The ninth World Aquatic Health Conference (WAHC) and Aquatic Physical Therapy Summit was held for the first time in Norfolk, Virginia. Show organizers reported strong attendance, with 412 attendees, holding close to last year’s record-setting event in Seattle.
“The feedback has been very positive, with nearly 80 percent indicating they will join us in Indianapolis in 2013.” said Michelle Kavanaugh, Conference Manager for the National Swimming Pool Foundation.
Global water recreation and therapy experts gathered for the annual event, which highlighted research, including health benefits of water exercise, making pools and spas safer, and impact of learn-to-swim initiatives.
Attendees selected from 41 high-level sessions in five diverse topic areas, attended lunch roundtables, and gathered around the scientific poster session. “Our live-streaming of all five seminars on the Model Aquatic Health Code was a huge success, so we have plans to expand live-streaming offerings for 2013 in Indianapolis,” explained Kavanaugh. “Also, the 41 seminars are now available on-demand at http://nspf.netro.ca/Products.aspx.”
According to show organizers, industry, government, academic and health leaders traveled from 41 states and 8 countries including Australia, Belgium, Canada, Italy, Mexico, Spain and the Ukraine. Of the 412 registrants, 46% noted they were high-level decision makers including CEO, president, owner, vice president, or director, which is up from previous years. Industry segments represented were from aquatic facilities, service providers, consultants, parks & recreation, water parks, manufacturers, academia, associations, builders, community organizations, distributors, hotels, government, health/medical, retail, and media.
In its third year of collaborating with the World Aquatic Health Conference, the Aquatic Physical Therapy Section of APTA offered its membership a unique learning opportunity and a means of professional networking, according to Diane Platz, PT, vice president of the organization.
“Nothing can mimic exercising in the water and this conference gives our members an excellent opportunity to hear and share the latest research. Also, this conference allows great networking with a diverse group of people that work in the aquatic environment,” she says. “This sharing of ideas and professional knowledge will strengthen the future for all of us in Aquatics.”
WAHC 2013 Indianapolis
The tenth annual World Aquatic Health Conference is scheduled for October 16-18, 2013 in Indianapolis, at the Hyatt Regency Downtown. Send an email to [email protected] to sign up for more information when it is available.
