Please confirm that you would like to log out of Medscape.
If you log out, you will be required to enter your username and password the next time you visit.
Log outCancel
8 Tips for Your First Presentation at a Major Meeting
Tricia Ward; Sheila Sahni, MD | August 11, 2017
| Contributor Information
Swipe to advance
Image from Sandy Huffaker/Medscape
8 Tips for Your First Presentation at a Major Meeting
Tricia Ward; Sheila Sahni, MD | August 11, 2017 | Contributor Information
Background
Sheila Sahni, MD, an interventional cardiology fellow at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Medical Center was invited to present at a core-curriculum session of the 2017 American College of Cardiology Scientific Sessions (ACC). Medscape asked Dr Sahni to document the experience—find out her tips for making your first presentation at a major medical meeting.
8 Tips for Your First Presentation at a Major Meeting
Tricia Ward; Sheila Sahni, MD | August 11, 2017 | Contributor Information
Opportunity Knocks
How does a fellow get invited to present at a major medical meeting? It all began through my involvement with the ACC Emerging Advocates Program. During our leadership training, I developed an interest in social media and created a project surrounding the use of it in advocacy.
I was chosen to lead the workshop on “Engaging Congress with Social Media” at the 2016 ACC legislative conference. One of the panelists, Dr John Erwin, and an attendee of the workshop, Dr Laxmi Mehta, commented (positively) on my public speaking skills. Both were the core-curriculum chairs for the ACC 2017 Scientific Sessions. One evening I got a direct message on Twitter from Dr Erwin telling me to look out for an invitation to speak at ACC.
Lesson Learned: Put yourself out there. You never know who's watching.
Images from Allison Shelley/Medscape
8 Tips for Your First Presentation at a Major Meeting
Tricia Ward; Sheila Sahni, MD | August 11, 2017 | Contributor Information
Where to Begin
I used my time at national meetings to solicit advice from various mentors. In December 2016 at the SCAI Fellows Course in Las Vegas, NV, I discussed my opportunity to speak with Sahil Parikh, MD (left). He warned me that not everyone in the audience will be an interventional cardiologist and that I need to make sure the nonspecialist can follow my talk.
While attending CRT 2017 in Washington, DC, I ran into a mentor, George Dangas, MD, PhD (right), and together we brainstormed an outline. Discussing the concept of the talk with Dr Dangas truly allowed me to focus the presentation on risk stratification for the selection of the best revascularization strategy for patients with left main disease.
Lesson Learned: Ask for advice; mentors and colleagues are happy to help.
Image courtesy of Sheila Sahni, MD
8 Tips for Your First Presentation at a Major Meeting
Tricia Ward; Sheila Sahni, MD | August 11, 2017 | Contributor Information
Getting Started
I reviewed the initial draft of the presentation with one of my local mentors at UCLA, Marcella-Calfon Press, MD, PhD (left). She encouraged me to reduce the number of slides and to simplify the information on each slide for easier viewing by the audience.
Lesson Learned: Less is more.
Image from Sandy Huffaker/Medscape
8 Tips for Your First Presentation at a Major Meeting
Tricia Ward; Sheila Sahni, MD | August 11, 2017 | Contributor Information
Finding Time
During my busy Q2-on call interventional fellowship, I prepared as much as I could in between busy cases.
I ensured my laptop was accessible and ready should I find a free moment to work.
Lesson Learned: Be prepared to use any free time to work on your slides.
Image from Sandy Huffaker/Medscape
8 Tips for Your First Presentation at a Major Meeting
Tricia Ward; Sheila Sahni, MD | August 11, 2017 | Contributor Information
Practice, Practice, Practice
I scheduled a mock presentation for my fellowship colleagues and attendings to practice my delivery and solicit feedback on the content and flow of my presentation. It was a privilege to have their feedback and support. I have always valued mock presentations even for residency and fellowship conferences for practice.
Lesson Learned: Practice in front of an audience (not the mirror).
Images from Tricia Ward/Medscape
8 Tips for Your First Presentation at a Major Meeting
Tricia Ward; Sheila Sahni, MD | August 11, 2017 | Contributor Information
Speaker Ready Room
I live in fear of some AV technical malfunction when uploading my presentation slides. To calm my nerves, I befriend the tech support staff. Getting help makes for a much more enjoyable process then worrying.
The ACC speaker ready room had a mock presentation podium, which I took advantage of to simulate how I would stand, position my hands, and speak while viewing the slides on the prompt screen.
Lesson Learned: Use the resources available. Don't be afraid to ask questions.
Image from Olivier Douliery/Medscape
8 Tips for Your First Presentation at a Major Meeting
Tricia Ward; Sheila Sahni, MD | August 11, 2017 | Contributor Information
Presentation Day
I was pleased with how the presentation went—I felt well-prepared from the out-loud practicing I had done the night before. By the time I started speaking, I was very familiar with the content of my slides, and that allowed me to easily transition between slides and stay within my allotted time frame.
Lesson Learned: Practicing your presentation out loud makes a huge difference.
Image from Olivier Douliery/Medscape
8 Tips for Your First Presentation at a Major Meeting
Tricia Ward; Sheila Sahni, MD | August 11, 2017 | Contributor Information
It Takes a Village
I am very grateful for the tremendous support systems I have developed in the professional community. It's always nice to let a mentor know how much they helped you and contributed to your professional growth.
L to R: Drs Gina Lundberg, Laximi Mehta, Sheila Sahni, Cindy Grines, Roxana Mehran, and Martha Gulati
Lesson Learned: Mentors are extremely important. We all need to give back.
Roadmap for a First Presentation at a Major Meeting
Dr Sheila Sahni, an interventional cardiology fellow, is interviewed by Dr Melissa Walton-Shirley on managing the ins and outs of her first oral presentation at a major medical meeting.Commentary, August 2017
Commenting is limited to medical professionals. To comment please Log-in.
Comments on Medscape are moderated and should be professional in tone and on topic. You must declare any conflicts of interest related to your comments and responses. Please see our Commenting Guide for further information. We reserve the right to remove posts at our sole discretion.
Comments on Medscape are moderated and should be professional in tone and on topic. You must declare any conflicts of interest related to your comments and responses. Please see our Commenting Guide for further information. We reserve the right to remove posts at our sole discretion.
Sheila Sahni, MD
Interventional Cardiology Fellow
Division of Cardiology
Department of Internal Medicine
David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA
UCLA Medical Center
Los Angeles, California
Disclosure: Sheila Sahni, MD, has disclosed no relevant financial relationships.
Close
References
Close
Image Zoom
Close
Feedback
Please do not use this form to submit personal or patient medical information or to report adverse drug events. You are encouraged to report adverse drug event information to the FDA.
Comments