ECTRIMS 2019
The 35th ECTRIMS Congress took place in Stockholm, Sweden from 11 – 13 September 2019.
Back in 1998 the ECTRIMS Congress was also in Stockholm, and welcomed around 1,700 participants. Now, more than 20 years later, the field of research and treatment of multiple sclerosis has grown so much that the Congress this year attracted more than 9,300 researchers, clinicians, pharmaceutical representatives, etc.
The ECTRIMS Congress offered a programme of Educational Sessions, Plenary Lectures, Poster and Young Investigator Sessions as well as many other highlights.
The Challenge
Making it easier for working parents to attend a congress: For any medical society preparing their annual conference, promoting gender equality and encouraging the attendance of working parents is very important. Younger parents might find it difficult to attend a congress because of the child-care issue. Some congresses offer this facility, but parents may feel uncomfortable leaving their child in the care of someone who does not speak their native language. Alternative solutions need to be found, so that working parents can attend conferences and concentrate on the meetings and activities on offer without having to worry about their children.
How Congrex mastered it
To support families attending the 35th ECTRIMS Congress, we arranged for the furnishing of a family room. This room was equipped with laptop stations, where parents were able to follow live streams of sessions, and a play-zone with a variety of toys. In the family room parents can keep an eye on their kids, but the children have a playing area and other kids to keep them busy so the parents can still enjoy the sessions. The attendees who used the family room were so pleased with it, we are planning to offer this facility again at the next ECTRIMS Congress.
