Day 8-9 – Fri 10-Sat 11 Sep: LAX to Canberra via Sydney

After a few hours in the American Airlines lounge in LAX, I boarded my flight home, and Kerri took the next one. Like I said at the start, I was asleep before we taxied and slept for a good while. By the time I arrived back in Canberra I was definitely over long haul flying, for at least another 12 months!

As an aside, almost a year to the date of Kerri and I being in New Orleans, Hurricane Katrina almost wiped it off the map permanently

Day 7 – Thu 9 Sep: New Orleans to LAX via Dallas

I stuffed up in booking our return flight and booked it for tonight instead of tomorrow! Anyway, after all the presentations, Kerri and said our goodbyes, raced up to our room, packed up and headed out to the airport.

Classroom day

Day 6 – Wed 8 Sep: New Orleans

We visited the Keesler Air Force Base today, in particular the Keesler Medical Centre which is home to the 81^st Medical Group. The 81st Medical Group operates one of the largest Air Force medical facilities in the Force. Its primary mission is to maintain medical readiness for worldwide contingencies by providing quality, cost-effective health care for more than 27,000 enrolees, including almost 7,500 active-duty members. We were split into five smaller groups to tour five areas of the facility: a research laboratory - amongst the numerous types of research projects carried out by this laboratory were ones investigating new surgical techniques; a DNA and chromosome identification facility - the prime task of this facility was to screen samples on request to identify genetic based medical conditions; the outpatient pharmacy - this facility is run primarily by technicians and robots and It was noted that some of the staff were volunteers (these retired military personnel give free hours to the pharmacy to enable the military staff to concentrate on the dispensing process), and included a two-lane, drive-through pharmacy; cytotoxic dispensary; and the inpatient pharmacy and TPN production unit. The visit included lunch at the Officers Mess.

After a rather long bus ride back to the hotel, it was time to shower and change into Mess Dress for the section dinner, which was held in the hotel, so again, not far to go. It was a subdued dinner due to the long day we had had at Keesler, but mainly due to the interminably boring speech.

Robotic dispensing

Keesler AFB drive-through pharmacy

MEPS Dinner

Wendy & Keri

Richard, Keri & Sylvain

Régis & Peter

Day 5 – Tue 7 Sep: New Orleans

One of the Canadians, either Régis or Sylvain, had organised a visit to the World’s Oldest Pharmacy (circa 1823) which is now a Museum with exhibits of early medicines, superstitious cures and more, right here in New Orleans. It was a short walk from the hotel, and we had a guided tour which was fantastic. After the tour, Jane, Kerri, and I went for another walk taking in Jackson Square and the French Quarter, again.

Pharmacy Museum

Day 4 – Mon 6 Sep: New Orleans

Not sure what we did in the morning, however, the afternoon was taken up with FIP and MEPS activities. The FIP Opening Ceremony was followed by the Showcase and then the MEPS Meet and Greet, one of the most important activities of the whole Congress.  Here we got to meet old friends and make new ones. It was held at the Hyatt Regency so was not too far for us to stumble back to our room.

Opening Ceremony - Bob, Sylvain, Jane, Peter & Kerri

MEPS Meet & Greet

Tom, Pat, Sylvain & Wendy

Sylvain, Wendy, Régis & Kerri

Gerhard, Barbara, Pat, Bill, Helmut & Jane

Day 3 – Sun 5 Sep: New Orleans

We consulted the tourist information stuff we had with us and decided on a walking tour. So, armed with our trusty tourist map we set off. We covered quite a bit of territory and visited tourist attractions such as the French Quarter, an above ground cemetery (they are all above-ground due to New Orleans being below sea level), Jackson Square, St Luis Cathedral and much more.

Above ground cemetery

French Quarter

Typical buildings in New Orleans

St Louis Cathedral

Jackson Square

Day 2 – Sat 4 Sep: New Orleans

We both had a bit of a sleep in after our long-haul flights and in the afternoon took a cruise on the Mississippi on a paddle steamer and may have met up with Jane, Regis and Sylvain and maybe some others that were already there.

Waiting to board the paddle steamer

Mississippi River and Crescent City Connection Bridge

Another paddle steamer on the Mississippi

Mississippi Pier

Cape Kennedy and Knox - RoRo cargo ships

Jackson Barracks

Cajun Queen - our paddle steamer

Day 1 – Fri 3 Sep: Canberra to Sydney to Los Angeles to New Orleans

Our transit through LAX was an experience and not one I would like to do again anytime soon. As 9/11 was still fresh in everyone’s minds, airport transits/transfers, especially in USA, were lengthy and frustrating to say the least. Anyway, after clearing Customs and Immigration, and then waiting for an eternity for our bags, we finally made it to the domestic part of the terminal for our flight to New Orleans via Dallas/Fort Worth. Travelling on an American airline was also a first for me and what an experience that was as well – people boarding with suitcases too big to fit in the overhead compartments and then complaining, and people boarding with what looked to be everything they owned, including the dog, and then complaining they had to hold stuff on their lap or place it under the seat in front of them were just two of the things I remember.

Anyway, we finally made it to New Orleans and to our hotel for the Congress – the Hyatt Regency, which also happened to be the Congress venue; very handy indeed. I shared a room with Kerri, and it was a nice room. We were hoping to be able to take our luggage to our room ourselves so that we did not have to tip as neither of us had any small notes. However, as most workers make most of their income via tips, the bellboy was onto our luggage before we could say anything. As Kerri was being sponsored, she had some notes in her purse and gave him a “fiver” which was obviously not enough as he was not impressed at all. Oh well??

Sydney to LA

Our room at Hyatt Regency New Orleans

FIP Congress 2004 - New Orleans - 3-9 September

Introduction

My first overseas pharmacy conference. After the Congress in Sydney last year, it was agreed that at least one pharmacist from JHSA should be sponsored to attend every congress following. This year, it was Kerri Monaghan who won the lottery. As Kerri and I were good friends and work colleagues, I decided to fund my own attendance, and even flew Business Class (using a points upgrade) to Los Angeles to accompany Kerri (Defence international flights were mainly Business class); I did not have enough points to upgrade my ticket for the return flight. Did not matter that much anyway as I was so tired that I fell asleep as we were taxing to the runway and stayed asleep until dinner was served!