Meeting professionals have been navigating a landscape where access, funding, and conference attendance are no longer guaranteed, said Pat Schaumann, president of Schaumann Consulting Group. Schaumann is also the director of Meeting Professional International’s Healthcare Meeting Compliance Certificate (HMCC) program.
In 2025, the U.S. was expected to host over 1.5 million medical meetings, with support from 1,800 pharmaceutical companies and 3,600 medical device companies, Schaumann said. But political uncertainty is creating challenges that may impact these projections.
“Third-party planners continue to be busy with medical meetings,” said Schaumann. “Advisory boards, clinical trials and related gatherings are probably not happening or happening a lot less.”
Medical Meetings Ban Reversed
Some positive news was released on April 10 when the U.S. National Institutes of Health (NIH) reversed a ban on scientists traveling for conferences and meetings, according to Reuters, which cited a spokesperson from the Department of Health and Human Services.
This ban had prevented researchers from attending scientific gatherings, even when using their personal time and funds. Critics argued that this policy hampered collaboration and the exchange of knowledge.
“Numerous meetings hosted or funded by the NIH have been canceled, including grant review panels and advisory council sessions. These cancellations disrupt critical research evaluations and hinder the progress of scientific studies,” said Schaumann.
It’s unclear if those meetings will resume now that the ban has been reversed.
“The NIH travel restrictions were announced and then reportedly reversed, but until the changes are officially outlined, we can’t make plans based on rumors,” said Jacqueline Beaulieu, senior director of marketing, advocacy, and client strategy at Poretta & Orr Exhibits Events.
“What’s most challenging is the frequency of these shifts,” Beaulieu added. “They force meeting planners into constant reactive mode, especially in the medical and scientific space where so many factors — speakers, sponsors, compliance, and even attendance — are directly impacted by policy changes.”
HITAC Meetings Suspended
The Health Information Technology Advisory Committee (HITAC) meetings have also been suspended by the Trump administration, said Schaumann. HITAC advises the federal government on rules and standards for healthcare data and technology. This suspension has left the future of healthcare technology regulations and the role of artificial intelligence in medicine uncertain.
The disruption of the U.S. medical meetings landscape could have far-reaching international effects. Growing concerns over the U.S. political climate have already prompted some global medical congresses to explore venues outside the country.
In addition, Schaumann is concerned about rising medical meeting costs due to tariffs.
