The NSGC 42nd Annual Conference Call for Speakers is now open through January 31, 2023.
Submit Your Session Proposal
Submit A Janus Lecture Nomination
To aid you in navigating the Call for Speakers, we have compiled a series of resources below.
Important Deadlines
December 7, 2022: Call for Speakers Opens
January 31, 2023: Call for Speakers closes (11:59 pm CT)
March 2023 (anticipated date): Status notifications sent
Example Submission: To Test or Not To Test Children for Adult-Onset Hereditary Cancer Genes? T'is the Question
Session Coordinator Role
Session Coordinators receive a $150 honoraria for their contributions to the development of a session at the Annual Conference.
Session coordinators aid with the development of a session, which may include, but is not limited to, the following activities:
- Submission of the proposal
- Confirmation of speakers, reporting confirmed speakers to the NSGC Education Team
- Finalizing learning objectives, quiz questions, and session slides
- Reviewing promotional materials and final descriptions of the sessions
- Setting up planning meetings/calls for session speakers
- Assisting as a second form of distributing important content to session speakers, such as deadlines (NSGC will also communicate directly with speakers)
Session Types at the NSGC Annual Conference
The following sessions types will be available during the 41st Annual Conference.
Educational Breakout Sessions
Educational Breakout Sessions (EBS) are breakout sessions that typically run 1.5 hours and host 250 - 750 attendees in each session. These sessions cover a variety of topic areas including, but not limited to, clinical, specialty, professional issues and counseling content. A minimum of 15 minutes for questions and discussions with the audience is recommended for every 45 minutes of content.
Pre-conference Symposia
Pre-conference Symposia are five hours in length, allowing for time to take a deeper dive into a specific topic area. Collaboration with SIGs for this specialty content is encouraged. A minimum of 15 minutes for questions and discussions with the audience is recommended for every 45 minutes of content.
Workshops
Workshops present an opportunity for attendees to explore interesting and emerging topics through a 2-hour, interactive learning experiences. These workshops will employ skill-based, active learning to encourage interaction between session attendees allowing for expanded and enhanced networks in addition to content mastery. A minimum of 30 minutes of hands-on interactive activities is recommended for every 30 minutes of content.
Plenary Sessions
Plenary sessions are 30 minutes to one hour in length and are held unopposed to any other educational activity, allowing for all attendees to be present. These sessions, aim to highlihgt genetic counselor research, best practices and the value our profession brings to a variety of roles. Sessions considered for plenary should be applicable to the majority of attendees.
Janus Lecture
The Janus Lecture is a yearly event named after the ancient Roman god, Janus, who was depicted with two faces, one looking to the past and one to the future. In this spirit, the Janus Lecture features a genetic counselor with expertise in a specific specialty area, sharing his/her expertise on the past, present and future of their specialty. One genetic counselor will be selected to give a 30-minute lecture based on nominations from the general membership. To nominate yourself or a colleague, please complete Janus Lecture Nomination form. After the close of the nomination process, we will reach out to the nominee to request a CV. If you have any questions, please email speakers@nsgc.org.
Writing Learning Objectives
Learning objectives should:
- Provide a framework for learning program planning.
- Serve as the basis for selection of content and instructional strategies.
- Describe to learners exactly what knowledge, skills and/or attitudes they are expected to accomplish/demonstrate as a result of the learning program.
- Serve as the basis for providing periodic feedback, measuring progress, and assessing learning.
- Be clear, concise, and measurable.
- Be written using behavioral verbs (each objective should not contain more than 1 behavioral verb). Note: “understand” is not a recognized continuing education behavioral verb. View a list of behavioral verbs.
Looking for help writing your learning objectives? Check out this quick, 5-minute tutorial.
Session Submitter Mentor Program
The NSGC Program Committee is excited to offer a mentor program for novice submitters, or those looking for additional assistance as they prepare their idea for submission. Mentors will be made up of past Program Committee members with an in-depth understanding of the submission process and NSGC Annual Conference goals. Interested in being paired with a mentor? Reach out to speakers@nsgc.org to sign up!
Honoraria is provided to session speakers. The honorarium per session is listed below (this value is split among all presenters in the session, with the division at the discretion of the session coordinator). Both genetic counselors and non-genetic counselors are eligible for this honorarium.
- Pre-Conference: $1,500
- Plenary Session: $500 per hour of presentation
- 30 minute plenary =$250
- 60 minute plenary = $500
- Educational Breakout Session: $300 per hour of presentation
- 60 minute breakout: $300
- 90 minute breakout: $450
- Workshop: $600
Non-genetic counselor speakers are eligible for reimbursement/coverage of travel costs. Typically, this is for individuals such as physicians, surgeons, patient advocacy representatives or patient panels. Below you will find the items that are covered for non-genetic counselor speakers. To verify whether or not you or your speaker is eligible for reimbursement/coverage of travel costs, please email speakers@nsgc.org.
- Flight (up to $500)
- Per Diem (up to $70 a day)
- Ground Transportation or transportation to/from the airport (up to $150)
- Hotel (1 night’s stay)
Sessions are not scored differently based on the number of individuals that would require travel within a session. Sessions will be evaluated based on the content of their proposal.
All sessions must be educational in nature and not include any sales, product or marketing information.
If selected for presentation, all participants are asked to submit their conflict of interest disclosures (seen below) upon confirming their participation at the NSGC Annual Conference. Presenters are asked to share this disclosure prior to speaking at the Annual Conference. NSGC will post submitted conflicts of interest online prior to the Annual Conference as well.
Conflict of Interest Statement
I understand that I must indicate below that either (a) I have NO financial interest in any commercial entity whose products or services are described, reviewed, evaluated or compared in the Presentation; or (b) I have a financial interest in a commercial entity whose products or services are described, reviewed, evaluated or compared in the Presentation. I must disclose any financial interest I may have in any commercial entity whose products or services are described, reviewed, evaluated or compared in the Presentation. For example, I must disclose if I (i) have an ownership interest in such a commercial entity; (ii) have a financial interest in any product or service discussed in the Presentation; (iii) am employed (whether full or part-time) by such a commercial entity; (iv) own all or part of any patent licensed to such a commercial entity; (v) have an ongoing relationship (e.g., as a consultant, agent, representative, speaker, etc.) with such a commercial entity; or (vi) have received financial compensation for my Presentation.
In March 2023, Program Committee members may reach out to session submitters with the following:
- Questions about the proposals
- Suggested edits or tweaks to the proposal
- Requests to consider combining a presentation with another group or for considering a speaker
- Likely date of presentation, if confirmed
The Program Committee has identified several key criteria that they are looking for in submissions.Please see those listed below.
- Clear description of vision and purpose
- Clearly defined, measurable learning objectives
- Clear, descriptive outline of how time will be utilized and why
- Incorporation of principles, such as:
- evidence-based research
- justice, equity, diversity and inclusion
- Diversity of speakers (also including practice setting, experience level, institutional affiliation) and rationale for their inclusion
- Plan for audience engagement, including – but not limited to – discussion and Q&A
- Innovative session delivery models
- Submissions that highlight research and genetic counselor achievement
- Committee members are assigned proposals to review and score electronically. Committee members with expertise in topic areas are selected in the assignment process.
- Committee meet in-person in Chicago/virtually to discuss how the proposals scored and re-review all proposals with a goal of developing a tentative list of accepted sessions.
- Following this meeting, Program Committee members may reach out to session submitters for the following:
- Questions about original proposal
- Edits or alterations to the original proposal
- Requests that proposals be combined or revisions considered
- Likely date of presentation, if confirmed, for assistance in confirming speakers
- In March the conference schedule will be finalized and session status confirmations will be sent