Top 10 SaMD Events, Conferences & Webinars

Randy Horton

Published on: March 2nd, 2023

This is Part 3 of Orthogonal’s SaMD Watering Holes series. To explore the full savannah of SaMD Watering Holes, visit the links below:

Table of Contents show

Introduction

In our quest to improve patient outcomes faster by accelerating the development of Software as a Medical Device (SaMD), Digital Therapeutics (DTx) and connected medical device systems, Orthogonal has collaborated with people, companies and organizations all across MedTech. These collaborations, where we share findings, learn from others and develop best practices, have led us to exciting new insights, and sparked the creation of this comprehensive resource to help you to make a deeper connection to our industry and its people.

In nature, animals across an ecosystem come to the watering hole to drink. Regardless of size or strength, everyone benefits from coming together and sharing resources. Orthogonal’s SaMD Watering Holes series supports our natural tendencies to gather by highlighting how you can get involved in the entities and organizations that make up our industry. Forge new connections, gain diverse perspectives and help collaboratively solve the problems MedTech is facing today by tapping into these deep wells of knowledge.

Part 3: Events, Conferences & Webinars

With the loosening of COVID restrictions, the extrovert in all of us can reconnect with the MedTech community at events, conferences and webinars. Meeting new people face-to-face and deepening interpersonal connections can help you promote yourself and your organization. At these events, you can attend live discussions to learn the latest best practices and techniques for developing SaMD, and present your findings, research and expertise to be part of shaping our industry.

This list contains our recommendations for events, conferences and webinars to attend, both in-person and virtual, alphabetized by convening entities or event name, when appropriate.

1. AAMI

The Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation® (AAMI) is a nonprofit organization founded in 1967. It is a diverse community of more than 10,000 professionals united by one important mission – the development, management, and use of safe and effective health technology. AAMI is the primary source of consensus standards, both national and international, for the medical device industry, as well as practical information, support, and guidance for healthcare technology and sterilization professionals.

For more than three decades, AAMI has hosted the AAMI/FDA/BSI International Conference on Medical Device Standards and Regulation; the premier event for medical device experts who want to be up-to-date on the latest developments, changes, and trends in health technology standards and regulations.

AAMI eXchange is the leading event for healthcare technology management, clinical engineering and health technology professionals. Attendees can look forward to sharing knowledge, learning new approaches to today’s challenges and uniting together to move the health technology industry forward.

2. AdvaMed

The Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) is a trade association that leads the effort to advance medical technology in order to achieve healthier lives and healthier economies around the world. The Association acts as the common voice for companies producing medical devices, diagnostic products and digital health technologies.

The MedTech Conference, powered by AdvaMed, gathers the world’s top MedTech executives for an event featuring world-class plenary speakers, cross-cutting educational programming, valuable networking and business development opportunities.

The AdvaMed CEO Summit is an AdvaMed Member-exclusive, invitation-only event that gathers the leading executives in the industry in the spirit of community and collaboration. Attendees have the opportunity to make new connections, share ideas and discuss solutions to the most pressing challenges facing MedTech executives today.

AdvaMed’s virtual Cybersecurity Summit addresses the future of medical device cybersecurity as well as recent changes in the industry landscape, including issues related to FDA requirements and cybersecurity management practices.

The Annual FDA/AdvaMed Medical Device Statistical Issues Conference brings together leading authorities from FDA, industry and academia to address the latest statistical trends and issues facing MedTech organizations. The conference will address the important mission of educating medical device manufacturers on the recent and future developments of statistical methodology and practice in the evaluation of safe and effective products.

Their online Events and Education offer both members and nonmembers an opportunity to network and learn all year long, year after year. Alongside information and discussion sessions, AdvaMed Events include workshops on medical device submissions and coding and reimbursement.

3. AFDO/RAPS Healthcare Products Collaborative

AFDO/RAPS HealthCare Products Collaborative (known as “The Collaborative”) is the successor organization to Xavier Health and is co-sponsored by the Regulatory Affairs Professional Society (RAPS) and the Association of Food and Drug Officials (AFDO).

The MedCon Conference is the Collaborative’s premier event, co-sponsored by the FDA. Since 2009, MedCon has united the healthcare products industry to work for a better tomorrow. With a distinct focus on important issues that increase speed to market and product quality through innovation, the event brings together medical device regulators and industry experts from around the world for content-rich conference sessions that include uncommon collaboration, deep dialogue and knowledge sharing.

The AI Summit is an outgrowth of the Collective’s AI Working Group. This conference provides a behind-the-scenes look into how Artificial Intelligence is used in pharma, biopharma and medical devices.

4. BIOMEDevice

The BIOMEDevice series, hosted by Informa Markets, consists of two conferences held annually in Boston and Silicon Valley. This event series brings together the brightest minds in the industry to demonstrate and discuss emerging trends, innovation and disruptive tech changing the future of the medical device industry.

5. Consumer Technology Association (CTA)

The Consumer Technology Association convenes companies of every size and specialty in the technology industry to move us all forward.

The CTA’s flagship event is CES, a global stage for innovation. CES is the proving ground for breakthrough technologies and global innovators, showcasing manufacturers, developers and suppliers of consumer technology hardware, content, technology delivery systems and more. It also includes a conference program where the world’s business leaders and pioneering thinkers address the industry’s most relevant issues.

6. Digital Medicine Association (DiME)

The Digital Medicine Association (DiMe) is the professional home for digital medicine. DiMe tackles the toughest digital medicine challenges, develops clinical-quality resources on a tech timeline, and delivers these actionable resources to the field via open-source channels and educational programs.

The DiMe webinar series hosts leading experts from across a variety of disciplines to discuss critical topics on digital medicine with the community. Join DiMe for upcoming webinars, as well as watch recordings of past webinars.

7. DTx Series by GreyGreen

The DTx Series is a group of in-person conferences for the Digital Therapeutics (DTx) community: DTx West in San Mateo, CA; DTx East in Boston, MA; DTx Europe in London, England; and DTx Asia in Seoul, South Korea. These events, hosted by GreyGreen, gather executives and leaders in DTx from across the globe for multiple days of discussion and collaboration.

8. HealthXL

For more than a decade, HealthXL has been bringing together leading minds working to solve healthcare’s biggest challenges – to share learnings, accelerate innovation and better serve patients across the world.

HealthXL Webinars give an unparalleled opportunity to gain insights from global leaders in digital health. Webinars happen on a monthly basis.

HealthXL members can take advantage of exclusive in-person live events, including HealthXL Global Gatherings and HealthXL Insider. These collaborative events feature a coming togethering of like-minded people to discuss and innovate on the future of digital health.

9. HLTH

HLTH is a leading platform bringing together the entire health ecosystem, focused on health innovation and transformation. HLTH creates a unique marketplace for the health community leading the dialogue and development of a better health ecosystem.

HLTH’s self-titled flagship event is a four-day event convening the entire healthcare ecosystem to connect and develop relationships that push boundaries in the healthcare industry.

ViVE, a joint effort between HLTH and College of Healthcare Information Management Executives (CHIME), is the premier, curated event experience for senior and executive digital health decision makers focusing on the business of healthcare. ViVE merges the leadership of CHIME and the digital marketplace of HLTH to create a technology event focused on the business of transformation in healthcare – bringing together C-suite executives, senior digital health leaders and buyers, health startups and investors, government and solution providers.

10. Human Factors and Ergonomics Society (HFES)

The Human Factors and Ergonomics Society is the world’s largest scientific association for human factors/ergonomics professionals. HFES provides education, builds connections, and advocates on behalf of the human factors/ergonomics field and fosters collaboration across the spectrum of professionals to drive forward advances in human factors and ergonomics.

The International Symposium on Human Factors and Ergonomics in Health Care is an educational event presenting insights on the latest science and best practices, HF/E initiatives and regulatory approaches as well as innovations in the safety of healthcare providers and patients.

HFES offers webinars on a variety of topics. Webinars are delivered by subject matter experts, including HFES award winners, recent authors in Society publications, high-profile members and those conducting research or practice in key topical areas.

11. MD+DI Online

Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry (MD+DI), published by Informa Markets, is the primary resource for manufacturers of medical devices and in vitro diagnostic products market requirements. Join MD+DI for their upcoming webinars, and access archived webinars on-demand.

12. MD&M

The MD&M Series, hosted by Informa Markets, consists of three events: MD&M West, in Anaheim, CA; MD&M East, in New York, NY; and MD&M Minneapolis. This series is more than just a medical technology trade show and manufacturing event. MD&M exists to improve lives through continuing education, sharing knowledge, and bringing opportunities to all.

13. Medical Device Innovation Consortium (MDIC)

MDIC’s mission is to leverage its unique position as the only public-private partnership of its kind to transform health care into human care. Collaborating with partners to advance science, MDIC enables transformational medical technology to shape the world for the better and make that world possible by shortening the path from innovation to safety and to access.

The MDIC Annual Public Form (APF) is the Consortium’s flagship event, gathering industry experts, innovators and regulators and to address the latest issues facing the medical device community. Join MDIC for general sessions on digital health, NESTcc, health economics and patient value, as well as concurrent sessions across a wide range of topics and Fireside Chats with representatives from FDA and CMS.

MDIC hosts webinars on a variety of topics relevant to their many working groups.

14. Medical Device Software Development Summit

The Medical Device Software Development Summit, hosted by Hanson Wade, unites software engineering, quality assurance and regulatory experts as well as regulatory bodies such as the GMED and hospital representatives to cover medical device software development challenges.

January 2023 saw the launch of a companion event, the Medical Device Software Development Summit Europe, in Munich, Germany.

15. MedTech Color

MedTech Color offers an opportunity for leaders of color in MedTech to connect, engage, and thrive in the industry’s continuous need for diverse individuals to be involved in the design of medical innovations. MedTech Color focuses on coming together to explore ways of advancing representation and amplifying the experiences of people of color in MedTech.

The Annual Networking Breakfast is the organization’s marquee event, held in conjunction with The MedTech Conference (see AdvaMed above for more info). MedTech Color brings together diverse leaders within the industry to strengthen the community, discuss ways to continue to increase representation and drive thought leadership. The event includes a keynote speaker, breakout networking rooms led by sponsor organizations and a delicious breakfast.

The MedTech Color Pitch Competition searches for the next generation of fearless founders innovating and diversifying MedTech. This event awards considerable funds to African American and Hispanic Founders to accelerate the growth of their MedTech startup.

16. MedTech Intelligence

MedTech Intelligence is a digital media community for medical technology innovators, healthcare delivery professionals and industry regulators working to improve patient care and provide greater access to affordable, efficient healthcare. They inform, educate and connect medical device, diagnostic, digital health and regulatory organizations with features, reports, curated industry news, user-contributed content and webinars.

The ConnectedCare Summit East brings together entrepreneurs, innovators, researchers and regulators to examine what’s next on the road to a truly connected healthcare system. Join leaders in digital health as they discuss key challenges, opportunities and compliance concerns.

17. Medtech Women

MedtechWomen is a 501(c)3 organization founded by MedTech executives to connect, educate and inspire fellow MedTech women by creating an ongoing content-driven, solutions-oriented dialogue on the future of the industry. Dedicated to highlighting and promoting underrepresented MedTech leaders inclusive of all races, ethnicities and gender identities, MedtechWomen envisions a time when the MedTech industry represents the diversity of its served populations, leading to improvements in diagnosis, treatment and outcomes.

MedtechVision is an annual conference that brings together business leaders, inventors, investors, physicians and policymakers to discuss real-world solutions to the most challenging issues facing the MedTech industry today.

18. Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS)

The Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) is the largest global organization of and for those involved with the regulation of healthcare and related products, including medical devices, pharmaceuticals, biologics and nutritional products. Founded in 1976, RAPS helped establish the regulatory profession and continues to actively support professionals and lead the profession as a neutral, non-lobbying nonprofit organization.

RAPS Convergence is the largest and most well-recognized annual gathering of regulatory professionals, scientists and innovators in the world. Convergence brings together representatives from industry, global regulatory bodies and research, academic and clinical organizations that are directly involved in managing the regulatory process and aligning science, regulation and business strategy.

RAPS also hosts the Euro Convergence, focusing on the latest developments in healthcare products in Europe and beyond.

19. UCSF-Stanford CERSI

The UCSF-Stanford Center of Excellence in Regulatory Science and Innovation (UCSF-Stanford CERSI) is a joint undertaking among the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) School of Pharmacy and School of Medicine, Stanford University School of Engineering and School of Medicine, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). These three partners work collaboratively on projects that promote the emerging field of regulatory science – including innovative research, education, outreach, and scientific exchange – together with foundations and commercial entities interested in the development of FDA-approved medical products.

UCSF-Standord CERSI’s flagship event is the Innovations in Regulatory Science Summit, a gathering of leaders in the academia, industry and regulatory sectors to discuss the role of regulatory science in medical product development. The goal of the summit is to stimulate discussion across sectors and to critically consider lessons learned and scientific issues that need addressing to expeditiously and safely advance the development, approval, and monitoring of medical products.

UCSF-Stanford CERSI’s virtual Cybersecurity Seminar Series is held on the third Thursday of each month from 9–10 AM Pacific Time. These consist of one-hour virtual lectures on cybersecurity topics with application to medical device security and biomedical engineering. Additionally, the CERSI Lecture series features presentations by investigators from all four CERSI academic institutions on current research in regulatory science.

_________________________________________________________________________

To explore the full savannah of SaMD Watering Holes, visit the links below: