What do Kidney Week and ASN Communities have in common? Even though one is online and the other in person, they are both destinations for kidney health professionals to discuss, network and collaborate around issues that are important to them. Kidney Week provides a physical context to build the relationships you have online.

This year ASN is introducing the new Kidney Week destination for those interactions.

Kidney Week 2017 in New Orleans debuts a new exhibit hall feature that will be a cornerstone of future meetings.  Occupying prime real estate in the exhibit hall, the Communities Lounge will be a focal point of attendee activity. Providing a larger footprint than the current ASN booth, the Lounge offers a context for the in person interactions that draw kidney health professionals to the meeting every year.

As the name indicates, the Lounge contains couches, cocktail tables, massage chairs, charging stations, and areas to mingle. It is built to facilitate casual networking and collaboration. To reach those goals, the Lounge includes two separate “meeting areas” with couches surrounding a coffee table with white boards to encourage focused discussion and interaction. Two large monitors hang in the lounge for the Kidney Week Twitter feed and to promote ASN Communities content.

This year, the Communities Lounge experience is built around ASN Communities, its leaders, and members. The Communities Lounge will be used to highlight our Community Leaders, provide an opportunity for structured face-to-face networking and increased awareness of ASN Communities at the meeting.

To that end, Community Leaders will use the Lounge to host informal events that attendees are invited to attend. Short, thirty minute events have been scheduled during exhibit hall hours for most communities Events will be focused on networking or a specific discussion question at the discretion of Community Leaders.

The Communities Lounge turns what can be an overwhelming experience at Kidney Week into a more personal one. Mentors and mentees have a place to debrief after poster tours. Bench, bedside and translational scientist have a space to meet 

and share their work. Members who work in conservative, geriatric, or supportive care have a context where they can start relationships to build their careers. Here is some more of the informal events that you can check out:

• Onco-Nephrology: Help shape the future of the Onco-Nephrology community with the Community Leaders and others interested in cancer and the kidneys
• Basic Science: Get to know other researchers, scientists, and PhDs from bench to bedside and in between
• Patient Care: Meet the Patient Care Leadership Team of experts and learn how to use Communities to improve your education and help colleagues

You can find a complete schedule here.

ASN Communities is the place for members to discuss, network, and collaborate outside of Kidney Week. The Communities Lounge lets you take those online conversations offline, building the personal relationships that make Kidney Week the destination for the worldwide nephrology community.