Patton H. Adderley, MD
Patton H. Adderley, MD
I still remember my first CHEST Annual Meeting. I traveled across the country to beautiful Hawaiʻi, a state I had never visited. The convention center was enormous, and the schedule was overwhelming. There were tons of people, dozens of simultaneous sessions, an Exhibit Hall the size of a small city, and absolutely no framework in my mind to make sense of any of it. Luckily, I had coresidents who were pros at conference life and were there to guide me. But I kept thinking: What would I have done without them?
Years later, as a rising third-year pulmonary and critical care medicine fellow, I genuinely look forward to the annual meeting every year. But I am all too aware of how overwhelming the conference can be, especially the first time. The good news is that with the right tools, mindset, and a few insider tips, you can walk away feeling energized rather than exhausted and with a network you will carry for the rest of your career.
Step one: Register, but do it wisely
The first thing you need to know is that CHEST offers significantly reduced registration rates for trainees. As a fellow, intern, resident, or medical student, your registration rate is meaningfully lower than the attending physician rate.
Step two: Plan each day
Download the CHEST app before you make the trip.
The annual meeting typically features more than 300 sessions over four days, with multiple talks running simultaneously. Without a plan, you may end up wandering aimlessly from room to room, missing sessions you actually wanted to see and experiencing “conference paralysis,” when so many options exist that you end up choosing nothing at all.
The CHEST-Events app allows you to browse the full schedule, filter by topic/session type, build your personal schedule, and receive reminders when sessions are about to start. Don't forget to check out the Trainee Track in the app! It's a great way to discover sessions, networking opportunities, and events designed specifically for trainees, including a few you might not have considered otherwise. I would recommend taking time each evening to plan for the next day’s sessions. That means marking sessions you absolutely want to attend, secondary choices, and a few interesting wild cards. Having that structure makes the experience more intentional rather than reactive.
Remember to include some buffer time. The convention center is large, and networking conversations tend to run longer than you expect (which is a good thing). So don't schedule yourself so tightly that you feel rushed through every interaction.
CHEST-Events app
Step three: Present your research
Let's be honest, for many trainees, presenting scholarly work is the primary reason they attend CHEST. Whether it's a poster or an oral presentation, the chance to showcase your work at a national conference is a milestone worth celebrating, and CHEST is one of the best stages to do so.
For our international medical graduates and students reading this, I want to speak directly to you because I know what it feels like to wonder whether a conference like CHEST is for you. As an international medical graduate myself, I can tell you with certainty that it is. Research conducted outside of the United States is excellent, and the field is richer when that work is shared. Presenting at CHEST as an international trainee opens doors for collaboration and networking in the United States. Whether you are pursuing a residency position, a research collaboration, or simply building relationships with colleagues who share your clinical interests, CHEST is one of the best environments for doing so. Your perspective and your science belong in that room. Submit your work.
The call for late-breaking scientific and gamification abstracts closes Wednesday, August 12, at 2 pm CT. LEARN MORE »
Step four: Find the Trainee Lounge and treat it as your home base
If there is one thing I would change about my first CHEST conference, it is that I did not find the Trainee Lounge sooner.
The Trainee Lounge is specifically designed for you. It is a dedicated space staffed by people whose entire job is to support trainees at CHEST. Trust me, these people are warm and genuinely enthusiastic about helping you get the most out of the meeting. The sessions hosted there cover topics that are directly relevant to where you are in your training: navigating the fellowship application process, building your research portfolio, managing work-life balance during training, career planning, and more. These are not throwaway sessions; they are thoughtful, practical, and led by faculty who are invested in your success.
Think of the Trainee Lounge as your anchor point. If you are feeling overstimulated by the main conference—which is a completely normal feeling, by the way—go there. Sit down. Have a conversation. The people running that space have seen every version of an overwhelmed attendee, and they will help you regroup and refocus.
Step five: Network, even if it doesn’t come naturally
Networking is hard. Approaching a stranger and starting a professional conversation is not something most find effortless. What I can tell you is that CHEST offers some perks to make it a little easier.
The Trainee Lounge is your best starting point because it typically hosts networking-focused sessions, and that same phenomenal staff I mentioned earlier won’t hesitate to help you navigate the networking scene.
CHEST also offers structured networking opportunities. These range from organized mixers/receptions to mentorship-focused events. Keep an eye out for these as you build your agenda in the app.
Step six: Leave with more than just memories
The work of the conference begins, in some ways, when you get home.
Follow up with the people you met. A simple email within a week goes a long way. Connect on social media. If someone mentioned their research and you genuinely found it interesting, say so and ask how it’s progressing.
Once the conference is a few weeks behind you, consider how you want to stay involved with CHEST throughout the year. The annual meeting is the organization's most visible event, but CHEST is active year-round through its committees, Networks, and Interest Groups.
I may be biased, but the CHEST Trainee Work Group is a great start. It’s the committee responsible for the content you are reading right now. It is composed of current fellows who help shape how CHEST serves its training community and gives trainees a seat at the table in a national organization. Applications for committee positions are accepted through the CHEST leadership portal every spring. I strongly encourage all interested trainees to apply. Fill out this form to receive an email when committee applications open.
The broader CHEST Networks also offer opportunities for involvement that extend well beyond the annual conference. Joining the Network most relevant to your clinical interests connects you to ongoing educational programming, collaborative projects, and a community of like-minded specialists year-round.
Final thoughts
The CHEST Annual Meeting can be many things at once: intellectually exhilarating, logistically challenging, and both socially stimulating and draining. It is normal to feel all of that at once. What I want you to take away from this is that the conference is simply a great resource for you to use as you will.
This six-step survival guide is a rough blueprint for your success at the next CHEST Annual Meeting; tailor it to your needs. Most importantly, remember to enjoy yourself, explore the city, and meet new people—and don’t forget to visit us at the Trainee Lounge!
See you in Phoenix.
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