Annual Conference Strategy

ASBH will host its 2027 conference in Columbus, Ohio. In 2028, we will offer a virtual conference format, and then in 2029, we will return to an in-person format, with a location to be announced in early 2027.

Each year, when the Board selects a host city for an upcoming conference, the Board collaborates with staff to evaluate numerous options based on a number of criteria, including availability, potential cost to attendees, accessibility, the conference space, and the overall projected cost of the meeting, based on our financial modeling. Since the pandemic, the costs associated with hosting a conference have continued to rise steeply, and host cities are increasingly seeking out meetings of a larger size than ASBH as a first-priority for advance contracts. Projected profitability (ASBH's ability to break even or cover the costs of the hosting the conference without significantly increasing the cost to attendees) has become an increasingly important consideration for the Society as we aim to maintain our financial sustainability amid these new challenges. The Board reviewed detailed financial modeling based on industry standards for both the 2028 and 2029 conferences and, as such, made the data-driven decision to move to a virtual format for the 2028 conference as a way to sustain the Society’s financial health as we reimagine the conference for a post-pandemic world.

Our multiyear conference strategy that includes a virtual format allows ASBH to reduce some conference expenses and test innovative approaches for content delivery and attendee engagement, all while balancing ASBH’s core values. Using this strategy, we can remain committed to financial stability while broadening opportunities for accessibility, environmental sustainability, and innovation. ASBH includes a broadly diverse membership with some members that welcome a virtual conference while others prefer an in-person experience, and the tension between these preferences is something that the bioethicists among us may feel familiar with. While some of you may be looking at this decision as a loss—and there are some losses—but it is important to also examine the benefits to a virtual conference landscape.

This meeting will open doors to those that may face barriers to travel, enabling us to include opportunities for participation and connection across geography and discipline in new ways. A digital conference also gives us an opportunity to play with our conference format and technology. It’s not 2020 anymore, and there are tools and engagement strategies that have emerged or advanced since our pandemic meeting days. ASBH staff is already at work developing a conference experience that will allow for rich networking opportunities, valuable education, and the high-quality education we’ve come to expect at ASBH. Lessons from this virtual meeting will be used to inform our future conference planning. As the landscape continues to shift, the Board will continue to do its due diligence in determining the best pathways forward, although in-person conferences remain a high-priority commitment for ASBH.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why did ASBH decide to offer a virtual Annual Conference in 2028?

ASBH’s Board of Directors made the decision to hold a virutal meeting in 2028 based on a number of considerations and organizational values, including thoughtful stewardship of the Society's resources, accessibility, and the environmental impact of in-person meetings. 

What opportunities will the virtual format create for members?

The virtual format offers the ASBH community new opportunities to engage with those who might not otherwise be able to attend an in-person meeting due to accessibility barriers, financial barriers, or geographic distance. The digital landscape will also offer ASBH the chance to experiment with new types of programming and ways of approaching networking, professional development, and education—which can better inform all our future programming.

Different conference formats create different opportunities. In 2028, the virtual format gives ASBH an opportunity to:

• Make participation more accessible for members who cannot travel.
• Create opportunities for participation across geography and disciplines.
• Explore new approaches to networking and community-building.
• Design the conference intentionally for digital learning and engagement.
• Reimagine learning and engagement to help inform future conference formats.

How did financial sustainability factor into the decision?

Financial sustainability was one important consideration, alongside access, member experience, program quality, and ASBH’s mission. The virtual format allows ASBH to:

• Respond responsibly to the rapidly rising costs of travel and in-person conferences.
• Expand access while maintaining a high-quality conference experience.
• Support ASBH’s long-term stability to serve members and advance our mission.

Why did ASBH choose a fully virtual rather than hybrid conference?

Focusing on one format allows ASBH to be intentional about the experience it creates for participants, creating one shared conference experience rather than two parallel experiences. ASBH Is balancing access, quality, meeting complexity, member experience, and the costs associated with a hybrid or parallel meeting structure. A virtual-only format will allow the Society to focus its resources on a single, well-designed digital experience.

How can members help shape the 2028 conference experience?

Member input will be an important part of designing the 2028 conference. What virtual experiences did you find particularly enriching? How could we improve on past experiences? What aspects of the conference are most important to capture in a digital landscape? You can submit initial feedback for the 2028 Annual Conference using this form. Additional opportunities to share your thoughts with ASBH staff and leadership will be announced via eblast, the ASBH website, and social media over the coming months.

Will ASBH meet in person in the future?

ASBH will meet in person in 2027 and 2029. At this time, no fixed long-term cadence of virtual and in-person meeting has been established. ASBH will use the 2028 virtual meeting and the 2027 and 2029 in-person meetings as learning opportunities. As we re-imagine session formats and play with new models of member engagement (including ongoing events and offerings between annual meetings), we will use data, member feedback, organization values and priorities, and financial stewardship considerations to determine future conference formats and locations.

How will ASBH determine future conference formats?

ASBH will continue to consider the format that best supports its members, values, and circumstances for each conference year. Considerations include:

• Financial sustainability.
• Member experience and feedback.
• Accessibility and participation.
• Connection and community.
• Program quality and member value.

What ASBH learns from the 2028 virtual experience will be one source of information for future conference decisions. We are excited to hear from you about what you value most in annual meetings and ideas for making each meeting the best one yet!