Meeting/Membership Survey 2005
MEETING/LOCATION/TIMING
1. Please list your favorite past SESPRS meeting site(s).
RANKING
- Bermuda
- The Breakers
- Atlantis Resort
- The Homestead
- Hilton Head
- Disney World
- Boca Raton
- Sea Island
- Greenbrier
- The Cloisters
- Williamsburg
- Amelia Island
- Paradise Island, Westin
- West Palm Beach, New Orleans, Naples, Ponte Vedra
- Nassau, Grand Hotel (Mobile), Point Clear, Fort Lauderdale
2. Please suggest future meeting sites that we have not used before.
RANKING
- Charleston, SC
- Virgin Islands, Pinehurst
- Asheville, Miami, Key West
- Nashville, Isle of Pines, Sandestin, Destin
- Puerto Rico, Gulf Coast, Grove Park Inn, Cancun, Mexico, Sarasota, Hawaii, Reynolds Plantation (Oconee, GA)
- Marcos Island, Captiva, FL, Utah/Colorado, N.C. Mountains, Arkansas, St. Petersburg, cruise ship, Long Boat Key, Key Biscayne, Las Vegas, Nantucket, Savannah, Atlanta, Richmond, St. Augustine, Shreveport, Jamaica, Gulf Shores, Grand Cayman, Blackberry Farm (Wellend, TN), Lexington, KY, Washington, D.C., Myrtle Beach, Birmingham
3. Please list any meeting sites that we should not consider.
RANKING
- Atlantis Resort
- Bermuda, The Homestead
- Disney World, Miami, The Greenbrier
- Offshore sites
- Atlanta, Paradise Island, Bahamas, The Breakers, Key West, Las Vegas, Little Rock, New Orleans, Orlando
4. Should we consider going outside the Southeast for our meetings?
YES = 61
NO = 73
5. Would you prefer to continue going to resort areas as opposed to major cities?
YES = 104
NO = 18
6. In the past five years, how many of the following annual SESPRS meetings have you attended?
- 70 Reported that they had attended meetings at The Atlantis, Paradise Island, Bahamas (2005)
- 48 Reported that they had attended meetings at The Homestead, Hot Springs, Virginia (2004)
- 59 Reported that they had attended meetings at The Breakers, Palm Beach, Florida (2003)
- 56 Reported that they had attended meetings at The Westin Resort, Hilton Head, SC (2002)
- 56 Reported that they had attended meetings at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club, Orlando, FL (2001)
7. Should the SESPRS meeting return to the same site every few years, or continue to rotate our meeting sites?
Same site every few years = 43
Different sites each year = 73
8. Should SESPRS continue to meet in June?
YES = 110 NO = 12
If Yes, which week in June?
1st = 64
2nd = 40
3rd = 11
4th = 3
If no, what month would you suggest?
January
March
April (2)
May (4)
July (3)
August
September
October thru April
November if Caribbean
Easter break
9. Do like our format of a four-day meeting (Sunday - Wednesday)?
YES = 79
NO = 47
If no, would you prefer:
Thursday-Sunday = 35
Saturday-Tuesday = 12
Friday-Monday = 15
COSTS (Active & Candidate Members Only)
10. Do you think our annual dues (which include meeting registration) are fair?
YES = 123
NO = 2
11. Did not having registration fees for spouse and children influence your decision to attend the recent meeting at the Atlantis?
YES = 29
NO = 83
FORMAT
12. In future meetings, would you like to see more, less, the same amount or none of the following?
- Resident Papers:
- More = 13
- Less = 28
- Same = 85
- None = 0
- Free Papers:
- More = 31
- Less = 8
- Same = 4
- None = 4
- Invited Speakers:
- More = 46
- Less = 7
- Same = 68
- None = 0
13. How can we better ensure good attendance on the last meeting day?
- Major speaker address.
- Change to Thursday thru Sunday.
- Shorten meeting.
- “Stack the Deck”
- Guest speaker.
- Have a free course on Wednesday afternoon.
- Make it Sunday.
- Good question! Cosmetic topic?
- Invited speaker papers.
- Have noted guest speaker the last day.
- Change position of meeting within the week.
- End the meeting with a luncheon! The So. Surgical Assoc. does this. It increases attendance on last day, and gives everyone a chance to say goodbye as families.
- Hot topics.
- Better papers, broader applications.
- Last meeting is anti-climatic; maybe Fri-Tues would be a consideration, special panel, etc., on Fri, teaching sessions, etc.
- Invited speaker.
- Be over by noon.
- Make invited speaker last day.
- Save controversial topics for then and put it on Sunday.
- Have the hotel we are staying at extend the checkout time until 1 P.M.
- Let the last day end with the banquet.
- Put the speaker on last day and most interesting topics.
- Vital topic.
- May not be possible.
- Have the last day on Saturday, otherwise people are leaving that day.
- Make last meeting day a Friday or Saturday.
- Double up on earlier days.
- Put attractive symposia on last day.
- Change format.
- Make it Sunday, not Wednesday.
- Change to Thursday-Sunday format. Most of us operate Mon-Wed (premier income producing days).
- Put a great (“headliner”) speaker, or have a great 2-3 hr course.
- Make the last day a Saturday.
- Change days of meeting Thurs-Sun.
- Have the dinner dance on last nite, but it may not be practical.
- More of a family event that evening.
- Don”t know.
- Change the format (see: #9) & also get a great national speaker outside plastic surgery & another plastics speaker on the edge.
- Guest speaker last day?
- Can’t really--try a one-day course at end?
- Quit Thursday.
- Not sure that’s possible.
- Better topics.
- Cosmetic surgery topic.
- Change the schedule- see: #9- stop meeting Sunday at 12 noon.
- Eliminate the ½ day last day--make it a full day.
- Have interesting topics.
- No good solution--put “mega” invited speaker on.
- A take-out lunch? A good presentation by a person with ego accepting less turnout.
- Perhaps the last meeting day same as banquet. Maybe stop meeting Wednesday A.M.
- Sometimes I’ve had to leave early to catch my flight home--good airport access has been an issue.
- Put cosmetic lectures there.
- Have the last day of the meeting on a weekend day (Fri, Sat or Sun).
- Give away some thing.
- 3-day meeting best.
- Delete formal banquet, delete last day.
- Prominent invited speaker.
- Make it the “Killer” speaker or seminar day --something most do not want to miss.
- Put important topics on.
- Make it a Tuesday.
- Doubt it is possible.
- Will always be a problem.
- I doubt it is possible--focus on cosmetic/breast surgery.
- Start on time, not 1 hour later--everyone has off schedule.
- I haven’t been able to come due to timing very often--have gone to Atlanta symposium every 2-3 years-- different timing would help me attend more often.
- Go Sat-Tues.
- Change meeting days.
- End the meeting on a Friday or Saturday.
- Make it a weekend.
- Make attendance mandatory for CME.
- Always a problem. Don’t worry about it. Put on a superb panel.
- Pearls and hot topic day. Have meetings run Wed-Sat-golf Sat P.M.-then depart Sunday-home in time to work.
- Noon ending (as current), but last day Sunday (non-working day).
- Move the days--see: #9, above.
- Give cosmetic surgery papers on last day.
- Big name speakers and CME credits.
- Lecture on safety (req CME ASAP).
14. Should we include an optional afternoon seminar on a special topic?
YES = 79
NO = 46
15. Should we include topics/seminars/panels on the following topics in future meetings?
- Retirement Seminar
- YES = 69
- NO = 42
- Managed Care
- YES = 28
- NO = 69
- Ethics
- YES = 46
- NO = 54
Other topics I would like to see included:
- State legislative issues.
- How to improve the insurance mess.
- Practice management.
- EMR and safety.
- Practice building; latest equipment.
- Politics of medicine.
- New areas.
- We need safety hours for CME.
- Legal and procedural rights and obligation hearing, etc, subpoena rights, etc.
- Office surgery.
- Micropointe coding workshop.
- Safety- now required for ASPS CME- Really important!
- Local meeting interest: something about location; golf and/or tennis seminar.
- Business, legal.
- New technologies.
- Continue, expand advocacy.
- Asset protection.
- Eyelid, facial, content of mtgs, place of mtgs, caliber of members.
- Estate planning/financial advisor.
- Patient safety for CME.
- Office management.
- Changing medical delivery system & influencing/changing reimbursements.
- “Best Practices” - business topics that help practice succeed.
- Marketing, practice management.
- Practice management.
- Endoscopic procedure.s
- “How do I “ by someone doing the next big thing.
- Hot topic and what’s new, what’s old.
- Safety to meet CME requirements.
- Marketing.
- Fitness for the busy surgeon.
- Practice management.
- Financial/running practice.
- Malpractice insurance and risk management.
- Golf clinic.
- Risk reduction.
- Aesthetics.
- Practice management.
16. Should we continue to invite speakers from outside the field of Plastic Surgery?
YES = 113
NO =19
17. Do you favor continuing to invite ASPRS & EF presidents?
YES = 106
NO = 24
18. Do you consider one or two sessions that relate to practice management, safety and risk management to be appropriate for inclusion in the scientific program?
YES = 121
NO = 12
19. How many conferences do you attend annually?
- 0 = 2
- 1-2 = 68
- 3-5 = 59
- 6-10 = 4
20. Who pays for you to attend the Society Conference?
- Self = 121
- Research Grant = 0
- Corporation = 7
- University = 11
- Employer = 3
21. Is the information adequate (information about restaurants, shops, activities, etc.)?
YES = 117
NO = 13
22. Is there additional information you would like to receive in the advance registration?
YES = 15
NO =103
If yes, please suggest:
- Transportation costs, car rentals, detailed local map.
- Info on restaurants, requiring reservations or advances, banking.
- Area activities and restaurants.
- Central reservations (meeting, hotel...).
- Various transportation options and costs from airport.
- More details and send out earlier.
- Dining options.
- Restaurant reservations availability for the nights we’re on our own.
- More info on the area around meeting--shopping, recreation.
- Contact person at resort.
- More entertainment information.
- Family activities.
- Activities for children.
- A report from the scout committee or host family about pertinent facts of the locations.
23. How do you prefer to see the invited speakers? (Check all that apply)
- Panel Session = 71
- Pro/Con Panel = 42
- Stand Alone Speaker = 69
- Stand Alone Speaker with Moderator = 43
24. How long do you believe the invited Speaker/Panel Symposia should be?
- 1 Hour = 80
- 1 ½ Hour = 34
- 2 Hours = 12
MEMBERSHIP
25. Do you encourage your colleagues to join the SESPRS?
YES = 127
NO = 4
26. How do you rate the value for money of your society membership?
- Excellent = 90
- Fair = 39
- Poor = 1
27. For what reason(s) did you originally join the SESPRS? (Check all that apply)
- Peer Recommendation = 103
- Teacher Recommendation = 26
- Member Benefits = 18
- Networking = 47
- Other, please specify = 12
- Meeting time limited to mornings.
- Informal, honest, open and friendly & very traditional when I joined and for 2 decades thereafter.
- Location of meetings; time of year.
- Scientific program with opportunity to see/talk to speakers; great group of people.
- Education, CME.
- Family atmosphere.
- Talking with collegues and hearing new ideas.
- Education/CME.
- Family meeting.
- Fun.
- Vacation for family, golf.
28. General Comments:
- I have always enjoyed the Southeastern; was upset at meeting registration process for last meeting, as I have already written.
- A great organization! We need to contact every Board Eligible and Board Certified P.S. and tell them about our Society. Prepare some sort of media package we can send them about how much fun we are and how educational and relaxed our meetings are!
- The mini course format for 1 ½ - 2 hours are limited subject by a leader in the field - one per day (with perhaps an afternoon video repeat) is what I would like best.
- Cruise ship meeting out of Port Canaveral or Miami or Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
- Good academic, family meeting.
- Good for family to meet others.
- Great family-oriented society.
- Good programs but we need less talk about “football” and more academic discussions.
- Now that my kids have left home, I plan to attend more often.
- Good meetings - let current members decide issues.
- I feel badly I have not been more active in the Society; too many other obligations. Hopefully, I will participate more in the future.
- I have not been able to attend lately because of the June date.
- I am retired from plastic surgery practice, but I still work as a volunteer family practitioner at the free clinic 1 day a week (every Friday). My wife has been critically ill and an invalid, so I have been unable to attend recently, but my thoughts and blessings are with you.
- Most fun and pleasure of any medical meetings I have attended.
- Keep the meetings simple, interesting and enjoyable with focus on plastic surgery and the Southeast.
- Long my favorite society.
- The SESPRS has become one of my most important and pleasing professional contacts.
- The SESPRS is without a doubt the best family-oriented society in P.S. today - always good meetings, good venues, good social events - only suggestion: is to improve the spouse hospitality breakfast area- service was awful at Atlantis and there was never enough chairs or food!!
- If you do not play tennis and do not like to run and try not to bake in the sun, there is very little for you to do at the resorts. At least at Disney and the Bahamas, there were other things to do and see. In Virginia, we found things to do on our own.
- I am not interested in aesthetic surgery!
- More state/regional political and legislative action.
- The best meeting in the U.S.!
- Truly enjoy this society and meetings; need more member papers.
- Need to get more women involved in the society so it looks like a more diverse group and differing viewpoints. I can’t believe that “education” was not an answer selection for #27.
- Golf is O.K., but some traditional interest in skeet shoot.
- Keep sessions with Karen Zupko (private meetings) available
to sign up for.
No children (small) at dinner dance- adult affair preferred. Schedule other activities for children, etc. - Need to encourage absentee ‘past presidents’ to return-some never returned after being president.
- Keep family-oriented with strong educational emphasis--like the way it is.
- I think the Southeastern is a great organization: it helps meet CME requirements; disseminates excellent info; creates a forum for collegues to meet and play; goes to great family resorts. Keep up the excellent job!
- I am still upset by the younger members’ bowing to “political correctness” and abandoning our logo!
- Have resident present papers last day.
- Continue the mini-symposium format started by Mike Beavy in 2004 with the following caveats: 2 hours; invite only those with proven track record of teaching instruct course at ASPS; no bullshitters.
TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF
29. Are you actively engaged in the practice of medicine?
YES = 125
NO = 11
30. Gender:
Male = 124
Female = 10
31. Age:
- Under 30 = 0
- 30-34 = 0
- 35-39 = 7
- 40-44 = 24
- 45-49 = 19
- 50-54 = 25
- 55-59 = 24
- 60-64 = 17
- 65-69 = 8
- 70 or over = 12
32. Total years engaged in the active practice of medicine:
- 5 yrs. Or less = 6
- 6-10 = 25
- 11-15 = 17
- 16-20 = 20
- 21-25 = 20
- 26-30 = 27
- 31-35 = 10
- Over 35 = 11
33. Total number of patient visits per week:
| Ranges | Total Patients Seen | Outpatients Seen | In patients Seen |
| 0-5 | - | 1 | 53 |
| 6-10 | - | 7 | 13 |
| 11-15 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| 16-20 | - | 1 | 2 |
| 21-25 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 26-30 | 3 | 5 | - |
| 31-35 | 1 | 4 | - |
| 36-40 | 14 | 9 | - |
| 41-45 | 1 | 3 | - |
| 46-50 | 16 | 15 | - |
| 51-55 | 4 | 2 | - |
| 56-60 | 12 | 15 | - |
| 61-65 | 7 | 4 | - |
| 66-70 | 3 | 7 | - |
| 71-75 | 8 | 3 | - |
| 76-80 | 6 | 5 | - |
| 81-85 | 1 | 1 | - |
| 86-90 | 6 | 3 | - |
| 91-95 | - | 1 | - |
| 96-100 | 11 | 10 | 1 |
| 101-105 | - | - | - |
| 106-110 | 1 | - | - |
| 111-115 | - | - | - |
| 116-120 | 3 | 3 | - |
| 121-125 | 2 | - | - |
| 136-140 | 3 | 1 | - |
| Over 150 | 1 | - | - |