Year after year, CHEST excels in providing high-quality education and training at its annual meeting, which has landed in cities across the United States and Canada.

For the first time since 1989, CHEST 2024 will bring its cutting-edge scientific programming to Boston, but it won’t be the first meeting for many members in attendance. The annual learning event attracts return attendees, some of whom haven’t missed a meeting for a decade or more.

Gabriel T. Bosslet, MD, FCCP, Chair of the CHEST 2024 Scientific Program Committee, has been coming to the CHEST Annual Meeting since 2008. And while it’s a great place to learn something new, for him, it’s also about the people who attend.

“There are a million reasons people come to CHEST, but, for me and many others, the top ones are to see everyone and to be around everyone in person,” Dr. Bosslet said.

Tyler Weiss, MSc, RRT, RRT-ACCS, AE-C, FCCP, Assistant Professor, Director of Clinical Education, Department of Cardiopulmonary Sciences, Division of Respiratory Care at RUSH College of Health Sciences, attended CHEST for the first time in 2016 in Los Angeles, and he hasn’t missed a meeting since.

Weiss finds significant value in his interactions with interdisciplinary clinicians from all over the world, as well as the continuous learning. He frequently teaches in CHEST simulation sessions.

“In these sessions, I not only witness those ‘light bulb’ moments for the learners, but I also always come away with new insights myself,” he said.

As a respiratory therapist, a key highlight for him is promoting the respiratory therapy profession and networking to demonstrate the profession’s value.

“These connections and the shared knowledge make the meeting indispensable,” Weiss said.

Erika D. Lease, MD, FCCP, Associate Professor, Division of Pulmonary, Critical Care, and Sleep Medicine at the University of Washington, said she’s attended the CHEST Annual Meeting at least 10 times. And while she admits she’s lost count of the specific number, she never tires of making connections—something she values as much as the scientific and clinical updates the meeting provides. She especially enjoys the CHEST Network meetings, which bring together professionals who focus on specific areas of chest medicine.

Dr. Lease said location has never been a factor in her decision about whether to attend CHEST, though it may be tough to beat Honolulu, the site of last year’s annual meeting.

“Regardless of the location,” she said, “I always enjoy connecting and catching up with colleagues I rarely get to see.”