Call for Proposals 2024

March 22-25, 2024 in Toronto, ON, Canada
 
Anatomy Connected inspires scientists, researchers, educators and students to explore the latest research, expand their knowledge and skills, create valuable relationships, and discover what’s ahead in anatomy.

Deadline to Submit:  June 2, 2023.

The submission site will remain open during the weekend to complete submissions.  It will be locked down at 11:59 pm EDT on Sunday, June 4.


Submit a Proposal »

Criteria for Proposals - Please read all the criteria below

Topics should be relevant to the broad AAA membership, and fall into one of these categories: Professional Development, Educational Research, Basic/Translational Research or Other – if the proposal does not fit into one of the categories or applies to more than one category.

The theme for #AnatomyConnected2024 is Visualization in Anatomy; we are accepting session proposals on all topics, including but not limited to:

  • Technological Innovations in Education Research
  • Clinically Oriented Education
  • Classroom and Curriculum Research
  • Interprofessional Education in the Anatomical Sciences
  • Ethics
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
  • Professional Development
  • Career Development
  • Cell Biology
  • Cardiovascular Biology
  • Craniofacial
  • Bones/Muscle/Connective Tissue
  • Developmental and Morphological biology
  • Evolution/Anthropology
  • Form and Function
  • Imaging
  • Neurobiology
  • Stem Cells/Tissue Engineering/Regeneration
  •  Vertebrate Paleontology

Proposals do not need to be limited to these topics or they can combine topics in thoughtful and creative ways.

Content must be informational and educational, not commercial. Presentations that are sales pitches or product-focused are strongly discouraged. Visit our website if you are interested in our sponsorship and exhibit opportunities.  

Session Types:

  • Pre-Conference Workshop sessions – These sessions will be held on Friday, March 22 prior to the formal opening of the meeting. Pre-Conference Workshops will be structured the same as Workshop sessions below.  Attendees will pre-register for the pre-conference workshops and there may be a small registration fee
  • Workshop sessions – These sessions are designed around activities for participants, with less focus on didactic presentation. Workshop descriptions should include details about session structure (didactic 10 min, activity 20 min, etc.). Workshops are structured such that participants can leave with a product or beginnings of a product after participating (abstract, syllabus, craft, etc.)  Workshops will be 1.5 hours. Facilitators are welcome but not included as speakers for the session (they do not need to be included in the proposal at this time). Facilitators serve to guide the participants during activities 
  • Roundtable sessions – These sessions are focused on discussion of major topics within the anatomical sciences. While roundtables may have speakers, most of the session should include guided discussion by participants. Discussion descriptions should include details about the overall structure (speakers 20 min, discussion topic 1- 10 min, discussion topic 2 – 10 min, etc.). Similar to workshops, facilitators are welcome but not included as speakers (they do not need to be included in the proposal at this time). Facilitators serve to guide the discussion phase of the roundtable. Prior examples of roundtables included Pelvic Anatomy: An Outlet for Inclusion and Decolonizing the Anatomy Curriculum from our 2022 Annual Meeting. 
  • Symposia – consist of three invited speakers giving 30-minute talks. Symposia can focus on any topic appropriate to AAA’s three major areas of emphasis: professional development, education, basic and translational research. The symposium should have a central theme clearly defined in the proposal. The three talks can be complementary, focus on different aspects of a given topic, or present varied approaches/informed opinions about the topic. The proposal should include a clear statement of the symposium topic. The Symposia proposal should also include the names of the three speakers. The speakers usually are doing research or working in areas that are both interesting to a diverse audience and relevant to the symposium topic.
  • Other - Do you have an new idea that you want to be considered?  We are open to new ideas/formats. 

Budget/Reimbursement

  • Registration – Complimentary registration is provided to all invited speakers and session/symposia chairs (up to 4 registrations per session).  Speakers selected from the submitted abstracts are not eligible for complimentary registration or travel reimbursement. 
  •  Travel Reimbursement Budget – Invited speakers will have a travel budget of up to $1200 each to help with travel expenses.  Invited speakers must be scheduled to give a talk of at least 25 minutes, excluding Q&A, to be eligible for full-conference registration and travel reimbursement (up to 3 speakers per session). AAA's Travel Reimbursement Policy is found here. Session chairs (chairs only who are not speaking) are not eligible for any travel reimbursement but they do receive complimentary registration. Chairs who are speakers are eligible for $1200 in travel reimbursement. Consider your budget when deciding on speakers. Speakers that are local or within driving distance will require little or no travel reimbursement. 

Proposal Review & Notification Process

The Professional Development, Educational Affairs, and Program committees will review, score and program the proposals.

Review committees can request edits to proposals, such as speaker or content changes. Acceptance notifications will be sent by the end of July/early August.

Submission Criteria & Instructions

The submission form will require you to enter all the requested information into the appropriate fields. You will be able to save your submission and return to finish it at any time before the  June 2nd deadline. Incomplete proposals will not be considered or programmed.

Title: Try to be informative, broad, and catchy. Use title case.

Chair(s): Name and contact information of chair(s). Proposal chairs must be active AAA members. Non-members are invited to submit a proposal if an AAA committee member recruited them to submit a proposal or if they have a co-chair who is an AAA member. Chairs must be informed about the speakers and their talks to provide appropriate introductions and moderate the Q&A. 

Description: Limit 250 words. Should contain the following elements:

  • Description of the topic
  • Relevance of the topic to human health, anatomical sciences, education research, teaching, and/or professional development
  • Timeliness of the topic (provide an example of why important NOW)
  • Rationale for the choice of speakers
  • Have speakers already been asked? Have speakers confirmed?

Any additional requests/comments on format, session timing or set-up? - Include any additional requests or comments that should be considered when reviewing the proposal.  Such as timing, room set-up or general format.  Standard set up is theater seating for symposia and round tables for workshops and roundtable sessions.

Describe how your proposal promotes diversity, equity and inclusion and how it follows AAA's Diversity & Inclusion Action Plan?
AAA is a diverse and inclusive scientific organization. The annual meeting program reflects these principles. Proposals are expected to represent the diversity of the Association as much as possible, including gender identity, ethnicity, and institutional balance. See important note below about repeat speakers.  The committee will not accept a proposal with a repeat speaker unless it fits into one of the exceptions below. 

Speaker Talk Title & Description: Non-member speakers are welcome. Should not exceed 100 words for each suggested speaker. For each speaker, include:

  • A talk title 
  • A brief description of the topic
  • Rationale for the speaker's contribution to this session
  • Speaker name, institution, and website

Speaker Selection: AAA is a diverse and inclusive scientific organization.  In order to be inclusive, repeat speakers and chairs from the previous annual meeting will not be allowed except under extraordinary circumstances. Exceptions include award winners and competition award finalists. In addition, speakers in a professional development/career talk one year can give an oral talk in their educational or scientific area of research the next year. However, as with all programing options, preference is given to speakers who have not spoken in several years and new speakers to AAA. Speakers can be AAA members or non-members.

Questions? Please contact Colby Shultz, Senior Director, Meetings and Education

Submit a Proposal »

Deadline to Submit:  June 2, 2023

The submission site will remain open during the weekend to complete submissions.  It will be locked down at 11:59 pm EDT on Sunday, June 4.