Welcome

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Mark your calendar for a can't-miss event in the informatics community. AMIA is heading to Orlando and intends to build upon the recent success of its annual spring gatherings one more time! To that end, I am delighted to serve as Chair of the Scientific Program Committee for the 2007 AMIA Spring Congress to be held May 22-24, 2007 at the Swan and Dolphin Resort in Orlando, Florida. The Spring Congress promises to draw on the expertise of informatics professionals from across the spectrum of the discipline and provide focused content in five topic areas.

The AMIA Spring Congress highlights several specific areas of endeavors within the field of informatics that will play a pivotal role in the transformation of the health system in the United States and abroad. Our themes speak directly to how informatics and the use of health information technology can catalyze advances in clinical care, public and population health, and translational research informatics.

Five distinct tracks designed to highlight these domains include:

• Clinical Decision Support
• Nursing Informatics
• Personal Health Records
• Public Health Informatics
• Translational Research Informatics

AMIA is at its best when our members are active participants in our meetings. The expertise found within the organization make AMIA a leader in the world of informatics and HIT continuing education. That is why I am particularly enthused to announce that, for the first time at a Spring Congress, we are inviting the submission of panel proposals, presentation proposals, and poster submissions by our members and colleagues in each track. We will be combining accepted submissions with invited speakers and panels to create the best Spring Congress yet. While these tracks can stand alone as distinct meetings within the larger meeting, I also envision that some attendees will find these sessions interrelated and wish to participate in more than one track. I also expect AMIA's Working Groups to step to the forefront by contributing submissions and participating broadly. All this, coupled with the great venue, reasonable numbers in each track, and interactive sessions should make this meeting your can't-miss event in 2007!

I have assembled a fabulous Scientific Program Committee comprised of two subject matter experts in each area of focus. Together, we will design a cohesive program of provocative talks, panels, and poster presentations that will stimulate your thinking for a time to come.

Orlando is an exciting destination and provides an opportunity to visit central Florida's greatest theme parks and attractions with family and friends as this meeting precedes the Memorial Day weekend.

I encourage you to participate by submitting a proposal for a panel, presentation, or poster and look forward to seeing you at the 2007 AMIA Spring Congress in Orlando.

Judy Murphy, RN
Aurora Health Care
Milwaukee, WI