September

July 11-13, 2024

NO TRAVEL NEEDED

Hybrid Event

GUEST EXPERTS

Patient Education Sessions

LEARN & NETWORK

Exhibit Hall

LEARN & NETWORK

Poster Hall

Attend EOS Connection 2024

Join us for EOS Connection 2024, APFED’s annual patient education conference for eosinophil-associated diseases! The 2024 conference will be Thursday, July 11 - Saturday, July 13 in the Washington, D.C. area.

This hybrid event will include live events at the Bethesdan Hotel and select sessions will be streamed online for virtual participants. Recordings of conference sessions will be available on-demand through December 2024.

Thanks to the support of our Education Partners, we are offering travel grants.

Registration price

  • Onsite conference (age 11+): $95
    Discount codes were emailed to certain levels of APFED members. To become a member and learn about eligibility, visit apfed.org/membership.
  • Onsite children's activities (age 4-10, chaperone required): $35
  • Virtual attendees:
    • APFED members: $0 
      Discount codes were emailed to APFED members. To sign up for a membership and receive free virtual access, visit apfed.org/membership.
    • Non-APFED members: $15

If you have questions about membership discount codes, please contact conference@apfed.org.

Schedule

  • Thursday, July 11: Live events + streaming
  • Friday, July 12: Live events + streaming
  • Saturday, July 13: Virtual conference sessions + group social activity

View agenda

What to expect

Everyone who registers for the conference can:

  • Meet and network with patients, families, and other community members
  • Learn about eosinophil-associated diseases and practical strategies from experts
  • Explore new research in our virtual Poster Hall
  • Learn about resources, products, and services in the virtual Exhibit Hall
  • Access session recordings on-demand for six months following the live events

APFED members are eligible for discounted registration, dependent on membership level. To become an APFED member, please visit apfed.org/membership.

Research posters 

Researchers in academia (including students) and industry are invited to submit research posters for the virtual poster hall.

Key dates

May 24, 2024: Abstracts are due

June 7, 2024: Digital posters (PDF) and recorded presentations (MP4) are due

SPECIAL PRE-CONFERENCE WEBINAR

Is Your EoE Under Control?

July 8, 2024

We will hold a special pre-conference webinar. Stay tuned for details.

This event is included in your conference registration.

Agenda

Join us in the Washington, D.C. area or online for our 22nd annual patient education conference. 

Thursday, July 11 

Live events + streaming

  • Full day of programming beginning at 8:30 AM ET
  • Patient perspectives
  • Advocacy workshop
  • Exhibits and networking
  • Breakfast, lunch, and networking dinner (for onsite attendees)

Friday, July 12

Live events + streaming

  • Full day of programming beginning at 8:00 AM ET
  • Expert-led sessions on advancements in EGID 
  • Practical strategies for dietary therapy, coping, transitions, and therapeutic access
  • Exhibits and networking
  • Moderated virtual topic tables will be offered in the virtual environment (details to be announced)
  • Breakfast, lunch, and networking dinner (for onsite attendees)

Saturday, July 13

Virtual conference sessions + group social activity

  • Half day of virtual programming beginning at 9:00 AM ET
    • A virtual watch party will be hosted onsite at the Bethesdan Hotel for attendees wishing to participate
    • Expert-led sessions on hypereosinophilic syndromes, EGPA, eosinophilic asthma, and eosinophilic fasciitis
    • Practical strategies for dietary therapy, coping, transitions, and therapeutic access
    • APFED directions in research
  • Group activity will be available for attendees who wish to socialize (timed entry pass for National Air and Space Museum). Attendees responsible for their own transportation.

*This is a preliminary agenda. Full details and speakers to be announced. 

Speakers

To be announced soon

Interested in sharing your experiences as a panelist at the conference? Complete this volunteer interest form.

TRAVEL DETAILS

Travel grants

A limited number of travel grants are available to eligible applicants on a first-come, first-serve basis. The application deadline is June 15, 2024.

Hotel

The Bethesdan Hotel
8120 Wisconsin Avenue
Bethesda, MD 20814

Group room rate: $139 per night + applicable taxes. The hotel group rate is available from July 9-July 14, 2024. Rooms must be booked by June 18, 2024. You may make your hotel reservations online. If you call the hotel directly for reservations, mention you are with the APFED conference to get the special rate.

Check-in is at 3 PM and checkout is at 12 PM.

Transportation options

Conference attendees are responsible for their own transportation.

  • Airport. The hotel is approximately 22 miles (~30-minute drive) from Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and approximately 27 miles (~35-minute drive) from Dulles International Airport. The hotel does NOT provide a shuttle service to or from the airport.
  • Metro. The hotel is a mile from Medical Center Metro Station. A free shuttle is available to and from the metro, or it is a 13 minute walk.

Frequently Asked Questions

If you have questions not answered below, please contact conference@apfed.org.


Please review all applicable state and local COVID-19 travel restrictions, guidance, and resources before traveling to participate onsite at our event. APFED is closely monitoring COVID-19 protocols and may make adjustments as required by local and federal guidelines. If you experience symptoms of COVID, or feel ill, please do not attend the event and expose other attendees who may be more at risk for COVID infection.

Wear what is comfortable for you! The conference rooms may be a little cool, so you may want to bring a sweater.

Children under age 11 are not permitted in the conference ballroom where the main sessions are being held.

All children ages 4-10 must be accompanied at all times by an adult or chaperone who is at least age 15. Select activities will be available for ages 4-10 who register for the conference. Chaperones do not need to register for the conference unless they are planning to attend general sessions and/or access event meals.

Conference programming is not suitable for children under age 4.

We are planning a program with activities that are appropriate for children in middle and high school. These will be clearly listed on the final agenda.

APFED does not provide childcare services, but as a courtesy, can provide information upon request about local childcare services available.

Companions do not need to register for the conference unless they are planning to attend general sessions and/or access event meals.

The conference is open to anyone wishing to learn more about EGIDs. Health care providers, allied health care professionals, and others who are interested in EGIDs will find the sessions beneficial. CME/CEU credits are not offered, however, we will produce a certificate of participation, if requested.

Onsite conference registration includes six (6) meals. All meals will be served buffet style and include allergy-friendly options, with ingredients labeled. Meals will include breakfast, lunch, and dinner on Thursday and Friday.

If companions would like to access event meals, please register them for the conference.

Meals will be served buffet style and include allergy-friendly options, with ingredients labeled.

APFED works with the catering staff to educate them on how to avoid cross-contact and provides ingredient substitution and specialty food recommendations. We work to ensure catering staff labels all ingredients carefully, and that buffet items are separated with designated serving utensils. Please be cautious, read all food labels, and be aware that some foods may contain ingredients that you should avoid.

To provide for conference attendees who have formula or other dietary needs, we will provide a Hospitality Suite for food storage and preparation. The suite includes a refrigerator/freezer, microwave, sink, dish soap, paper towels, and disposable tableware. This room will be staffed and open during posted hours, Thursday-Sunday. Conference attendees can gain access to this suite outside of the posted hours. More information will be provided onsite at check-in. Guest rooms are also equipped with mini refrigerators.

We are also working with the hotel to offer special APFED menus.

Yes! Our conferences are a success thanks to the generosity of our volunteers! We often have tasks leading up to the conference, and onsite at the conference during that weekend. To add your name to our volunteer list, please contact Cara Schmitt at cschmitt@apfed.org. We may not have something to assign you right away, but we will keep your contact information handy. Please note that we cannot waive conference fees for volunteers.

A limited number of travel grants are available on a first-come, first-serve basis to eligible applicants. Learn more and apply.

If you would like to attend onsite but the registration fee poses a hardship, please email conference@apfed.org stating your need and a request for waived conference registration.

Cancellations must be received in writing mail@apfed.org by 5 p.m. ET on July 2, 2024. to receive a full refund of registration fees. After that time, no refunds will be issued. We will ship conference materials and email a link to recorded sessions to paid registrants who are unable to attend. Hotel cancellations must be made separately. Charges may be incurred if reservations are not canceled.

EDUCATION PARTNERS

If you are interested in sponsoring EOS Connection 2024, please contact mjstrobel@apfed.org

Collaborating Education Partner

CEGIR logoChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia logo

Presenting Education Partners

Sanofi logoRegeneron logo

Platinum Education Partner

AstraZeneca Logo

Silver Education Partner

Ajinomoto Cambrooke
EnteroTrack
Nutricia
Reckitt | Mead Johnson Nutrition

Hospitality Suite Sponsor

EvoEndo

We hope to see you in Washington, D.C.!