The POMS Conference in Reno, Nevada a Big Success!

The 2011 POMS Conference took place in Reno, Nevada, April 29-May 2 with the theme Operations Management -- The Enabling Link.

As one of my doctoral students, who attended the conference, said: We had a great time at the POMS conference. Thank you very much for providing us with this precious opportunity. The doctoral student consortium was amazing and informative. Most of the participants (>30 out of 40) are third year PhD students. I met students from other universities, such as from UT Dallas, the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Syracuse University, and the University of Alabama, etc. Four panelists introduced their experiences in the job market, and we learned how to balance research, teaching, and service. We were told that the link to the slides of their presentations will be sent to us soon.

Conferences are so valuable for exchanging the latest research, for making new connections, and for networking! It is especially important for students to have opportunities to present their research at conferences so that they appreciate the atmosphere of scholarly exchanges and interactions.

The photos above were provided by two pf my doctoral students who spoke at the POMS Conference in a healthcare session. In the photos are even several of our UMass Amherst PhDs who are now professors! It's wonderful to see how their network is growing and how the friendships made during their doctoral studies provide them with linkages during their professional careers.

Congrats to the organizers of the POMS Conference in Reno!

Healthcare Supply Chain Talks at POMS in Reno, Nevada

Yesterday, two of my doctoral students practiced the presentations that they will be giving this Friday at the POMS Conference, which is taking place in Reno, Nevada, April 29-May 2, 2011. They did such a great job that I treated them and the other students who served as the audience out to lunch.

The theme of this year's conference is -- Operations Management -- The Enabling Link.

They will be speaking in a healthcare session. Amir Masoumi will present our paper, "Supply Chain Network Operations Management of a Blood Banking System with Cost and Risk Management," and Min Yu will present our paper, "Multiproduct Supply Chain Network Design with Applications to Healthcare," which is co-authored with Dr. Patrick Qiang.

Min will also be taking part in the doctoral consortium at the POMS Conference and Dr. Qiang has been selected, and will take part, in the Emerging Scholars program.

Regretfully, I will not be going to the POMS Conference since I will be giving a talk at a memorial symposium at Cornell University on the legacy of Walter Isard. My doctoral students are certain to have a wonderful experience!