Destination Inspiration: 8 Must-See Pharma Events for 2024

Mark your calendar. Pack your bags. 2024’s congress season is upon us! Where to? It depends on your therapeutic specialty and what you’re looking for. However, wherever you land with your congress plans this year, there’s nothing quite like the chance to meet up with colleagues to learn about the latest science, compare marketing strategies, swap stories, reconnect, or make new connections. From Austin to Boston, we’ve rounded up eight pharma event destinations that promise a full itinerary of inspiration. 

Take a tour of 2024’s top eight pharma events:

📍 Explore the crossroads of today’s science and tomorrow’s possibilities

SXSW Health and Medtech Track
Sponsored by Johnson & Johnson
March 8–12, 2024
Austin, Texas

SXSW is the Coachella of educational conferences. It’s where innovators push boundaries—and sometimes a few buttons—as they explore what’s possible. The Health and Medtech Track promises to be no different, with 46 thought-provoking sessions.

Explore “AI and the Aging Brain.” Learn how gene editing could revolutionize healthcare. See healthcare through the lens of social issues. You could even hear how a fungus among us could become more than just a sci-fi threat.

Points of interest:

• Nearly 80,000 attend SXSW alone—not to mention parties and other exhibits

• 46 Health & Medtech sessions to choose from

• Eight one-on-one 12-minute Health & Medtech mentor sessions available; advance sign-ups required

• Dr. Sanja Gupta of CNN and Dr. Vin Gupta of MSNBC and NBC will be hosting a fireside chat on accessible healthcare

• Expect highs in the low 70s in Austin—nice!

📍 Dive into dermatology’s biggest talent pool

AAD Annual Meeting
March 8–12, 2024
San Diego Convention Center
San Diego, California

In 2023, 8,500 healthcare professionals attended AAD, the largest annual meeting for dermatologists—and it’s already filling up for 2024. By the end of December 2023, over 6,500 had registered to attend this March. The four-day event includes hundreds of educational sessions and exhibitors, along with a career fair and a quiz show.

Points of interest:

• Over 300 scientific sessions

• Over 340 exhibitors as of early January 2024

• The American Academy of Dermatology Career Networking Event takes place Friday, March 8, 4:03-6:30 PM PST

• Resident Jeopardy returns Saturday, March 9; sign up your team here

📍 Navigate a changing medical affairs landscape

 
MAPS 2024 Americas Annual Meeting
March 24–27, 2024
Puerto Rico Convention Center
San Juan, Puerto Rico

In the face of a rapidly evolving healthcare landscape, this year’s educational sessions at MAPS, the world’s largest gathering of medical affairs professionals, will focus on the “new competencies” needed to facilitate innovation and identify emerging opportunities. Harvard’s Ranjay Gulati, PhD, will deliver the opening keynote, “Deep Purpose,” based on his book that examines the “heart and soul” of high-performance companies.

Points of interest:

• Over 50 sessions with 150 speakers

• Over 60 exhibitors

• Numerous networking events

• Opening night beach reception, March 24, from 6–8 PM AST

📍 Give your commercial model wings

Pharma USA 2024
March 26–27, 2024
Pennsylvania Convention Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Prepare for takeoff at Pharma USA 2024, which offers non-stop ideas and strategies for pharma leaders in commercial, marketing, and more facing the headwinds of rapid healthcare reform. This year’s “pillars of discussion” will center around forging patient partnerships, collaboration to streamline approaches to market, data-driven insights, and scaling with digital and tech to “propel HCP engagement.”

Points of interest:

• Over 100 speakers

• Over 40 case studies and over 15 interactive sessions

• Keynote speakers include:

  • Reshema Kemps-Polanco, EVP & Chief Commercial Officer, Novartis US

  • Adam Lenkowsky, EVP, Chief Commercialization Officer, Bristol Myers Squibb

  • Maya Martinez-Davis, President, US GSK

  • Gabriele Ricci, Chief Data & Technology Officer, Takeda

  • Ashley Magargee, Interim CEO & SVP, Head of Commercial Portfolio, Genentech

📍 Go to the center of the cancer-fighting universe

ASCO Annual Meeting
May 31–June 4, 2024
McCormick Place
Chicago, Illinois & Online

For five days in late spring, Chicago’s McCormick Place will be transformed into the capital for cancer fighters. ASCO is the world’s largest conference for solid cancer specialists, where attendees can immerse themselves in a world of state-of-the-art research, groundbreaking treatments, and visionary insights—with more oral abstract presentations than ever in 2024.

Points of interest:

• Over 40,000 registrants in 2023

• Over 200 sessions and live-stream content

• Over 2,000 poster presentations, including Trials in Progress

• ASCO Voices returns with personal stories from the oncology community

📍 Put your pharma brand on the map

Digital Pharma East
September 9–12, 2024
Pennsylvania Convention Center
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Do you want to add some sizzle to your pharma marketing? Head to Digital Pharma East this September. Produced by Fierce Pharma, it’s the leading event for all things pharma marketing, including the Fierce Pharma Marketing Awards Gala, available as an add-on. Digital Pharma East draws marketing decision-makers from many major pharma players, including Bayer, Boston Scientific, GSK, Lilly, Otsuka, Roche, and Viiv.

Points of interest:

• Over 150 speakers

• Over 60 sessions with dedicated tracks on HCP Engagement, Patient Solutions, Omni-channel Engagement, and Media

• Attend the 2024 Fierce Pharma Marketing Awards as an add-on

• View last year’s winners here

• New in 2024: Digital Pharma East Rising Stars Program by Fierce Pharma

📍 Discover a world of cancer treatment innovation

ESMO Congress
September 13–17, 2024
Fira Barcelona Gran Via
Barcelona, Spain

Every year, the European Society for Medical Oncology, or ESMO, produces a multi-day congress where tens of thousands of oncology professionals from around the globe come together to immerse themselves in data, learn about the latest scientific discoveries, and participate in lively discussions—all with the goal of going home with greater insights on how to improve the lives of patients with cancer. In 2024, this city-sized gathering will take place at Fira Barcelona’s Gran Via. The congress and venue are huge—but the ideas that will come from ESMO 2024 promise to be even bigger.

Points of interest:

• Over 33,000 participants

• 144 countries represented

• Over 200 sessions as of January 4, 2024

• 45 restaurants at Gran Via alone!

📍 Gather pearls of psychopharmacology wisdom

Psych Congress
October 29–November 2, 2024
Boston Convention and Exhibition Center
Boston, Massachusetts

Entering its 37th year, the Psych Congress is where the nation’s community of mental health professionals gather to gain practical insights to improve patient outcomes. In addition to attending congress sessions, registrants can earn continuing education credits.

Points of interest:

• 2,000 US-based mental health clinicians expected

• Steering committee Co-Chairs are Rakesh Jain, MD, MPH, and Julie Carbray, PhD, APRN

• 2024 agenda coming soon

Get equipped for your brand’s tour of 2024!

Wherever you plan to take your brand this year, whether, on the road at a congress or online at a webinar, Avant Healthcare can ensure it arrives in style and makes a lasting impression on your clinical audience.  

Contact us today to learn how we can create a must-see event for you.