Special thanks to Eleanor (Nell) Davidson, MD, ACHA’s chair of the Continuing Education Committee and Continuing Medical Education Subcommittee for braving the uncertain waters of public transportation to find this easy way from Boston Logan International Airport to Boston Marriott Copley Place. The best part? It’s rush hour traffic free!
The following text is adapted from an email from Nell Davidson, MD.

I wanted to try public transportation in Boston when I visited for program planning in November. Since my flight arrived at Boston Logan International Airport during rush hour on a Wednesday evening it seemed like a perfect excuse NOT to take a taxi anywhere—why sit and suffer in traffic?

So instead I bought a $2.50 ticket for the subway inside the airport and then caught the bus headed to the BLUE line airport stop.

I caught a BLUE Line MTA (subway) towards Bowdoin to the State Street stop (three stops away) and changed to the ORANGE line.

Then I took the ORANGE Line subway headed towards Forest Hills to the Back Bay stop and got off (four stops). At each subway you need to make sure which direction train you are taking—there are plenty of signs.

You will then come up and out of the station across the street from Copley Place (a rather upscale shopping mall).

Enter Copley Place anywhere and start looking for signs to the Marriott, the Westin, or the Sheraton—they are all accessed through Copley Place. It’s only a five minute walk at this point.

At every step of the way, if I hesitated for even a moment or two, someone came up to me and said “can I help you find your way?” You can’t beat that!

Total travel time was about 30 minutes.

Can you believe the ACHA 2013 Annual Meeting starts next week? If you’re as excited as we are you've probably poured through travel websites and books looking for recommendations for must-see attractions. We've asked our wonderful local members for their suggestions.

Nancy Baker says: I would recommend a trip to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum as well as a trip to the Museum of Fine Arts.

Jane Powers says: No better place to see the city skyline than from the harbor. Take a low cost cruise on one of the Boston Harbor Island Ferries. You can see the city, picnic, hike some of Boston’s historic outer islands, and ferry between islands. Plan your return for sunset, it’s magic!

Gerri Taylor says: The Boston Pops Orchestra is great fun. Get a table for a group of people and enjoy an evening. The Orchestra is only a few blocks from the Marriott, Westin, and Sheraton hotels. 

And who would miss a Red Sox game? See the famous Green Monster! 

Also, take a Swan Boat tour for a very short ride on the pond in the Boston Public Garden.

David McBride says: Don’t miss the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in the Fenway-Kenmore neighborhood.

Sharon Yardley says: How about a night out at the Institute of Contemporary Art on the waterfront? It is a great setting with great restaurants nearby and the waterfront is unbelievable.

Martha Farve says: The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum is a beautiful Italian villa that was built to hold the family’s personal art collection. It’s a wonderful small museum and is located a block away from the Fine Arts Museum, another city gem. 

Leah McKinnon-Howe says: Take advantage of Boston’s many musical and cultural offerings during your stay in Boston by checking out www.artsboston.org. Something for everyone can be found at this site.

ACHA 2013 Annual Meeting 

Boston is a unique city filled with history at every turn. It can be overwhelming! Here’s what the locals are saying about Boston’s history and guided tours. 

Gerri Taylor says: Shop and lunch on Newbury Street and stop at the New England Historical Society and check out your genealogy! Also, if you have a chance, go see the Adams House in Quincy. A neat place for history buffs!  

Mary Lou Walsh says: I also think the Holocaust Memorial is incredible. 

Catherine Meloche says: Take a Duck Tour, a fun way to see some of Boston’s historical places!  

Anne Patey says: Taking a Duck Tour is a fun way to get to know Boston. I loved that I was sitting up higher than all other vehicles and could see everything that I was learning about.

Gerri Taylor says: The Freedom Trail will help you relive the history of Boston!

Bruce Churchill says: The Charles Riverboat Company cruise from the Cambridgeside Galleria up to Harvard (and back) is a great way to see Boston and Cambridge.

ACHA 2013 Annual Meeting 

As we eagerly look forward to an exciting and successful annual meeting in Boston, we share a sense of solidarity and oneness with the greater Boston community and call your attention to One Fund Boston, Inc., formed by Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick and Boston Mayor Tom Menino to raise money to help those families most affected by the tragic events that unfolded during the Boston Marathon.

“We are one Boston. We are one community. As always, we will come together to help those most in need. And in the end, we will all be better for it,” Mayor Menino said.

If you would like to donate, please visit their website at www.onefundboston.org

You are required to wear the name badge included in your registration packet to gain admission to all annual meeting events, including the Exhibit Hall and the Diversity Reception. If you don’t have your name badge, you may not be granted entry to conference events. 

New this year, each badge will display a QR (quick response) code in the lower right hand corner (example shown to the right). As an ACHA registrant, your contact information is conveniently encoded into this code. With your permission only, exhibitors may scan the QR code or manually input your badge ID number and they will be provided your name, degree, title, company, address, phone, and email address.

You may decline having your badge scanned if you do not wish to share your information. Just like handing out your business card, when you provide your contact information to exhibitors you are granting them permission to communicate with you. You will be subject to their communications and privacy policies and must opt-out with them directly.

ACHA 2013 Annual Meeting 

The ACHA Annual Meeting is all about our students’ wellness, but what about our own? We have planned several wellness activities to keep you feeling healthy and energized throughout the five jam-packed days.

Walk Your Way to Wellnes, in Regis
Thursday, May 30, 9:30-10:00 am,  3:15-3:45 pm
Friday, May 31, 9:30-10:00 am, 3:15-3:45 pm
Even the busiest person can achieve fitness! This brief and fun walking working will reenergize you between sessions, so join your colleagues and stretch out those leg muscles

Sunrise Yoga 
Thursday, May 30, 6:00-7:00 am, in Regis
Yoga can help improve balance, strength, and flexibility and reduce stress and tension. This basic yoga class is suitable for all levels. The instructor will show modifications for poses as needed. Please wear comfortable clothing and if you have a yoga mat, bring it. Towels will be provided.

Stretch and Strengthen 
Friday, May 31, 6:00-7:00 am, in Regis
This class combines yoga and fitness-based poses, stretches, and exercises to promote flexibility, strength, and balance while relieving stress and tension. Suitable for all levels. Please wear comfortable clothing and if you have a yoga mat, bring it. Towels will be provided.

The yoga and stretching classes will be taught by Deirdre Neylon, MA, a certified fitness instructor and who has been teaching classes in the Greater Boston area for 18 years. She currently teaches classes for students at Bentley University in Waltham, Massachusetts. 

Boston Solidarity 5K Run/Walk 
Thursday, May 30, 6:00-7:00 am, Meet in Marriott Lobby
Proudly wear your blue and yellow running gear or Boston Marathon apparel and show your support for the city of Boston while enjoying a nice run/walk through the Back Bay area. Your guides, Pat Ketcham, Susan Hochman, Michael McNeil, and Alicia Czachowski will lead you around the Boston Commons and along the Charles River. Runners and walkers of all levels are encouraged to come out and join the fun. Maps of the route will be provided onsite. 

Latin Dance 
Thursday, May 30, 5:30-6:30 pm, Third Floor Atrium
Latin dance is great exercise - it’s fast, and it’s fun! Learn basic steps that can be done alone or with a partner, designed to get your feet moving and your heart racing to great Latin rhythms. No partner or experience necessary. Towels will be provided.

This class will be taught by Guillermo Rivera-Pagan. He has been teaching ballroom dance for over 30 years. He specializes in Latin/Caribbean dances and incorporates the historical and cultural aspects of each type of dance for his students.

Zumba 
Friday, May 31, 5:30-6:30 pm, in Regis
Ditch the workout and join this Latin-inspired, calorie-burning dance fitness party™! Come check out the Zumba phenomenon that's moving millions of people towards joy and heath! Participants should dress for exercise and have comfortable shoes. All fitness levels are welcome. Towels will be provided.

This class will be taught by Leah Parker-Moldover. She has been taking Zumba classes for the past five years and completed the training to become a licensed instructor last fall. She currently teaches at Bentley University and the Longfellow Gym in Wayland, Massachusetts.

ACHA 2013 Annual Meeting