With RAPS’ Regulatory Convergence coming to Baltimore, 24–28 October, the signature annual event for the regulatory profession will not only be held within close proximity to the US Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Maryland headquarters, it also will return to the home turf of one of RAPS’ most active and enthusiastic chapters. Several local members of the RAPS DC/Baltimore Chapter gathered at Baltimore’s inner harbor recently to record a short welcome video singing the praises of the town known as Charm City and encouraging Convergence attendees to take advantage of Baltimore while they’re in town.

 “The local chapter is just thrilled that RAPS has chosen this city to have their conference,” says Chapter Chair Nancy Singer. Singer, along with fellow chapter members Pat Shrader of Medtronic and Paul Swift of BD Diagnostic Systems gladly volunteered a few hours of their time on a beautiful and sunny late summer day near the waterfront to give their personal perspectives on what makes Baltimore such a unique and special place.

“There’s a lot more here than they think,” says Swift of what most attendees likely know about Baltimore. “It’s just a great city with a lot of interesting neighborhoods and a lot of good things to do,” adds Shrader.

Each mentioned some of the specific attractions they recommend for visitors and locals alike, including the inner harbor area and Camden Yards, famed home of the Baltimore Orioles, as well as some of the city’s outstanding museums. “One of the things that we like to do is go to the aquarium or go to the science center,” says Swift. “It’s good for kids but there’s also a lot of fun for adults.”

“Having the conference here in Baltimore is great because I think it will give a lot of people a chance to explore the city and see just how much there is to do,” says Shrader

Swift also took a moment to underscore the key feature of Baltimore’s proximity to other east coast biopharma and medical hubs, and to FDA. “It’s a central location that can draw a lot of people, and you’re going to get a lot of regulatory leaders and lot of agency interaction, which I think you probably wouldn’t get at a lot of other locations,” says Swift.

To find out more about the Regulatory Convergence or to register, go to RAPS.org/convergence. To learn more about what to do and see in Baltimore, visit RAPS.org/2015/baltimore.