SAGES 2004 Meeting Advance Program -- General Information

Register Online Now | Download Advance Program PDF

General Information

SAGES Meeting

Where?
Colorado Convention Center
700 14th Street, Denver, CO 80202

Who?
Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES)
11300 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 600, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phone: 310-437-0544, Fax: 310-437-0585
Email: Sagesweb@sages.org
Website: www.sages.org

How do I register?
Complete the registration forms.
SAGES Registration
11300 W. Olympic Blvd., Suite 600, Los Angeles, CA 90064
Phone: 310-437-0581, Fax: 310-437-0585
Email: registration@sages.org
Register on-line! www.sages.org/registration/

SAGES Registration Hours:
Tuesday, March 30, 2004: 12:00 - 5:00 PM
Wednesday, March 31, 2004: 7:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Thursday, April 1, 2004: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday, April 2, 2004: 7:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday, April 3, 2004: 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Accreditation

The Society of American Gastrointestinal and Endoscopic Surgeons (SAGES) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to sponsor Continuing Medical Education for physicians. SAGES designates this Continuing Education activity for:

4.25 credit hours for the Complications in Bariatric Surgery Postgraduate Course
4.50 credit hours for the Advance Techniques Hands-On Lab
2.00 credit hours for the Evening Video Session
3.50 credit hours for the Top to Bottom - GERD Postgraduate Course
3.50 credit hours for the Top to Bottom - Colon Postgraduate Course
4.00 credit hours for the Surgeons in the Digital Age: PDA Workshop
3.50 credit hours for the Allied Health Professionals Course
3.00 credit hours for the Minimally Invasive Surgery in HPB Tumors Postgraduate Course
3.00 credit hours for the Resident and Fellow Scientific Session
3.00 credit hours for the Learning Center
15.00 credit hours for the Scientific Session
1.50 credit hours for the Educator’s Lunch
1.50 credit hours for the Technology Lunch
1.50 credit hours for the Pediatric Surgery Lunch

In Category 1 of the Physicians Recognition Award for the American Medical Association. Note: each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.

Who Should Attend:

The SAGES Annual Meeting has elements that have been specifically designed to meet the needs of practicing surgeons, surgeons-in-training, GI assistants, nurses and other allied health professionals who are interested in minimally invasive surgery. The Program Committee recommends that participants design their own attendance schedule based on their own personal educational objectives.

Special Travel Discounts

Airfare
SAGES is pleased to announce that it has been able to secure a special discount agreement with United Airlines. Several pricing options are available to serve your needs. You may choose a 5% discount off any United domestic published air fare or a 10% discount off the unrestricted fully refundable coach air fare. Received an additional 5% discount on tickets purchased at least 30 days in advance of travel. Or you may choose Area Pricing, a fixed air fare rate to the meeting based on geographical location. Area Pricing must be purchased at least 7 days in advance. These discounts apply on United Airlines and United Express. To obtain the best fares and schedule information, call or email our corporate travel agent, Rhonda Smith, at 310-576-6336 or rhonda_smith@corptraveller.us
Make sure you refer to the SAGES 2004 Annual Meeting in Denver, Co.

Important Visa Information for International Attendees

For more than 50 years, the United States of America has required visas to study, visit, or conduct business in the U.S. While changes have been made recently to U.S. visa law, many procedures remain the same. More importantly, you must APPLY EARLY for a visa, as processing time has increased in some instances.

For information about obtaining a visa, please visit the following website:

http://www.unitedstatesvisas.gov/

In order to attend our meeting, most likely, you will need to obtain a B-1 (business) visa. If you want to qualify for a business visa, you must show the following:

The purpose of your trip is for business
You plan to stay for a specific, limited period of time
You have social and economic ties outside the United States and you will return abroad at the end of your visit.

This is what you must do when you apply for a business visa:

Complete and sign the required application forms
Show your business-related work in the United States
Bring evidence that your visit is temporary and that you will leave the United States after your legally authorized stay; and
Undergo security clearance procedures

All visa applicants must have these things:

Application Form DS-156 (http://travel.state.gov/ds-0156.pdf)
Current, valid passport or travel document
Photograph. Requirements are strict for photograph size, type and quality. Please check with your nearest consulate for specifications before you get your picture taken.
Application fees. All applicants must pay the application fee. Some applicants, according to nationality and type of visa, must also pay an issuance fee.
Evidence of funds to cover expenses in the United States
Evidence of compelling social and economic ties abroad
For men between 16 and 45 years of age . . . you must also complete a supplemental visa application Form DS-157 (http://travel.state.gov/ds-0157.pdf)

Contact your nearest U.S. embassy or consulate (http://travel.state.gov/links.html) for specific information on:

How to pay fees
How to get an appointment for an interview
How to get application forms
The latest information on visa requirements

Consular officers do security checks for all visa applicants. They do special security clearances for some applicants as required by law. These clearances may take several weeks or longer. Please plan for the possibility of a delay in the issuance of a visa. Make your visa application well in advance of your intended travel.

For more information, please contact SAGES
Phone (310) 437-0544, ext. 108
Fax (310) 437-0585
Email: registration@sages.org