Photoblog: 2024 American Physiology Summit

The 2024 American Physiology Summit took place at the Long Beach Convention Center in Long Beach, California, last month. This annual event convened scientists, educators and trainees from diverse fields within physiology. APS member and PhD student Raz Abdulqadir traveled from the East coast to attend the Summit. Here, she provides some highlights from the four-day event.

The Summit kicked off with an engaging keynote address by Nobel Laureate Brian Kobilka. Kobilka captivated the audience as he delved into the dynamic realm of “Challenges and New Approaches to Drug Discovery for G Protein-Coupled Receptors.” His insightful presentation set the tone for an exciting and enlightening conference ahead.

The excitement of the Summit continued with a vibrant welcome festival, featuring colorful stilt dancers and a carnival-themed party.

My Friday morning commenced with a delightful breakfast meeting dedicated to the Robert Gunn Student Award Competition. Graduate and undergraduate students showcased their research in the field of cell and molecular physiology. Each student had just three minutes to present their findings, resulting in a fast-paced and engaging session. Above, Maksim Diakov, an undergraduate student at the Medical College of Georgia, gives his talk.

After the breakfast meeting, I hurried to join a room filled with eager attendees. All ears were tuned to Declan McCole, PhD, as he delivered the prestigious Horace Davenport Distinguished Lecture. McCole’s groundbreaking contribution to gastrointestinal research—particularly concerning intestinal barrier health—held us captivated.

I dashed to lunch, where I had the honor of co-chairing the trainee symposium “Breaking the Mold: Embracing the Unexpected in Physiological Findings.” While satisfying our appetites, we nourished the minds of our trainee audience too, engaging in lively discussions about the significance of negative data. Kirsteen Browning, PhD, FAPS, from Penn State College of Medicine, and Barbara Alexander, PhD, FAPS, from the University of Mississippi Medical Center, provided insights and shared their personal journeys and strategies for navigating new hypotheses based on data. They emphasized the importance of “standing by your science.” They also welcomed trainees to present their research, especially focusing on unexpected findings, fostering an environment where exploration and discovery thrive.

After a long session of intense scientific discourse, it was time for a well-deserved break. What better way to unwind than by spending time with adorable puppies, spreading love and joy? That’s right, you heard correctly—puppies! Nonetheless, after the puppy break, scientific deliberations continued until 9 p.m.

Saturday morning kicked off with the Women in Physiology Networking Breakfast, featuring 15 tables designed to foster connections among early-career investigators and trainees. The topics covered a wide range, including navigating National Institutes of Health funding, engaging in science policy at APS, the significance of mentorship and sponsorship, chairing a department, and participating in Women in Physiology committees, among others. That’s me in the photo on the right, in the white jacket, listening to APS member Kedra Wallace, PhD, talk about committee service.

Saturday evening was abuzz with dinner and networking events across various sections, continuing well into the night. For attendees of the Cell & Molecular Section banquet, a lively trainee bingo event unfolded, complete with prizes and award winners beaming with delight.

Sunday morning was the closing keynote session with NASA Astronaut Jessica Meir, PhD. She reflected on her career in her talk “Experimenting in Microgravity: A Full Circle Journey for a Physiologist Turned Astronaut.”

Here I am with Bella Raphael from University College Dublin. With plans already underway for the 2025 meeting in Baltimore, I eagerly anticipate reconnecting with you all there.