By Jennie Y. Chou, John R. Litaker, and James P. Wilson, University of Texas, Austin, TX, USA

Kudos to the organizers and participants of the ICPE 2004! There were 12 academic programs present at the academic showcase and reception. That was nearly twice the number of academic sponsors present at last year's reception! The first- and second-timers included the:

1. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine
2. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill School of Public Health
3. Utrecht Institute for Pharmaceutical Sciences and Academic BioMedical Centre
4. University of Florida College of Pharmacy, Pharmacy Health Care Administration
5. University of Dundee/MEMO
6. Boston University Slone Epidemiology Center
7. Department of Pharmacology at Centre Hospitalier de l'Université de Bordeaux
8. Drug Safety Research Unit affiliated with University of Portsmouth
9. Boston Collaborative Drug Surveillance Program at Boston University Medical Center
10. University of Texas at Austin College of Pharmacy
11. University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine/Center for Clinical Epidemiology and Biostatistics
12. University of Washington Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research and Policy Program

The purpose of the event was to provide academic institutions the opportunity to share information with conference attendees about what their programs offer. Each of the showcase participants provided colorful brochures and full-length, free-standing posters describing their programs. Most notably, the University of Florida and Slone Epidemiology Center at Boston University introduced their programs by providing interactive exhibits and case studies using computers and the Internet. And who can forget the Wilhelmia mints provided by graduate students from Utrecht University. Thank you Queen Wilhelmia!

The opening reception brought together ISPEans from around the world under one roof for an evening of famous Bordeaux wines and hors d'Oeuvres, including a wide assortment of pate. The Great Entrance Hall at the Palais de Congrés served as a great venue for conference attendees to catch up with old friends, colleagues, and to meet new acquaintances. With all the right elements — the food, wines, showcase, and the ISPEans, the academic showcase was another successful event that started the conference on the right footing.

Yet, despite the good food and wine the most memorable thing about the Academic Showcase was the occasion itself. It was an occasion where ISPEans could learn about the institutions and programs that are training future researchers in the field of pharmacoepidemiology. The venue also allowed ISPEans the opportunity to share their research and ideas about the future of pharmacoepidemiology, their cultures, and goals to further the cause of the organization. We hope that the sharing and camaraderie will continue. See you all in Nashville, Tennessee next year!

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