I spent a lovely few days in Dublin attending .Med.  Hosted by Galway rheumatologist, Ronan Kavanagh and Irish Times medical reporter Dr. Muiris Houston, .Med is a meeting built to deliver a program centered on tech, creativity and innovation in medicine.

They delivered this week for the successful second year.  Centered in Dublin’s historic Smock Alley Theatre, .Med brought an eclectic mix of speakers covering subjects from the the future of medicine to the role of visual thinking strategies with fine art to train the physician’s eye.  In addition to powerful e-patient testimony and medical student reporting, I was privileged to discuss the emerging role of the physician in public.

(And when was the last time you had a Banjo trio at a medical meeting?)

As exciting as the meeting itself and the chance to visit Dublin was the opportunity to finally connect with European social tweeps who have been part of my digital life for years.

.Med is a meeting with amazing potential.  Meetings are shaped by the vision of their organizers.  Driven by passion and sensibilities of Ronan Kavanagh, the programming of .Med has evolved to bring attendees a unique mixture of digital culture, art and humanity.  With some fine tuning, this trajectory could put .Med on the map as a leading destination for providers feeling their way in the transition from analog to digital.  As more issues emerge with the transition, conversations like the ones heard this week in Dublin will become more important.

When I think of successful meetings I think of ‘spaces’ in my mind’s eye.  If taken to the next level, .Med could occupy the space where technology, art, digital culture, creativity, wellness and human narrative collide for the most unique experience.

Congratulations to Ronan for a job well done.  I’m excited to see how far .Med goes.

For more insight, see Jordan Grumet’s wrap up over at In My Humble Opinion.

.Med was generously supported by Abbvie.  See #dotmed13 tweets here.