Academic Showcase

Dear Colleague,

Given the overwhelming success of the Society's first Academic Showcase in 2003, we invite you to participate in the 2004 Academic Showcase. This unique event will be held at 6:30pm, Sunday, 22 August 2004, in conjunction with the Welcome Reception for the Society's 2004 annual meeting. The 20^th International Conference on Therapeutic Risk Management will be held 22-25 August 2004 at the Bordeaux Conference Center, Bordeaux, France.

The International Society for Pharmacoepidemiology (ISPE) is an international forum for the open exchange of scientific information among academia, government, and industry and for the development of policy; a provider of education; and an advocate for the fields of pharmacoepidemiology and therapeutic risk management. Our annual meeting is an excellent venue to learn more about pharmacoepidemiology and therapeutic risk management. We expect this year's meeting to be the largest yet. More than 700 abstracts were received in response to the Call for Abstracts; this is almost twice the usually response.

Academic Program Showcase
ISPE would like to highlight graduate academic programs in pharmacoepidemiology, therapeutic risk management, epidemiology and other related disciplines at the 2004 conference. We believe this exposure is mutually beneficial to your academic program and to our Society. As a participating program, you will:

• Reinforce ties with your alumni.
• Introduce meeting attendees to new educational opportunities at your school.
• Provide an opportunity for your students to learn about the Society and career opportunities in pharmacoepidemiology and therapeutic risk management while networking with practicing professionals.
• Benefit from increased visibility with high profile signage at the Welcome Reception
• Wear special colored ribbons indicating your status as an academic supporter
• Receive complimentary table space at the reception for program handouts. (An exhibit booth may be purchased at a discounted rate.)
• Be listed in the final programme distributed and on the ISPE website

In exchange for your participation at the Academic Program Showcase, we suggest a $600.00 (US) contribution for Non-Member Academic Programs, and $250.00 (US) for ISPE Academic Members. Membership information is posted at http://www.pharmacoepi.org/join/index.cfm

The academic programs will be showcased at the Welcome Reception, which will begin at 6:30pm, Sunday, 22 August 2004. This kickoff social event traditionally is the "ice breaker" for the meeting. The Academic Showcase will conclude a day of special sessions for students and faculty, and meeting participants. Two skills workshops organized by the ISPE Student Council to meet special student needs and open only to students will be offered in the morning. Students also may elect to participate in the Introduction to Pharmacoepidemiology (which runs against the skills workshop in the morning) and the Advanced Topics in Pharmacoepidemiology (in the afternoon). Any student registering for the entire ISPE conference may attend the workshops, and the educational courses at no charge. The Student Council also is planning a social event(s) for students to meet and mix.

We trust you will find this invitation an interesting opportunity for your program and your students, and we encourage your participation at this year's meeting. Enclosed for your information is a Welcome Reception Sponsor Registration Form. Please return the completed form with payment directly to the ISPE office.

Of course, we would be delighted to have your faculty and students participate in the entire 2004 conference. For more information about the Society and the 2004 annual meeting, please visit the ISPE website, www.pharmacoepi.org. You also may wish to contact the ISPE Executive Secretary, Mark Epstein, with questions (Direct line 301-718-6537 or mepstein@paimgmt.com).

We look forward to seeing you in Bordeaux.

Sincerely,