From September 6-8, 2024, the 13th China Rare Disease Summit took place in Shanghai, co-hosted by the Corde Rare Disease Center and Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine Affiliated Xinhua Hospital. With the theme “Walking the Rare Path, Building Dreams Together,” this prestigious event brought together over 1,000 participants, including more than 200 speakers, top experts, government officials, media representatives, patient advocacy groups, and pharmaceutical industry leaders. This summit, which spanned three days, featured 20 sessions, an awards ceremony, three topic-specific salons, six patient-doctor exchange forums, two satellite events, two closed-door roundtables, and over 30 companies showcasing the latest industry developments.

 

The event provided a comprehensive platform for collaboration among medical experts, patient organizations, policymakers, and various stakeholders from across the globe, focusing on rare disease diagnosis, treatment advances, and research progress. This shared effort reflected the deep commitment to support the rare disease community and work toward more effective, patient-centered care.

 

Sails of Hope’s Key Contributions

 

Sails of Hope played an important role in ensuring the summit ran smoothly. Our volunteers were involved in several key aspects of the event:

 

1. Registration and Information Distribution:

Our team assisted with handling the check-in process, ensuring all participants were registered efficiently. Volunteers were also responsible for distributing essential materials, including event schedules and information packets, ensuring that attendees had everything they needed for the summit.

2. Speaker Coordination:

Volunteers assisted the Speaker Group, helping speakers navigate logistics such as transportation and accommodations. They ensured that presentations were ready, including collecting PowerPoints and video content. Our team worked alongside the conference staff to make sure that speakers were supported during their sessions, allowing them to focus on delivering their messages.

3. Corporate Collaboration Support:

We also provided support to the Business Cooperation Group, facilitating interactions between sponsors and partners. Our volunteers helped coordinate communications, provided on-site support to sponsors, and assisted in gathering feedback to improve future events.

4. Logistics and Resource Management:

Volunteers in the Logistics and Materials Group ensured that all conference materials were well-organized and distributed at the correct time. They supported behind-the-scenes efforts, including handling hospitality services for participants, overseeing inventory of event materials, and ensuring the smooth functioning of on-site logistics.

5. Venue and Equipment Management:

Our volunteers also contributed to the On-Site Group, which was responsible for ensuring that all technical equipment (such as projectors, microphones, and presentation screens) was operational. They coordinated with speakers and session organizers to guarantee that the conference flowed smoothly and on schedule.

 

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