Navigating RSNA 2020 Poster Sessions and Finding Colleagues
For Australian radiology professionals, the annual scientific assembly hosted by the Radiological Society of North America represents a key opportunity to engage with cutting-edge research and reconnect with international peers. Held from 29 November to 4 December 2020 at McCormick Place in Chicago, the meeting brought together thousands of radiologists, technologists, and researchers from across the globe, including a sizeable contingent from Australia and New Zealand.
The poster sessions, in particular, serve as a concentrated hub of emerging science, where investigators present findings in a more interactive format than the plenary lectures. For delegates travelling from Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, or Perth, these sessions offer a chance to absorb dozens of studies in a relatively short window and to initiate conversations that often evolve into long-term collaborations.
Planning how to approach the poster hall, and how to track down specific colleagues among the thousands of attendees, can make the difference between a productive meeting and a missed opportunity. This guide walks through practical strategies for making the most of the scientific poster programme and for finding peers, mentors, and potential collaborators on the ground in Chicago.
Australian attendees also need to factor in the practical realities of long-haul travel, jet lag across up to 17 hours of time difference, and the regulatory frameworks that shape their professional practice back home. Understanding these elements in advance helps frame both the scientific and logistical sides of the trip.
Understanding the Poster Hall Layout
McCormick Place is one of the largest convention centres in North America, and the RSNA poster hall occupies a substantial portion of the exhibition space. Posters are grouped by subspecialty, with dedicated zones for neuroradiology, musculoskeletal imaging, breast imaging, paediatric radiology, and the rapidly expanding field of artificial intelligence in radiology.
Each poster station is assigned a unique number, and the printed programme includes a map grid that allows you to plot your route in advance. Australian delegates who download the meeting app before leaving Sydney or Melbourne can search by author name, abstract title, or keyword, then save favourites to a personal itinerary.
The hall also features e-poster stations with high-resolution displays, which are particularly useful for those who prefer to review material digitally rather than standing at a printed board. These stations often cluster near the central aisles, making them natural meeting points for impromptu discussions.
| Subspecialty Zone | Typical Poster Volume | Best Time to Visit | Networking Density |
|---|---|---|---|
| Neuroradiology | High | Mid-morning, Day 2 | High |
| AI and Machine Learning | Very High | Late afternoon, Day 3 | Very High |
| Paediatric Radiology | Moderate | Morning, Day 4 | Moderate |
| Breast Imaging | Moderate | Mid-morning, Day 1 | Moderate |
| Musculoskeletal | Moderate | Afternoon, Day 2 | Low to Moderate |
Scheduling Your Poster Visits Strategically
Because posters are on display across multiple days, a thoughtful schedule lets you avoid the busiest corridors while still catching the formal presentation slots. Authors are usually required to stand beside their work during designated one-hour sessions, and these windows are the best opportunity for direct conversation.
Build your day around two or three anchor sessions rather than trying to cover the entire hall in a single sweep. For Australian radiologists accustomed to the tightly scheduled programmes of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists, this rhythm feels familiar and reduces decision fatigue.
Leave gaps of 30 to 45 minutes between your anchor sessions to drift through adjacent aisles, read posters that catch your eye, and chat with researchers who happen to be nearby. Some of the most valuable introductions happen this way, particularly when a senior colleague pauses to discuss a junior trainee's work.
Leveraging Digital Tools to Locate Peers
The RSNA meeting app includes an attendee directory with searchable profiles, allowing you to filter by institution, country, or subspecialty interest. For Australian delegates from institutions such as the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Westmead, or the Royal Brisbane and Women's Hospital, this is an efficient way to identify which colleagues from your home network are also attending.
Sending a brief message a day or two before the meeting is far more effective than searching the hallways on arrival. A short note suggesting a coffee at the McCormick Place café or a meet-up near a specific poster zone increases the chance of a confirmed catch-up.
For Australian practitioners regulated by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency, maintaining professional contact with international peers is also a recognised component of continuing professional development. This makes the networking opportunities at RSNA particularly valuable from a compliance standpoint.
Navigating Time Zones From Australia
Chicago operates on Central Standard Time, which sits 16 hours behind Australian Eastern Standard Time and 17 hours behind Australian Eastern Daylight Time. For delegates flying out of Sydney or Melbourne, the first 48 hours in Chicago can be challenging as the body clock adjusts to a day that starts much earlier.
Most Australian attendees find it easier to schedule key poster sessions and meetings for the late morning or afternoon Chicago time, when alertness is at its peak after a good night's sleep. Avoid booking critical networking conversations for the early hours of the morning, when jet lag is most acute.
Staying hydrated, limiting caffeine after midday, and getting outside for daylight exposure during the Chicago morning hours can all help reset the circadian rhythm more quickly. The convention centre is just a short walk from the lakefront, which provides a useful break between sessions.
Networking in Virtual and Hybrid Spaces
Even when in-person attendance is possible, RSNA 2020 incorporated virtual components that allowed radiologists unable to travel to participate remotely. For Australian trainees on rotation or consultants managing busy department schedules, the virtual platform offered an alternative way to engage with poster content and Q&A discussions.
Hybrid formats also mean that follow-up conversations can continue well after the meeting closes. Connecting with new contacts on professional networks, sharing poster PDFs, and scheduling Zoom catch-ups in the weeks that follow helps convert a brief Chicago introduction into an ongoing exchange.
Delegates from rural and regional Australia, where access to subspecialty expertise is often limited, can use these digital touchpoints to build mentor relationships that would otherwise be difficult to establish. The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists actively encourages such international engagement as part of its professional development framework.
Accommodation Logistics for Group Attendees
Australian departments frequently send delegations of three to ten people, and coordinating hotel rooms for a group travelling from a city as distant as Perth or Adelaide requires careful planning. Group bookings typically need to cover varying arrival dates, particularly when some members stay for the full week and others fly in just for the key sessions.
Splitting arrival dates across an RSNA delegation is one of the most common pain points for team leaders, and the booking platform offers specific guidance on handling staggered check-ins without losing negotiated rates. Managing check-in dates
Equally important is choosing a property that minimises travel time to McCormick Place. Venues with direct shuttle routes reduce the friction of getting to and from the convention each day, which matters enormously when you are already adjusting to a new time zone and a packed scientific programme. Direct bus access
Building Lasting Professional Relationships
The most enduring outcomes of attending RSNA rarely come from a single conversation in the poster hall. They emerge from follow-up emails, shared research projects, reciprocal visits to each other's departments, and co-authorship on subsequent papers. Australian radiologists have a strong tradition of such collaboration, particularly with North American and European institutions.
When you meet someone whose work resonates with yours, take a moment to note the specific poster number, the date of conversation, and one or two substantive points you discussed. These details make the follow-up message feel personal rather than generic and dramatically increase the response rate.
Consider also setting up an informal reunion with Australian colleagues during the meeting. There is often a gathering of RANZCR members at a designated venue, and these home-country touchpoints can be a welcome anchor in the middle of a busy international congress.
Practical Items to Pack for Poster Hall Navigation
- Comfortable, supportive footwear suitable for long hours on concrete floors
- A printed copy of the poster hall map with your marked priorities
- Business cards with your institutional email and ORCID identifier
- A compact notebook or tablet for capturing author contact details on the spot
Habits That Help Australian Delegates Adjust
- Booking an evening flight from Sydney to arrive in Chicago at a sleep-friendly hour
- Scheduling the heaviest poster review for days two and three, after jet lag eases
- Using the lakeside walk near McCormick Place as a daily reset between sessions
- Connecting with Australian colleagues early in the meeting to share notes and tips
Reserve your accommodation through the official RSNA 2020 booking platform to access negotiated rates for 3-star, 4-star, and 5-star hotels near the venue, and to secure your place within the Australian delegation heading to Chicago this November.