The 41st Annual Meeting of the European Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases (ESPID), expertly organized by Kenes Group, concluded triumphantly, boasting record-breaking attendance and an outstanding scientific program. This hybrid event, held in Lisbon and online, united a remarkable total of 3,734 participants, with 2,873 attending in person and 861 joining virtually. These esteemed individuals included top experts, healthcare professionals, and industry partners from an impressive 111 countries across the globe.
Across five days and 85 sessions, the ESPID 2023 Meeting showcased the latest research and clinical practice in paediatric infectious diseases and related topics: 70 renowned experts, including Jordi Borrell Pique, Maria Van Kerkhove, and Frederic Laurent shared their invaluable insights and research findings alongside selected presenters from a record-breaking 1,714 abstract submissions.
One of the standout features of the ESPID 2023 Meeting was the innovative use of technology. The unique interaction via mobile app allowed attendees to actively engage in discussions by sharing their opinions and voting on different polls. This interactive approach fostered meaningful exchanges and enhanced participant engagement, creating a dynamic and inclusive environment.
This year also brought a greater investment in sustainability for the Society. Guided by the UN Sustainability Goals, ESPID’s newly formed sustainability committee and Kenes Group focused on tangible actions to improve the Meeting’s waste management. Ana Salcedo, a distinguished speaker from the local non-profit organisation ZeroWasteLab was invited as a speaker to further educate and inspire participants in the dedicated session “Towards Zero Waste: Active Participation”. Ana shared a disconcerting statistic from WRAP, the Waste and Resources Action Programme, revealing that a mere 7% of healthcare plastic waste undergoes recycling.
ESPID now looks forward to bringing the community together again next year in Tel Aviv on May 20 – 24, 2024.
For more information visit https://espidmeeting.org/.
