Frequently Asked Questions

Unless otherwise noted in the program or on the schedule, all AIHA Connect 2024 events will be held at the:

Greater Columbus Convention Center
400 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43215
614-827-2500

Evening events, committee meetings, and other social activities will be held at the:

Hilton Columbus Downtown
402 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43215
614-384-8600

The 2024 schedule features myriad educational and networking opportunities to empower you as an OEHS leader.

• The conference itself will be Monday, May 20 through Wednesday, May 22.
  
• Professional Development Courses (PDCs) will be held Saturday, May 18; Sunday, May 19; and Thursday, May 23.
  
• Education sessions will be one (1) hour-long with time in between for continued conversation, networking, and transition time to the next activity.
  
• Education Pop-Ups will be twenty-five (25) minutes-long.
• The Expo is open Monday through Wednesday throughout the day, and each day the schedule offers dedicated Expo time allowing you time to visit exhibitors, attend Learning Pavilion sessions, or catch up on other content opportunities.
• Additional activities available Monday through Wednesday include health and wellness activities, technical tours, the Career Advantage Fair, and posters.
• Students and Early Career Professionals have added learning and networking opportunities available in The Nexus Lounge.
• Committee and volunteer group meetings will be held in-person and virtually (as noted on the conference schedule) during the week of conference and in the weeks immediately before and after.

Unless otherwise noted in the program or on the schedule, all AIHA Connect 2024 events will be held at the:

Greater Columbus Convention Center
400 North High Street
Columbus, OH 43215
614-827-2500

There will be two general sessions: Monday morning and Wednesday afternoon, both scheduled in Eastern Time. These energizing sessions offer insights into high-level issues faced daily by leaders.

That depends on whether or not you’re participating in PDCs. There are half-day, full-day, and two-day PDCs on Saturday, May 18; Sunday, May 19; and Thursday, May 23. The conference itself begins bright and early Monday morning, May 20, with the opening general session at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time.

When registering, you have the option to select the experience you are most comfortable with:

• In-Person: Meaning you'll join us on-site at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus to attend in-person the education sessions, Pop-Ups, Expo Hall, and networking events. You’ll also have access to the sessions being offered virtually via your device of choice AND receive the full OnDemand package after the conference (included at no extra charge in full and one-day registrations). In-person participants may be required to adhere to COVID health and safety protocols required of AIHA by local, state, or federal regulations (currently, none). In-person participants also have the option to register for virtual PDCs.

• Virtually: Meaning you'll participate online in the sessions and networking activities being offered virtually. We've also included multiple contact opportunities for you to engage with speakers, exhibitors, and attendees throughout the conference. You’ll also have access to the full OnDemand package after the conference (included at no extra charge in full and one-day registrations).
  

Certain Professional Development Courses (PDCs) will also be offered as both in-person and virtual, while others will be on-site only. This gives you the option to extend your learning in the way that works best for you.

We’ve taken all the things you love about the conference and elevated them to meet your needs, whether you’re headed to Columbus or staying at home. We can't wait to see you... in whatever experience you choose!

In the Call for Proposals, we encourage professionals to submit session proposals that create engaging learning environments and actively involve the participants. With so many experienced attendees at AIHA Connect, the learning environment is enriched when the sessions tap into the collective knowledge in the room.

AIHA Connect 2024 is being designed as a hybrid event, combining activities held on-site in Columbus with a substantial virtual program. During registration, you will decide whether to attend in person (with virtual access included) OR entirely online.

NOTE: All presenters are expected to deliver their sessions/courses in person. AIHA Connect 2024 will not feature a prerecorded or presenter live-streamed option. Presenters accepted to the program must register for the conference as full conference or one-day only attendees.

Scientific research and case study presentations will be organized into groups of two to make 60-minute sessions. The Conference Program Committee will arrange the sessions for the 2024 conference. Many of the Conference Program Committee members are also Volunteer Group members, and collectively, they have expertise in a wide variety of topic areas. Committee members will group the case study and scientific research presentations into sessions based on topic. Each combined session will be given a new title. Volunteer Groups will provide names of Moderators who will work with the presenters to ensure cohesion between the individual presentations.

There is no formal funding process for main conference session speakers. Speakers are required to pay for their own registration, travel, housing, and other incidental costs.

Professional Development Course (PDC) instructors receive complimentary registration to the course(s) they are facilitating and an honorarium (paid post-conference). If PDC instructors will participate in the main three days of the conference, they must register and pay for their registration, travel, housing, and other incidental costs.

Proposal submitters are required to submit the name of a session Moderator for the one-hour education session proposals. Be sure to notify the person you select; do not submit someone’s name without notifying him or her. AIHA staff will contact the Volunteer Groups to request Moderators for Research Round-Ups (combined scientific research/case study sessions). Moderators will be responsible for working with the presenters to ensure a common theme and flow for a cohesive session.

The primary role of the Moderator is to introduce each speaker; distribute materials, if any; keep speakers on track with time; ensure there is enough time for Q&A; and make any last-minute announcements (i.e., a presenter cancellation and replacement), general announcements (i.e., safety statements, location of exits, etc.), and reminders regarding the session evaluations.

Learn more about (and volunteer to be) moderating sessions.

The call for PDC monitors is now open! In exchange for their service, PDCs monitors receive a complimentary course registration. The call is first-come, first-served. All monitors must be current national members.

During registration, you will decide whether to attend primarily in person (with virtual access included) OR entirely online. Because the registration systems are combined, we can easily change you from one type to the other (*fee differences may be required).

NOTE: If you select to attend in-person, you may be required to adhere to COVID protocols required of AIHA by local, state, or federal regulations (currently none). Details are included in the consent clauses you are asked to sign as part of your registration.

FULL CONFERENCE REGISTRATIONS

• In-person: This registration type includes in-person access to ALL AIHA Connect 2024 activities, including General Sessions, education sessions, the Expo Hall during published open hours, a free drink ticket at the Expo Hall Networking Reception, Career Advantage, poster sessions, health and wellness activities, Education Pop-Ups, learning pavilions, innovation stations, the opportunity to earn up to 17 contact hours, and OnDemand access to all recorded sessions valid through December 2024. In-person registrants are also able to participate virtually in any AIHA Connect 2024 being simultaneously live streamed as part of the virtual conference.
• Virtual: This registration type includes virtual access to all AIHA Connect 2024 activities included in the virtual program, including live streamed General Sessions, education, and Pop-Up sessions; live streamed Expo Highlights (exhibitor showcases) and the PPE Fashion Show; pre-recorded health and wellness, learning pavilions, and innovation station sessions; access to the digital-only (PDF) poster displays; the opportunity to earn up to 17 contact hours during the three main days of conference; OnDemand access to all recorded education sessions valid through December 2024; and access to the Exhibitor Directory with links to contact exhibiting companies.

ONE-DAY REGISTRATIONS

• In-person: This registration type includes in-person access to AIHA Connect 2024 activities occurring on the selected day: General Session(s) (Monday and Wednesday), education sessions, the Expo Hall during published open hours, a free drink ticket at the Expo Hall Networking Reception (Monday only), Career Advantage, poster sessions, health and wellness activities, Education Pop-Ups, learning pavilions, innovation stations, the opportunity to earn up to 6 contact hours in 1 day, and OnDemand access to that day's recorded education sessions valid through December 2024. In-person registrants are also able to participate virtually in the AIHA Connect 2024 events being live streamed as part of the virtual conference on the specific day. AIHA reserves the right to upgrade your registration, with applicable fees, should you attend events not included in this one-day type.
• Virtual: This registration type includes virtual access to AIHA Connect 2024 activities included in the virtual program on the selected day: General Session(s) (Monday and Wednesday); education sessions, Pop-Ups; Expo Highlights (exhibitor showcases) (Monday); the PPE Fashion Show (Tuesday); pre-recorded health and wellness, learning pavilions, and innovation station sessions; the opportunity to earn up to 6 contact hours in 1 day; OnDemand access to that day's recorded education sessions valid through December 2024; and access to the Exhibitor Directory with links to contact exhibiting companies.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT COURSES ONLY

• In-person: This registration includes in-person access to the specific PDC(s) selected on Saturday, Sunday, or Thursday. If the selected PDC(s) are also offered virtually, in-person participants can participate virtually. No AIHA Connect activities are included. PDC prices are based on the length of the PDC selected and will be shown on the next page. AIHA reserves the right to upgrade your registration, with applicable fees, should you attend events not included in this registration type.
• Virtual: This registration includes virtual only access to the specific PDC(s) selected on Saturday, Sunday, or Thursday. No AIHA Connect activities are included. PDC prices are based on the length of the PDC selected and will be shown on the next page.

NOTE: We no longer offer an Exhibit Only registration option.

No. The fees for AIHA Connect 2024 are the same as those charged for the 2023 conference.

2023 registration rates were increased 7.5% for all registration types, following six (6) years of consistent rates for AIHces 2017 through 2022. The increase was less than the 2023 Consumer Price Index (CPI) average.

Registration rates are based on AIHA membership status. You must be an AIHA member in good standing with 2024 rates paid in full to receive the Member rate.

AIHA negotiates rates at nearby hotels as a courtesy to our attendees. The hotels agree to the rates and reserve a block of rooms for us, with the expectation that those rooms will be sold. If they’re not, AIHA pays a penalty. As an incentive to encourage you to stay within the block, we offer the STAY AND SAVE discount on your registration fee for the conference.

Registration is now open! To receive the advance rate discount, registrations must be submitted with payment in full by 11:59 p.m. ET on Sunday, March 19, 2023. Effective midnight on Monday, March 20, 2023, rates switch to standard prices (no exceptions).

AIHA has reserved blocks of rooms at several different hotels in Columbus. Depending on popularity, the room block at one hotel may sell out sooner than at another, so it’s important to make your reservations sooner rather than later.

We book sleeping rooms on a bell curve, with the most rooms available Sunday and Monday nights. If the hotel you want doesn’t show up when you search for your arrival and departure dates, try changing one of the dates (later if it’s arrival, and earlier if it’s departure). If the hotel appears in the list, book it and reach out to customer service (864-208-3388) to request that they ask the hotel for the additional nights. If the hotel you want does not appear after changing your arrival or departure dates, it is sold out.

Yes, U.S. government employees must select "Yes" to the profile question, "Are you a U.S. government employee" during the registration process. When you reach the housing section of registration, per diem rated rooms will appear as options for you. We have government rooms reserved at every contracted AIHA Connect hotel.

In-person participants are eligible to receive up to 17 contact hours for attending Monday through Wednesday. Virtual participants are eligible to receive up to 17 contact hours for attending Monday through Wednesday.

Additionally, participants can earn additional credit for PDCs and OnDemand sessions. See the PDC descriptions and OnDemand instructions for specific credit amounts.

It takes several weeks after AIHA Connect to prepare the recordings for viewing. When they are ready, you will receive login instructions that will allow you to access the library of session recordings from AIHA Connect 2024. At the conclusion, you’ll be asked to complete an evaluation and submit for credit. Detailed instructions will be sent along with the login instructions.

You can earn contact hours for each additional session recording you watch as long as you follow the procedure for submitting for credit explained in the instructions. You will have access to these recordings through December 31, 2024 and can view as many as you’re interested in.

We want you to be comfortable at AIHA Connect, so we suggest business casual attire. However, meeting rooms are often cold, so we recommend you bring a sweater or layers for your comfort. Typical Columbus temperatures for late May are daytime highs in the mid- to high-70s with nighttime lows in the low-50s. ​

We also strongly recommend investing in comfortable, supportive shoes that are well broken in before you arrive in Columbus.

Your feedback provides session leaders with the critiques they need to improve their presentation skills, and it enables the AIHA team to know what worked well and what could be done better.

We will provide links to session evaluations on the conference schedule and in the mobile app. At the end of the conference, you'll receive an overall conference evaluation. And we encourage you to reach out to the conference team at any time!