The 2024 SIGN Conference will be held September 24th through 26th

There is limited space for the 2024 SIGN Conference.
Scholarships are available for individuals whose abstracts/case studies have been accepted.
There are no additional scholarship funds available at this time.

The IGOT SMART Course will be hosted at SIGN HQ in Richland, WA from September 27th through 29th. Hotel and meal accommodations will be provided for registered SMART Course attendees.

Please contact programoffice@signfracturecare.org if you have any questions.

SIGN Conference FAQ

Travel Information

Airline Travel

Attendees will be responsible for booking their own travel itinerary to attend the SIGN Conference.

Please note that SIGN does not provide an on-site travel agent. If you use a travel agent to book your flights, please bring their contact information with you, in case you need to make last minute changes. SIGN Staff will not be available to help with flight changes.

Be sure to review the luggage restrictions for the airlines on your itinerary schedule. Please review airline restrictions at www.tsa.gov. There may also be different restrictions for individual airlines. Please contact your airline to get a full list of prohibited items.

Visa Requirement
Each attendee must confirm their valid visa with SIGN by July 1. This is to ensure that accommodations are confirmed for each person. If we do not receive this confirmation, the attendee may be removed to allow another person to take their place. If an extension is needed, be sure to contact the Conference Coordinator at programoffice@signfracturecare.org.

Airport Transportation
For overseas attendees, we will arrange a car service to take you from the Pasco airport to the hotel when you arrive. We will need your flight itinerary to schedule this transportation for you.

For other attendees, we are unable to offer transportation to and from the Pasco airport. There are several different cab companies available in the area, and rideshare services are also available.

Airport to Hotel transportation options to consider:
Rad Cab - 509-585-2944
Tri City Cab - 509-222-9208
Visit Tri-Cities website has great information on shuttle services.
Rideshare services, such as Uber and Lyft, are available in our area.

Ground Transportation
SIGN will provide a month-long bus pass for daily transportation from the Holiday Inn to SIGN HQ. You will receive your bus pass from SIGN Staff upon arrival.
Bus Route 26 runs on a single loop from the Knight Street Transit Center (located near Holiday Inn) with a bus stop located across the street from SIGN HQ and departs every 20 minutes.

Weather
The average temperatures in Richland range from 50° Fahrenheit (at night) to 79° Fahrenheit (during the day). We suggest that you bring a light coat for warmth as the temperature drops quickly after sundown.

Accommodations (Hotel and Meals)

SIGN has a group rate and room block at the following hotel:

Holiday Inn Richland on the River
802 George Washington Way
Richland, WA 99354
Phone: +01 509-946-7611
https://www.ihg.com/holidayinn/hotels/us/en/richland/rldgw/hoteldetail

SIGN provides hotel accommodation for overseas surgeons only during the nights of the conference. If you arrive early or plan to stay after the last day, you are responsible for the additional cost.

Your hotel room reservation will be made on a rooming list sent to the hotel from SIGN. If there any changes to your arrangements such as cancellation of attendance or change in number of guests, the Conference Coordinator ( programoffice@signfracturecare.org) must be informed.

Hotel Rooms and Guests
SIGN will be making hotel reservations for all overseas SIGN Surgeons. SIGN will pay a maximum of $75 per night per registered conference attendee for hotel accommodation. You will be responsible to pay for any expenses that exceed this amount.

If you do bring a guest or family member, please know that you will be responsible for the guest’s portion of the hotel cost. SIGN will pay a maximum of $75 per night per registered conference attendee for hotel accommodations. You will be responsible to pay for any expenses that exceed this amount. We ask that you be prepared to reimburse SIGN upon your arrival at the conference.

Additional Room Charges
You must provide payment for any additional charges such as international calls made from your room. Another option is to purchase a pre-paid calling card for a lower cost. You will also be responsible for any other services you request, such as room service.

Hotel Check-in/Check-out
Check-in begins at 3pm on your arrival date. You are required to check out of your hotel room by 12pm on your departure date. If you are coming to the conference after you check out, we recommend you leave your luggage with the front desk at the hotel before coming to SIGN. Please plan to use the bus, cab, or rideshare to return to the hotel to pick up your luggage if necessary, and plan your own transportation to return to the airport. SIGN Staff will not be able to transport you to the hotel or airport for your departure.

Breakfast

Breakfast will be served daily in the restaurant of the hotel. You must verify you are on the SIGN guest list by giving the host your name and room number. This will ensure that you are not charged for your breakfast.

Meals During the Course
Lunch and take-away dinners will be provided daily at the conference facility. These meals are for registered attendees only.

If you are traveling with family, please see the “Guests” statement under "Other Conference Announcements" for more information regarding guest meals.

Course Information

The SIGN Conference Planning Committee is dedicated to Orthopaedic Trauma Surgeons learning relevant knowledge that can be taken back to their home country and applied immediately to start helping patients. Much time and consideration has gone into developing a program focused on topics seen in the SIGN Surgical Database and via email requests.

Speaker Information

Visa Confirmation: Your valid US travel visa must be confirmed with SIGN by July 1 in order to keep your place as a speaker.

Presentation (PowerPoint File): Presentations must be sent to the Program Office by July 1. S IGN Staff must review the presentations for content and ensure that they work with facility equipment.

Time Allotment: Each presenter will have 15 minutes for speaking and 5 minutes for discussion. If you have any videos or animation, it is considered part of your presentation time so please plan accordingly. Speakers who have requested additional time will be notified if an adjustment is made for their time allotment.

Presentation Changes: If you have any changes, please go to the Speaker Desk no later than the morning of your talk to give them to SIGN Staff.

Video Clips: Please provide all video files so we can be sure they link properly.

Animation: If you have animation, please be sure to practice your timing, as animation can slow down a talk.

Presentation Testing: You can check your presentation during the following times: each morning between 7:30 AM to 8:00 AM and during scheduled lunch breaks.

Slide Changer: You will be given a handheld slide changer which will allow you to advance to the next slide. You will be shown how to use the device prior to your presentation.

Attention Mac Users: If you create your presentation on a Mac, please be sure it is PC compatible. We cannot guarantee that the presentation will work properly. If you wish to run your presentation from your personal Mac laptop, please bring a video adapter for PC. (You are still required to give your presentation to SIGN Staff for review by July 1 .)

Please do not include any political or religious references in the presentation. These will be removed from your slides.

Other Conference Announcements

Family Reunion Dinner
The Family Reunion Dinner will be held on Thursday, September 26, in the evening at the Holiday Inn. All registered conference attendees are invited to attend. A ticket will need to be purchased for each guest who is not a registered attendee of the conference. Each ticket is $50.

Merchandise Purchases
Attendees will be able to purchase SIGN souvenirs during scheduled breaks and lunch times at the SIGN Conference facility.

Wireless Access at Conference Facility
The password for the wireless networks will be posted throughout the facility. If you have trouble connecting your device, please ask a SIGN Staff member.