Dive Brief:
- On Monday, the American Heart Association announced it was cancelling its Quality of Care and Outcomes Research (QCOR) conference that was scheduled to be held this week in Baltimore.
- The conference was canceled due to violent protests in the city following the death of Freddie Gray.
- A cancelation notice was sent to attendees late Monday night, soon after the mayor of Baltimore activated the National Guard and imposed a curfew.
Dive Insight:
In its notice to attendees, the AHA said, "After speaking with local authorities, hotel management and the Convention and Visitors Bureau we have decided to cancel the 2015 QCOR conference due to the potential for violence. Your safety and well-being are our highest concerns."
The AHA is considering how to handle requests for registration fee refunds.