"I want to thank you, Ash [Chawla] and the PDM administration/staff for a wonderful meeting and weekend. The dinner theatre (as we call it in Connecticut) was excellent also - the lobster was terrific! Having 10 years in pharma distribution/returns, I can confidently state that PDM is certainly the most well connected, managed and executed trade shows for GPOs that I have experienced. The vendors are top notch and the attendees are there to discuss business opportunities - which are more than I can say for the other meetings. I took plenty of potential business prospects home with me," are the words of Mr. Thomas Hardiman, Director of Business development, PharmaLlink Inc. that sums up the PDM MedExpo & BioLink 2006 was held October 27 to 29 at the Renaissance Cleveland Hotel.

The event kicked off with The City Club of Cleveland US Senate Debate on October 27, sponsored by PDM Healthcare and broadcast on television live nationally. This exciting and heated debate drew over 1140 attendees and was the largest turnout in history for The City Club. Despite a fierce storm with hurricane force winds that delayed flights in to Cleveland and caused massive power outages in several states, hundreds of healthcare professionals braved the elements and attended all or part of the event. PDM MedExpo featured a world class conference hall that showcased over 75 medical pharmaceutical, medical supplies, bioscience, and other healthcare service providers. Several international companies

were also represented. This one-of-a-kind showcase area gave attendees a unique education on the latest products and technologies. Though the exhibit hall saw moderate traffic due to weather during the day, by evening, it was packed with a full house of Ohio's most prominent physicians and healthcare industry leaders. Those exhibitors that kept their booth open for the cocktail hour Saturday evening in the Exhibitor Showcase were truly rewarded for their efforts with a huge crowd of potential clients.

Also adding to the show's success was the Educational Summit featuring multiple educational tracks covering various hot topics including Medical Benefits of Space Exploration (presented by NASA), new drug pedigree laws, FDA regulatory issues, plastic surgery, and diabetes awareness. All courses offered allowed the opportunity to earn valuable CE credits.

A great highlight for attendees was the Inaugural Session, with wonderful keynote presentations by Dr. Luis Proenza, CEO of the University of Akron, and Nicole Johnson, former Miss American and international diabetes spokesperson.

As a diabetic, Nicole filled her presentation with personal anecdotes of her struggle with diabetes, from the misdiagnoses to the daily routine needed to manage her disease and make time for her family and career. Nicole's talk also served to launch the event's Virtual Diabetes Care Interchange in the exhibit hall, which brought all key participants in diabetes management: pharmacists, physicians, nurses, and product manufacturers together to showcase comprehensive care for the diabetes patient.

The event created numerous business development opportunities for participants. Whether at the casino night, hospitality suites, or exhibitor cocktail reception, PDM MedExpo provided a rare opportunity for exhibitors and practitioners to network!