ASQ: Biomedical: ASQ Biomedical Discussion Groups

The Discussion Group (DG) project continues to be met with enthusiasm from all who have taken the time to investigate its merit. The concept of high quality, low cost, local, one day/one evening conferences on issues of importance to QA/RA professionals in the medical industry has proven attractive to both the attendees of the conferences as well as with the volunteer leaders of existing and future DGs. The success of this concept is evidenced by the solid attendance that continues to be generated at conferences held by the existing groups described below. Click on the ASQ Biomedical Events link above to browse for an event occurring in your area. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer leader, please contact your local DG leader by clicking on the DG Committee link above. If a group does not exist in your area and you would like more information about starting one, please fill out a feedback form by clicking on the Contact ASQ link below.

Dallas Fort Worth Discussion Group
This is the newest Discussion Group, which held a successful inaugural Round Table in late 2006. Attendees are targeted from the entire metropolitan area, with events hosted at Abbott Laboratories in Irving (located between Dallas and Fort Worth) from 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Click on the ASQ Biomedical Events link above for current and future events, as they are planned and announced. Topics are tailored to provide valuable training in quality system elements and other relevant FDA issues.

To receive direct notification of the next event, including a link to online signup and a printable flyer to post at work for others, contact Ken Block at (214) 448-1859 or training@kenblockconsulting.com.

Northern California Discussion Group
Roundtables and seminars are usually held on the fourth Wednesday of the month from 7:00 – 9:00 PM. We also occasionally hold seminars admitting up to 250 attendees. Our Round Tables and Seminars are held at:
Steifel Laboratories 3160 Porter Drive, Palo Alto, CA 94304

Click on the 'Home' link to the left and look under 'Calendar' for upcoming events.

If you’re already on the NCDG e-mail list, you’ll get timely notices of these meetings. If you want to be certain you’re notified, contact Danielle Anderle, 408-207-5968 or danianderle@gmail.com to be added to the e-mail list.

New England Discussion Group
This is the other older discussion group. It meets on a regular basis on topics of timely interest, such as 13485, Risk Management, QA System Tools, etc. and hosts from 30-150 attendees depending on the type of meeting, whether Round Table or Seminar.

If these discussion meetings are of interest to you, be aware that they are often limited to 30 people, first come, first served. If you’re already on the NEBDG e-mail list, you’ll get timely notices of these meetings. If you want to be certain you’re notified, contact David Leo (413) 596-2883 or davidleo@biomedical-resource.com.

Southern California Discussion Group
SCDG serves Biomedical Professionals throughout the Southern California and Arizona region. This discussion group sponsors regular roundtable discussions and periodic seminar-style events featuring local and nationally recognized experts, often including FDA representatives and industry consultants. The Discussion group currently offers these functions at various venues within ASQ Region 7 (San Diego, Temecula, Palomar, Orange County, San Gabriel, San Fernando Valley, Phoenix) to better serve the needs of the 13 Sections within the region.

Midwest Discussion Group
The Midwest Discussion Group was initiated in March 2007. We plan to meet monthly to discuss "hot topics" affecting our lives in the biomedical industry. The first topics for MWDG to begin tackling are CAPA and Risk Management.
MWDG is establishing a presence in Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Kentucky, and throughout the Midwest. Contact Jon Speer (jspeer@creoquality.com, 765 346 3987) or Scott Willis (swillis@productaction.com, 317 491 0300) for more details.

Mid-Atlantic Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Discussion Group
MAPBDG combined unique strength of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Professional in the greater Philadelphia region, including Maryland and New Jersey. We held our first evening seminar in the fall of 2006, on Risk Management, and two additional meetings in the spring of 2007, one on Combination products and one on effective CAPA. All of our meetings have been held at Home of QA/RA Program at Temple University in Fort Washington, PA. We welcome professionals in Pharmaceutical and Biomedical industries join us for the common goal of improving human life through Quality.

To receive timely notices of these meetings, contact the chair Li-Chung Huang (908) 243-9904 or lichung.huang@yahoo.com or co-chair Paul Meixner (610) 296-3000 x-223 or Meixner_paul@yahoo.com.