MGMA goes coastal

The Medical Group Management Association is holding its annual conference a bit early this year – from Oct. 6 to 9 – in the ocean-side city of San Diego. Here is our top 10 list (in no particular order) of how you can make your conference experience a memorable one.

• Taste of San Diego culinary and bar tour in the Exhibit Hall. On Sunday, Oct. 6 from 4:30-6:30 p.m., visit Exhibit Hall booths and other areas in the hall to experience culinary flavors and drinks from San Diego’s districts, including harbor-flavored treats and specialties from Mission Viejo and the Gaslamp Quarter.
• The Gaslamp Quarter. If Sunday evening’s introduction to the Gaslamp Quarter intrigues you, check out the real thing. It is 16-plus blocks of history living jowl-by-cheek with modernity. Featuring Victorian-era buildings, the quarter is a historic district that’s on the National Register of Historic Places, and is known for its entertainment opportunities, shops, nightclubs and restaurants.
• Balboa Park. Described as a must-see, Balboa Park is home to 15 major museums, including the San Diego Museum of Art, the San Diego Natural History Museum and the San Diego Air & Space Museum. The San Diego Zoo is also part of the park, as are a variety of entertainment venues, gardens and trails.
• San Diego Zoo. Part of Balboa Park, the zoo takes up 100 acres and is home to more than 3,700 animals. It specializes in open-air, cageless exhibits. It is one of the only zoos in the world to house giant pandas – the zoo is home to four, the youngest born in July 2012.
• The Fascination Advantage. Wednesday, Oct. 9 from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. Sally Hogshead, the author of FASCINATE: Your 7 Triggers to Persuasion and Captivation and creator of the Fascination Advantage Assessment, the world’s first test that measures how a person fascinates, talks about how to identify and use your personality’s most captivating aspects.
• Walk the Embarcadero. Embracing San Diego Bay on the east side is the Embarcadero (“the landing place”). Administered by the Port of San Diego, this stretch takes in the USS Midway Museum, the San Diego Maritime Museum and the restaurants and shops of Seaport Village. Look for companies offering narrated harbor tours if you want to get out on the water.
• George Will and the Washington Scene. Monday, Oct. 7 from 8 to 9:15 a.m. Political columnist George Will shares his insights into the workings of lawmakers and Washington’s political scene.
• Deep dive sessions. New to the conference this year, deep dive sessions range from 1½ to 2½ hours long. Of the five deep dives on the agenda, topics include training billing office staff, understanding personalities and physician leadership.
• Catch a wave. Surfing is good at the beaches in San Diego. Confident surfers can check out Mission Beach, Pacific Beach or Ocean Beach, but beginners might want to head to La Jolla Shores, where the waves are gentler, or look for opportunities to take a surfing lesson.
• Data Experience. New to the conference this year is a new education area focused on the power of data management. Various interactive sessions will explore how to use effectively use data in your practice.