The 4th annual OR Excellence conference was the best yet, an achievement we owe to the many new friends we make and the familiar faces we welcome back each year. More than 350 people joined us at the exclusive Harbor Beach Marriott Resort & Spa in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., for 3 productive days packed with learning, networking and fun.

INSTANT FEEDBACK Each attendee uses a handheld device to interact with presenters. The real-time responses are part of what sets OR Excellence apart from other conferences.

As you'll see in the following pages, surgery's top managers and administrators packed the educational sessions, schmoozed in the exhibit hall and mingled during nightly festivities. They formed new friendships and learned what products and services leading exhibitors had to offer while sampling South American wines and South Florida-inspired rum cocktails. Most of all, they learned how to become better leaders, patient caregivers and employee advocates. They left Florida energized and armed with plenty of practical advice for ensuring management success. We truly believe the days spent networking with peers and learning from business bigwigs and healthcare experts is time well spent, helping attendees further their careers and better their facilities' performances throughout the year.

NEXT YEAR We look forward to seeing you next year at the luxurious Red Rock Resort & Spa in Las Vegas from Oct. 23 to 25. For more information and to register for surgery's friendliest and most informative conference, visit www.orexcellence.com.

Many thanks to the presenters, attendees and exhibitors who continue to make ORX the destination for surgical managers and physicians who strive for daily excellence at leading hospitals and surgery centers across the country.