making a list, take some time to consider an idea for a presentation at CMEpalooza Spring and submit an abstract. Click here for all the details.

Last year about this time (technically, mid-January, but close enough), the COVID-19 omicron variant hit hard, causing another wave of public apprehension. Numerous organizations, including many pharma companies, quickly put a formal ban on non-essential business travel for their employees.

It was unfortunate timing for the annual meeting of the Alliance for Continuing Education in the Health Professions, still the largest in-person get together for our industry. The dominos started falling around the December holidays, with more and more companies every day publicly announcing via social media that they would no longer be attending the conference. While there were still many health protocols in place onsite – required vaccinations, masking in the majority of spaces – it was still a cavernous experience for those of us who still decided to attend.

But from chaos springs opportunity!

And so, not to disappoint our loyal blog readers curious to get a sense what it was like to be back in person with some CME colleagues, “Scoop” Kober was born, roaming the conference hallways to get at the pulse of our world. He asked hard-hitting questions like, “How concerned should the CME community be about the long-term impacts of COVID-19 on large, in-person conferences?” and “What has the COVID pandemic forced your organization to get better at?” and “Who is your favorite Sesame Street character?” Extremely thought provoking and important stuff. (Note from Derek: Great, he has started referring to himself in the third person. We have crossed the Rubicon.)

Anyway, now that we are a few days out from (fingers crossed) the first “normal” Alliance conference since pre-COVID, I thought it made sense to formalize my alter ego for the return of “Scoop.” So if you see me in the hallway next week with my fancy press fedora on looking to corner unsuspecting suspects and expose the hypocrisy of the world, be careful. Your mug might just end up on these pages yourself next week. (Note from Derek: Great, now he has a hat. We are through the looking glass.)

(And yes, you can pretty much guarantee that one of the questions will be, “Who wins the Super Bowl?” There is only one right answer).