This time of year, Megan Piper is usually preparing a bevy of presentations on tobacco addiction and treatment for annual conferences. But this year, as the 2012 chair for the SRNT Annual Conference, she’s focusing on other researchers’ work. She has already confirmed the keynote speaker, Dr. Howard Koh, U.S. Assistant Secretary of Health. She asked SRNT networks for input on speakers and has invited her selections.

She’s meeting with the two co-chairs, Joanna Cohen of Johns Hopkins and Kelly Cosgrove of Yale, to select abstracts for paper presentations. The ones that don’t get selected for paper presentations will likely be invited as posters. She is inviting Kathy Backinger of the FDA to speak on a panel about plans for future research. Megan said being chair of the conference has been an excellent networking opportunity and has broadened her horizons. “It makes you think beyond the sort of research you do.” The 2012 SRNT Annual Conference will take place March 13 to 16 in Houston. Megan plans to be very busy those days.