Registration is open now for ADCES25 taking place August 8-11 in Phoenix, AZ! Our conference planning chair Christina Whitehouse, RN, MSN, APRN, ARNP, FADCES, CDCES, shares what to look forward to at this year's conference, and why ADCES' annual conference is the place to be for all diabetes care and education specialists and other professionals in the diabetes space.
Registration is open now for ADCES25 taking place August 8-11 in Phoenix, AZ! Our conference planning chair Christina Whitehouse, RN, MSN, APRN, ARNP, FADCES, CDCES, shares what to look forward to at this year's conference, and why ADCES' annual conference is the place to be for all diabetes care and education specialists and other professionals in the diabetes space.
Register for this year’s annual conference at ADCES 2025 Annual Meeting
Explore all there is to see in Phoenix at Roosevelt Row Arts District | Downtown Phoenix
Jodi Lavin-Tompkins
Hello and welcome to ADCES's podcast, “The Huddle: Conversations with the Diabetes Care Team”. In each episode, we speak with guests from across the diabetes care space to bring you perspectives, issues, and updates that elevate your role, inform your practice, and ignite your passion. I'm your host, Jodi Lavin-Tompkins, a board-certified nurse in advanced diabetes management and the director of accreditation and content development at the Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists. Today, I'm joined by Annual Conference Planning Committee Chair, Christina Whitehouse, who is here to talk about all of the exciting things to look forward to at ADCES25 in Phoenix this year. Christina, welcome to The Huddle!
Christina Whitehouse
Hi, Jodi. Thank you so much for having me here today.
Jodi
Yeah, and before we begin, why don't you share a bit more about yourself for our audience?
Christina
I am an associate professor at Villanova University's Fitzpatrick College of Nursing. I am also a board certified adult health geriatric primary care nurse practitioner and a certified diabetes care and education specialist.
Jodi
All right, thank you. And to start us off, what is the ADCES's annual conference all about, and why do so many people attend every year?
Christina
So this conference is one of the best conferences, especially for anyone interested in diabetes care and education. There's so many reasons why so many attend. It brings a lot of like-minded, passionate people about diabetes together. It's really a time where you can focus on learning and networking. And I love it because I get to reconnect with old friends and meet new colleagues. We get to learn about some new technologies. And it's just really a place where you can get invigorated and really inspired to learn and want to do more in the diabetes space. We're going to have opportunities to learn about the latest research, listen to inspirational speakers. There's really something for everyone. So for someone who is just taking that initial leap into the diabetes space, as well as for experts who have really been in the diabetes world for many years. And I love just hearing about all the projects, especially those that I could potentially implement into my setting.
This year's conference will take place August 8th to the 11th, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona. There's also opportunities for professional development, so that is great. As of today, the day that we're recording this, you can earn up to 18.5 CE/CMEs by attending the in-person sessions and an additional 24 CE/CMEs through the on-demand for a total of 42.5 possible credits. That's really a great amount of credits for the cost of attendance.
Jodi
Yeah, I agree. And I'm interested in what have been some of your favorite experiences at our annual conferences you've attended in the past? Because it sounds like you've been to these before.
Christina
So I always look forward to going to the ADCES annual conference. There's just so many things to do and there are so many favorite experiences that I have. So networking and meeting people, that's just so great. I met the first ever person who was on an insulin pump. That was last year, it was so exciting. I was able to look at some pictures and just think of and see how much growth that we have made in the diabetes world. The experience of the diabetes care and education specialist, it's really highlighted at this conference, and you don't get that at any other conference. At least, I don't get it at any other conference that I go to. Also the ability to get hands-on experience. So you can meet with manufacturers, you can try the technology yourself, you can talk to reps about certain medication and different devices. So that's such a great opportunity that you get at these conferences. And as diabetes care and education specialists, you know, we like to party. So the conference always brings a fun time. So whether it be an impromptu party with friends, or receptions, there's also, you know, some exercise classes that you can go to. So, we really have a good time.
Jodi
I’ve been to several of these too, Christina, and I can vouch for that. Now, we also have general sessions starting off each day, and everybody loves them because they are the big kickoff of the day. So, can you tell us what keynote topics are being featured this year?
Christina
Yes, on Friday, we'll have a keynote speaker who's a motivational speaker, a professional magician, as well as a comedian. He'll discuss how we can practice encouragement, especially in the workplace, to increase job satisfaction and purpose. On Saturday, we'll have a duo of nursing professors joining a panel with ADCES president, Veronica Brady. They'll talk about how unconscious bias may be impacting care and how we can look within ourselves to address biases and practice cultural humility. And then for Sunday's keynote, we'll have a public health leader from Kaiser Permanente who will share how their organization is connecting care delivery with community partners to integrate support for social needs related to food and housing.
Jodi
Well, that sounds like a great lineup, Christina. So, what about the rest of the program? Is there anything new this year that attendees might like to hear about?
Christina
Yes, actually there's lots of new exciting things that we have. So we understand that people are traveling in from the East Coast, Midwest, so people might be on different time zones, or you just might be up early and ready to learn. So we're now offering some sunrise sessions. So, we'll start at 7 a.m. before the general sessions. Also to add some local flavor without having to leave the convention center, we've added a retail therapy space in the exhibit hall, which local vendors will have the opportunity to share, exhibit, and sell some of their merchandise. This is a great opportunity for us to support local businesses. And then on Monday, we're offering sessions that folks can attend knowing that you'll be able to get out earlier than usual at 10:45. So, this gives you more time to catch a flight back home.
Jodi
Is there anything else you'd like to highlight about the programming this year?
Christina
We have a lot of new and exciting opportunities to look forward to at this conference, but we're also bringing back some favorites like an emcee and distinguished poster presentations, our celebration event, a networking reception, and unopposed exhibit hall hours, as well as pharmacology hours.
This year, our program will have a larger focus on women's health, and we will also have speakers from Lifestyle Medicine in the obesity space, which are in the new Lifestyle and Nutrition Education track. We'll continue to have small interactive sessions, and of course, you'll want to stop by the exhibit hall where we have over 100 exhibitors signed up so far.
Jodi
And the exhibit hall is one of the main features. There's lots to learn and lots to see and lots of people to talk to in the exhibit hall. This year, just like many in the past. And I know the city of Phoenix is very excited to have us. So can you talk about some of the activities that attendees can do in Phoenix while they're visiting?
Christina
Yes, absolutely. I look forward to visiting Phoenix and everything it has to offer as well. There's a great mix of art, food, and nightlife on Roosevelt Row near the Convention Center. Lots of arts and culture. There's local galleries that you can explore and street art as well. Great food. I know I'm really looking forward to trying some Moroccan-inspired bites where you can indulge in giant pancakes, is what I'm told. So you want to check that out. Also nightlife, there's plenty of places to wind down and grab drinks after a long day of learning. The city of Phoenix has a great website, visitphoenix.org, where you can see all the different restaurants and activities around the Convention Center. We'll have a link in the show notes that you can visit.
Jodi
All right, that sounds great. So Christina, how can people register for the conference then?
Christina
You can visit adcesmeeting.org to register and learn more about the conference. ADCES members receive a discounted rate and you can become a member the same time that you register. The cutoff for early registration is June 25th, so register now for the best rates and housing options.
Jodi
Well, Christina, this has been a great overview of the conference, and I know a lot of hard work went into making this special for the attendees. I've enjoyed working with you on this, and I can't wait to see you in Phoenix.
Thank you for listening to this episode of The Huddle. If you're ready to thrive with us in Phoenix, be sure to register for ADCES25 through the link in the show notes. And remember that being an ADCES member gives you access to many resources, education, and networking opportunities. Learn about the many benefits of ADCES membership at adces.org/join.
The information in this podcast is for informational purposes only and may not be appropriate or applicable for your individual circumstances. This podcast does not provide medical or professional advice and is not a substitute for consultation with a health care professional. Please consult your health care professional for any medical questions.