Reconnect, recharge and refocus in Vail

A meaningful return
to connection

The Colorado Medical Society will bring physicians from across the state together Sept. 18-20 for the 2026 CMS Annual Meeting at The Lodge at Vail. Set in one of Colorado’s most iconic mountain communities, this year’s meeting is designed to give physicians time to reconnect with colleagues, recharge away from the daily demands of practice, and refocus on the issues shaping medicine today.

The weekend will combine timely education, leadership conversations, networking, family-friendly options and a signature celebration of Colorado’s physician community. Whether attendees come for practical education, meaningful peer connection or simply a chance to step back and reset, the Annual Meeting offers a thoughtful and energizing weekend in an inspiring setting.

Timely topics for a changing practice environment

The 2026 program reflects the realities physicians are navigating every day. Sessions will explore how artificial intelligence is moving from promise to practical use in clinical settings, how emerging technologies are raising new ethical questions, and how physicians can lead with clarity and trust at a time when patients and communities are looking for reliable guidance.

The agenda also gives attendees room to explore practical topics that matter across career stages and practice settings, from physician wellbeing to public trust in science, mentorship and the evolving role of technology in medicine. Together, these sessions are intended to offer useful ideas physicians can carry back to their practices, organizations and communities.

Featured Speakers

Two featured speakers will help frame the weekend with perspective, purpose and practical inspiration. Tracee Metcalfe, MD, a Vail physician and world-class mountaineer, will open Saturday’s program with Above the Clouds: Resilience, Risk, and Returning Stronger, drawing on her experience in medicine and mountaineering to reflect on resilience, recovery and moving forward after challenge.

The weekend will close with Jerome Adams, MD, MPH, former U.S. Surgeon General, who will lead Coffee and Conversation: Public Health, Leadership and What Comes Next on Sunday morning. His keynote will offer a forward-looking discussion on public health, physician leadership and the role physicians can play in shaping what comes next for patients and communities.

Opportunities to connect

Connection is at the center of the Annual Meeting. In addition to formal education, attendees will have opportunities for mentorship “speed dating,” informal networking, discussion with Colorado physician authors and a research poster competition that elevates the work of medical student and resident members. Families are welcome, and childcare will be available during key sessions on Saturday and Sunday.

Join us in Vail

The CMS Annual Meeting is the premier gathering of Colorado physicians and a chance to invest in the profession, the physician community and yourself. Registration is open for physicians, guests, medical students, residents, fellows, component society executives, speakers, staff and exhibitors. Rooms at The Lodge at Vail are available on a space-available basis, with additional rooms available nearby at The Arrabelle at Vail Square. Physicians are encouraged to register now and make lodging plans soon.

Friday, Sept. 18: The weekend begins with the Welcome Reception with Exhibitors from 5-7 p.m., followed by Mentorship “Speed Dating” from 5:30-6:30 p.m. and The Stories We Carry: Physician Authors on the Path from Idea to Publication from 7-7:45 p.m. with Pius Kamau, MD; Jay Ogsbury, MD; and Sean Pauzauskie, MD

Saturday morning, Sept. 19: Start the day with breakfast at 7 a.m., then hear Tracee Metcalfe, MD, present Above the Clouds: Resilience, Risk, and Returning Stronger at 8 a.m., followed by John Lantos, MD, on Redefining the Role of the Physician in the Age of AI at 9:15 a.m. The first breakout session begins at 10:45 a.m., with options on practical AI in medicine or public trust in science communication.

Saturday afternoon, Sept. 19: Join colleagues for the COMPAC lunch from 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m., then hear Lotte Dyrbye, MD, present Advancing Faculty Well-Being: Leadership, Work Design, and Meaningful Action. An exhibit break with raffle drawings brings high energy before the second breakout sessions with Copic or the CMS outdoor experience group hike. 

Family-friendly options: Children’s camp will be available Saturday for children age 2 and older, with arts and crafts, snacks, an evening movie and other activities. Advance registration is required by Sept. 1.

Saturday evening, Sept. 19: Gather for the President’s Reception from 5:30-6 p.m., then the President’s Celebration from 6-9 p.m. The evening includes dinner, music, dancing, recognition of physicians celebrating 50 years since medical school graduation, the passing of the gavel from Brigitta Robinson, MD, to Sean Pauzauskie, MD, and a chance to meet Sunday’s keynote speaker Jerome Adams, MD.

Sunday, Sept. 20: Close the weekend with breakfast at 8:30 a.m. and Coffee and Conversation: Public Health, Leadership and What Comes Next with Jerome Adams, MD, from 9-10 a.m.

Credit Designation:

AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™:
7.00 Credits

Attendance w/ No Credit:
7.00 Hour(s)

Accreditation Statement:

The Colorado Medical Society is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.