Dear Friends,

Please note that out of an abundance of caution, we have decided to cancel our 2020 Midyear Educational Conference and OPAM Workshops in Kansas City March 24-29, 2020. This decision was made after receiving many cancellations from speakers, participants, exhibitors, the AOBPM, and our osteopathic grand rounds experience at General Motors. The latest CDC guidelines places people over 60 in a higher risk category, which disproportionately impacts AOCOPM. We are also cognizant that many of you are on the frontlines of our nation’s response to this crisis and may be concerned about travel. Some of us may already be pre-symptomatic. Many have already cancelled participation due to corporate or agency travel restrictions. The City of Kansas City has declared a State of Emergency and is not allowing gatherings of more than 1000 people. Although our meeting is significantly smaller than 1000 participants, the threat remains.

While our original plan was to allow for virtual participation, we do not have the technological prowess to ensure that we can deliver live, online content with speakers in multiple locations. Many may not have webcams, quality microphones, adequate band-with to prevent buffering issues, or the knowledge to screen-share remotely. Thus, our AOCOPM Board of Trustees has made the painful decision to cancel this year’s meeting.

Marriott Country Club Plaza will cancel reservations in your room block that were made through www.marriott.com or your weblink. Any that were made through Orbits, Travelocity, etc. will need to be cancelled by the individual – the Hotel cannot cancel those.

Also, the airlines have agreed to waive change fees, and most will allow you to maintain a credit for a cancelled flight for up to one year. We will take care to have our 2021 Midyear conference prior to the expiration of this one-year period.

Ronda and I will be promptly refunding all your registration fees.

We hope to see you at the 2020 OMED Meeting in Austin, Texas.

With a very heavy heart,

Jeffrey J. LeBoeuf, CAE
Executive Director
American Osteopathic College of Occupational and Preventive Medicine