Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) Convergence 2019

Philadelphia, the city of Brotherly Love, and Pennsylvania’s largest city, is notable for its rich history, such as the Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence and Constitution were signed, and other famous American Revolutionary sites. It’s also home to some great conferences, such as the upcoming Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society (RAPS) Convergence 2019. 

The RAPS 2019 conference will be held on Saturday, September 21st - Tuesday, September 24th September at the gigantic Philadelphia Convention Center. Totaling overing 1,000,000 square feet, this venue comprises of four main halls or rooms, smaller meeting rooms and auditoriums, and the Grand Hall, including the adjoining Marriott Hotel with over 1,200 rooms. With a conference as large as RAPS 2019, it’s important to match its size with a venue like this one. RAPS 2019 is one of the largest gatherings of regulatory professionals in the world, and the only conference focused exclusively on regulatory for the healthcare products industry. The RAPS series of annual conferences were designed to help teams find new ways to examine and solve regulatory challenges, network with the best regulatory professionals in the world, and get the latest, most up-to-date industry knowledge. From dozens of interactive workshops, speaker presentations, 130+ exhibitors, and endless networking opportunities, this conference is a “one-stop shop” for any regulatory professional in the industry.  

For such large scale events as RAPS 2019, it can quickly become overwhelming for a team of company attendees, particularly if limited in size. With so much potential ground to cover, making the most of your time and investment is key, so we’ve put a few tips together for planning out your time in Philadelphia:

Know the area and activities

RAPS 2019 will be 4 days of conference activities, with the multitude of workshops and exhibitions being the main focus of the show. The full agenda for this conference is massive and it will be difficult to catch everything if you and your team do not prepare ahead. Luckily, the conference organizers have made the schedule very easy to navigate and streamlined for your convenience.  

As previously mentioned, there will be a huge amount of workshops to attend before and during the event. One of the best pre-conference workshops will be Advanced Leadership Workshop, held on September 21st - 22nd. Help propel your career into higher leadership roles in this interesting workshop with an emphasis on cultivating self and situational awareness, leadership skills, practice-based activities, discussion and group coaching. This interactive and engaging program provides a solid foundation for leading yourself, and your team. Day 1 of the program will be devoted to transitioning into leadership roles with a focus on the skills and mindsets that enable success and build self-awareness from the many leadership styles out there. Day 2 will move you into the broader world of leading others up and down the chain of regulatory command, as well as using your influence both internally and outside your organization. Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity before the conference even begins! 

After attending one of the pre-conference workshops, stretch your learning potential with one of the many other one-day and two-day workshops. Each is designed as an opportunity for you to take an extensive, in-depth look into specific regulatory topics, organized solely by experts. Prepare to fully explore an area of interest and emerge with an advanced skill-set and newly developed strategies in the regulatory world. Single-day workshops can be mixed and matched based on your preference to focus on a specific product area or region. Two-day workshops span Saturday and Sunday to allow in-depth coverage of specific regulatory topics. For more details on the list of available workshops check out the 2019 Workshops webpage.

Identify the right companies to meet

In addition to the multiple workshops, speaker sessions and networking events, there will be over 130 different exhibitors to explore at RAPS 2019. From large multinational companies to niche regulatory groups, you will be sure to find new and interesting services and potential partnerships during the walk through the Exhibit Hall. For a complete list of all the companies that will be exhibiting during the show, be sure to check out the 2019 Exhibitor List for more details.

Another great way to prepare for your journey through the Exhibit Hall is to check out the Interactive Floor Plan to find specific companies that you’re interested in speaking with and lay out your plans for navigating the show. The interactive map is a great tool for anyone interested in making the most of their time at RAPS 2019.  

Find out who’s going

One of the best ways to find out who’s going to RAPS 2019 will actually happen before you arrive in Philly! After registering your team, you will gain access to the RAPS Event App, where you can  build your agenda, find your way around, interact with the speakers during their presentations and network with other attendees. To login, enter your registration email and your badge ID number. You can easily download the app on either Google Play or the Apple App Store. 

Besides the RAPS Event App, there are many other networking and social functions to partake during your visit. Start off on the right foot by joining the Convergence Welcome Reception starting on Sunday, September 22nd at 5:45pm. Once there you will be able to enjoy some of the finest local fare, beer and wine while connecting with colleagues and exhibitors in a fun, relaxed environment inside the Solution Center/Exhibit Hall. Another great way to meet up with fellow attendees and exhibitors is to try out the Dine-Arounds functions on Monday, September 23rd at 6pm and 6:30pm. This popular dining out event is a great opportunity to spend quality time with friends and colleagues outside the convention center and sample some local cuisine. Sign-ups will be located at the Convergence Service Desk. 

Throughout the days on Monday, September 23rd and Tuesday, September 24th, there will also be the Solutions Circles networking sessions. Join RAPS Fellows and senior regulatory professionals for informal discussions on key challenges facing today's regulatory environment. These sessions are very informal, with no recordings or presentation slides to view. Come prepared to ask your questions and share your personal insights. And then if you’re up for it, join in on the fun at attending the Party With A Purpose function on Tuesday, September 24th at 5:45pm. Join your regulatory colleagues as RAPS gives back to Philadelphia's Veterans Hospital. In a special ceremony filled with "Brotherly Love", this party with a purpose will surely be something to remember. 

Wear comfortable footwear 

This point is really worth mentioning, and since exploring this conference can be such a huge endeavor to complete, please make sure to wear your most comfortable footwear in order to avoid any sore feet after the show. You’ll want to be at peak endurance during the event, so be sure to drink plenty of water, and don’t miss out on any important exhibits, sessions, and most of all, meetings!  

Meet up with Zymewire

While we may not be attending RAPS Convergence 2019, we’d still like to hear from you! Let us know about your experiences, and how your company preps for events to maximize ROI. If you would like to learn more about how teams at service providers around the world are getting more face to face meetings with the right prospects, reach out for a demo today!