How to network with peers at RSNA 2020 beyond the exhibit hall
RSNA 2020 brought radiologists, researchers, technologists, educators, and industry professionals together from 29 November to 4 December 2020. Although the annual meeting was delivered online during the pandemic, it still offered meaningful ways to exchange ideas, discover shared interests, and strengthen professional relationships.
The digital format changed the rhythm of networking. Instead of relying on chance encounters between sessions or conversations beside a poster, attendees had to plan their interactions more deliberately. A thoughtful approach could turn scientific sessions, special-interest communities, and informal online meetings into valuable peer connections.
The programme was broad, covering clinical practice, imaging research, artificial intelligence, education, and emerging technologies. Reviewing the day-by-day schedule helped participants identify the sessions and discussion opportunities most relevant to their goals.
Build a focused networking plan
Before the meeting began, participants could define three practical objectives. These might include meeting potential research collaborators, finding mentors in a specific subspecialty, or learning how other departments handled workflow changes during 2020. Clear aims made a large online congress easier to navigate.
It also helped to prepare a short professional introduction. A concise description of one’s role, clinical focus, research interests, and current project gave peers an easy way to understand where a conversation might lead. Including a specific topic, such as neuroradiology education or AI validation, was more effective than describing oneself broadly as “interested in radiology.”
A simple contact list or calendar could keep networking activity organized. Recording a person’s specialty, institution, discussion topic, and follow-up action prevented useful conversations from disappearing after the meeting ended.
Use scientific sessions as conversation starters
Scientific presentations provided natural openings for peer engagement. Rather than attending passively, participants could note one question, one method worth discussing, and one result that connected with their own work. These observations could become thoughtful comments in a session chat or a personalized message afterward.
Questions were most effective when they demonstrated attention to the presentation. Asking how a study population was selected, whether a model had been tested across institutions, or how a finding might affect clinical workflow could lead to a deeper exchange. A specific question was more memorable than a generic compliment.
Poster presentations and on-demand content also created networking opportunities. When a paper or presentation addressed a familiar problem, mentioning the shared challenge and adding a brief professional context could begin a productive discussion without demanding a long response.
Participate in digital communities
Online networking worked best when attendees became visible contributors rather than silent viewers. Engaging in moderated discussions, professional society groups, and relevant social media conversations helped peers recognize shared interests. Useful comments could summarize a point, add a practical perspective, or connect two related presentations.
Radiology professionals could also use institutional networks and specialty associations to find colleagues attending the same meeting. Departmental chat channels, alumni groups, and research consortia often provided a warmer starting point than contacting an unfamiliar attendee without context.
Digital communication required respect for time and privacy. Short messages, clear subject lines, and a specific reason for reaching out made professional contact easier. A request to exchange perspectives on a defined topic was generally more welcome than an immediate request for a job, referral, or lengthy meeting.
Choose the right format for each connection
Different networking goals called for different communication formats. A public discussion could help someone become familiar to a wider group, while a private message was better for discussing a research idea or arranging a focused conversation. Video calls worked well for complex topics that would have taken too many messages to explain.
| Networking goal | Useful format | Practical approach |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange clinical perspectives | Session chat or direct message | Refer to a specific presentation and share a concise observation |
| Find research collaborators | Small video meeting | Describe the project, needed expertise, and possible next step |
| Meet early-career peers | Informal group discussion | Compare training paths, interests, and professional challenges |
| Connect with mentors | Polite direct outreach | Explain why their work is relevant and request a brief conversation |
| Continue a promising contact | Email or professional network | Send a short follow-up within a few days |
Small virtual gatherings could feel more personal than large conference sessions. A group of three to six people discussing a shared subspecialty, training concern, or research method allowed everyone to contribute. Appointing a loose facilitator and agreeing on a time limit kept the conversation focused.
Make informal peer exchanges purposeful
Networking did not have to center on formal presentations. Informal conversations about clinical routines, fellowship choices, staffing, imaging protocols, or work-life pressures could reveal common experiences and lead to lasting professional relationships.
Participants could organize virtual coffee breaks, regional meetups, journal discussions, or “open office” sessions for colleagues with similar interests. These gatherings were especially useful for attendees who might otherwise have missed the spontaneous social contact associated with an in-person annual meeting.
A good informal discussion still benefited from preparation. Choosing one accessible topic and inviting people from varied roles encouraged a more balanced exchange. For example, a conversation about implementing an imaging AI tool could include a radiologist, physicist, technologist, data scientist, and trainee.
Turn first contact into a professional relationship
The most important networking step often came after the event. A follow-up message could mention the original conversation, identify a useful resource, or propose a realistic next action. Sending a relevant paper, sharing a protocol, or arranging a short call showed that the connection had substance.
Follow-up should be timely but not excessive. A message within several days of meeting was easy to place in context, while repeated reminders without a clear purpose could feel intrusive. If someone was unavailable, leaving the door open for future contact was more appropriate than pressing for an immediate response.
Useful follow-up habits included:
- Summarize the shared topic in one sentence.
- State one specific action, such as exchanging abstracts or scheduling a 20-minute call.
- Include a professional profile or institutional contact detail when appropriate.
- Thank the person for a presentation, comment, or practical insight.
- Keep a private record of agreed tasks and revisit it after a reasonable interval.
Build a network that lasts beyond the meeting
RSNA 2020 demonstrated that professional connection did not depend entirely on physical proximity. A digital annual meeting could bring together peers who might never have crossed paths in a convention center, especially when participants used the programme to find focused communities and approached others with genuine professional interest.
The strongest connections grew from shared questions rather than indiscriminate outreach. A carefully chosen session, a thoughtful follow-up, and a short conversation about real clinical or research challenges could create a foundation for collaboration long after the online meeting closed.
Use the RSNA 2020 programme and professional networks as a starting point for reconnecting with peers, sharing relevant work, and developing conversations into practical collaborations.