Proposal Review FAQ
Who reviews session and workshop proposals?
All proposals are peer-reviewed by a panel chosen from the AMIA membership, including representatives from each AMIA Committee, who possess a broad range of expertise. For Stream proposals, the Stream Curators review all proposals and review all comments from peer review before determining sessions to be accepted into each Stream.
What does Peer Review consider?
Peer reviewers comment on the overall quality of the proposal and considers these criteria questions:
- Is the topic timely? Does it reflect current discussions in the field?
- Is there new information being presented?
- Is there an effort to bring in new voices on the subject?
- How broad an audience does this topic speak to?
- Has the topic been discussed already or been repeated frequently?
- Is there a speaker outlined that is crucial to the success of the panel?
- If a single presenter, does the proposal outline a clear perspective?
- If a panel presentation, is a balanced point of view presented or are there other areas to be considered?
What happens after Peer Review?
After the reviewers have completed their reviews based on the criteria outlined above, the Conference Committee then begins their review. Then, relying on the comments from the peer reviews, the committee bases their final selections on the goal of creating balanced, broadly-based program that speaks to the wide range of attendees. For Stream proposals, the Stream Curators review all proposals and review all comments from peer review before determining sessions to be accepted into each Stream.
Are all sessions and workshops peer reviewed?
Not always. The board or steering group may schedule plenary sessions, speakers, or workshops that are not part of the proposal process. These may include speakers or sessions that speak to a broad issue not addressed in the proposals received, or may be part of a collaborative project or grant that AMIA is involved in.
How many sessions are accepted?
About 30 hours of sessions are accepted, with a mix of 30 minute and 60 minute proposals. Typically, the Committee receives more than double the number of proposals that can be accepted.
How are sessions scheduled?
This is one of the biggest challenges the Committee faces every year. The Committee makes every effort to schedule sessions so that they don’t overlap for similar audiences. That said, sometimes the scheduling needs of the chairs and speakers mean moving sessions around to fit and overlaps happen. If you have specific scheduling needs, please include them in the description of your session. This includes other potential sessions you know about that you do not want to overlap with yours.
Can I be part of the Peer Review panel?
Yes. Each year the Committee puts out a call to AMIA members for participation in Peer Review. The appeal is sent via email to all AMIA members shortly before the proposal deadline. You may also contact program@amiaconference.com.
Each panel member is asked to review a minimum of 15 proposals, providing comments on each (an estimated 3-4 hour time commitment). There is a standard review template for responses, but the most critical part of each review is the comments that panelists provide.