Formal education presentations were a highlight of Scientific Sessions 2016, but interacting with researchers and other attendees in a variety of formats helped push learning opportunities to another level. Those opportunities ranged from meeting with renowned researchers to talking to poster presenters to networking with peers.

Meeting senior investigators was just one of the many highlights of Early Career Day on Nov. 12. Those new to their specialties also attended a general session, ate lunch with peers and attended breakout sessions for their specialties. They also learned about the benefits of AHA membership, heard tips about advancing their professional goals and were introduced to the work of Early Career bloggers on social media sites.

EP Central and Interventional Central in the Science and Technology Hall were the bases for many electrophysiologists and interventionalists with education programming specific to the specialties, opportunities to discuss career development topics and networking stations. Other features of the areas included fun activities, such as an Interventional Global Game Show and EP Jeopardy.

Two Meet the Trialist sessions on Nov. 14 and 15 provided attendees the opportunity to connect with researchers who presented their ground-breaking work at Late-Breaking Clinical Trials.

Another feature of the Science & Technology Hall was the presentation of almost 3,400 posters in six areas of the hall. The posters featured cutting-edge research that could be viewed at workstations, and poster authors met with attendees and Poster Professors — the top researchers in various fields — who provided feedback to authors.

As in previous years, a focal point in the Science & Technology Hall was HeartQuarters, where you could become an AHA member or renew your membership, learn about councils, review scientific publications, explore educational activities and attend presentations in the theater.