Medical conferences in the post-COVID world: challenges and and opportunities

Holding medical congresses and seminars has always been one of the scientific manifestations of scientific associations. In the statute of scientific associations, holding scientific meetings is mentioned as one of the basic pillars, and the Iranian association of clinical laboratory doctors is no exception to the rule. Scientific congresses are events where the latest scientific findings in the relevant field are presented to the audience by scholars. These events also provide a unique opportunity for professionals to renew professional and friendly meetings while gaining knowledge and updating information. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, attendance was the most common method to hold congresses. This method has been welcomed by all congresses and scientific conferences all around the world. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, in addition to the dramatic economic and social effects, has had undeniable effects on the attendance to scientific events. In this short article, I will try to briefly delineate how scientific congresses are affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and ways to adapt to this global crisis.