How to Cite a Conference Paper in AMA Style

Conference papers and presentations are important sources in medical and health sciences research, offering cutting-edge findings and preliminary results. AMA style provides specific formatting for conference presentations, whether or not they appear in published proceedings. This guide covers all aspects of conference paper citation.

Basic Format for Conference Papers

The format depends on whether the paper was published in proceedings:

Author(s) initials. Last name. Title of paper. Presented at: Conference Name; Date; Location.

For papers in published proceedings:

Author(s) initials. Last name. Title of paper. In: Proceedings of Conference Name; Date; Location. Publisher; Year:page range.

Conference Paper Not in Published Proceedings

When citing a presentation that was not formally published:

Author initials. Last name. Title of paper. Presented at: Conference Name; Month Day, Year; City, State/Country.

Example: Smith JA, Johnson BC. Novel immunotherapy strategies in melanoma treatment. Presented at: American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting; June 2-6, 2024; Chicago, Illinois.

Breaking this down:

• Authors: Smith JA, Johnson BC
• Paper title: Novel immunotherapy strategies in melanoma treatment
• Conference: American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting
• Dates: June 2-6, 2024
• Location: Chicago, Illinois

Conference Papers in Published Proceedings

When the paper appears in published conference proceedings:

Author(s) initials. Last name. Title of paper. In: Proceedings of Conference Name; Date; Location. Publisher; Year:page range.

Example: Williams RT, Brown LD. Advanced diagnostic algorithms in radiology. In: Proceedings of Radiological Society of North America Annual Meeting; November 26-December 1, 2024; Chicago, Illinois. Radiological Society of North America; 2024:234-241.

Conference Proceedings as a Journal

Some conferences publish proceedings as special journal issues:

Author(s) initials. Last name. Title of paper. Journal Name. Year;Volume(Issue):page numbers. doi:xxxxx

Example: Garcia SC, Martinez JL. Precision medicine applications in cardiology. Circulation. 2024;150(Suppl 2):e456-e467. doi:10.1161/circ.150.suppl_2.e456

Electronic Conference Proceedings

Online conference proceedings include the URL or DOI:

Author(s) initials. Last name. Title of paper. In: Conference Name Proceedings; Date; Location. Published online Month Year. doi:xxxxx

Example: Davis KE, Green MC. Artificial intelligence in clinical decision support. In: International Conference on Medical Informatics Proceedings; September 15-18, 2024; Vienna, Austria. Published online September 2024. doi:10.1145/3673565.3673890

Conference Abstracts

When citing an abstract published in a conference abstract book or journal supplement:

Author(s) initials. Last name. Title of abstract. Journal Name. Year;Volume(Issue):page number or abstract number.

Example: Peterson JM, Russell CT. Gene therapy outcomes in inherited blindness. ARVO Annual Meeting Abstracts. 2024;65(14):4567.

Multiple Authors in Conference Papers

For conference papers with multiple authors:

List all authors if six or fewer: Smith JA, Johnson BC, Williams RT, Brown LD, Davis KE, Green MC.

For more than six authors, use “et al.” after the first three: Martinez JL, Garcia SC, Thompson RD, et al.

Example: Smith JA, Johnson BC, Williams RT, et al. New biomarkers for early disease detection. Presented at: American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting; April 5-10, 2024; San Diego, California.

Complete Conference Paper Examples

Example 1: Conference Paper Without Published Proceedings

Wilson RT. Combination vaccine strategies in respiratory disease. Presented at: Infectious Diseases Society of America Annual Meeting; October 17-20, 2024; San Antonio, Texas.

Example 2: Conference Paper in Published Proceedings

Nelson KP, Harris JL. Advanced imaging techniques in cardiovascular diagnosis. In: Proceedings of American College of Cardiology Scientific Session; March 16-18, 2024; Atlanta, Georgia. American College of Cardiology; 2024:456-463.

Example 3: Conference Proceedings Published as Journal Supplement

Adams JM, Taylor KL. Immunotherapy resistance mechanisms in solid tumors. J Clin Oncol. 2024;42(16_suppl):e12345.

Example 4: International Conference Presentation

Thompson RD, Russell CT. European perspectives on personalized medicine implementation. Presented at: European Society for Medical Oncology Congress; October 19-23, 2024; Barcelona, Spain.

Example 5: Virtual/Online Conference Presentation

Garcia SC. Digital health transformation in rural healthcare settings. Presented at: American Telemedicine Association Annual Meeting; May 14-16, 2024; Virtual.

Specific Conference Types

Medical Society Annual Meetings

These frequently cited conferences follow the standard format:

Author(s). Title. Presented at: Society Name Annual Meeting; Date; Location.

Examples:

• American Medical Association Annual Meeting
• American Heart Association Scientific Sessions
• American Academy of Pediatrics Annual Meeting
• Radiological Society of North America Annual Meeting

International Conferences

International conferences may include country designation:

Author(s). Title. Presented at: Conference Name; Date; City, Country.

Example: Martinez JL. Novel therapeutic approaches in rheumatology. Presented at: European League Against Rheumatism Annual Congress; June 14-17, 2024; Barcelona, Spain.

Virtual and Hybrid Conferences

For online presentations:

Author(s). Title. Presented at: Conference Name; Date; Virtual.

Or:

Author(s). Title. Presented at: Conference Name; Date; Hybrid (Location/Virtual).

Workshop and Symposium Presentations

Workshops and symposia follow the same format:

Author(s). Title of presentation. Presented at: Name of Workshop/Symposium; Date; Location.

Finding Conference Paper Information

Conference Programs

Official conference programs list all presentations with authors, times, and locations.

Conference Abstract Books

Most conferences publish abstract books containing all presentations.

Conference Websites

Visit the conference organization’s website for presentation listings and proceedings.

PubMed and Medical Databases

Some conference papers are indexed in medical databases.

ResearchGate and Academia.edu

Authors often share their conference presentations on academic networks.

In-Text Citation

Conference papers are cited using superscript numbers:

“Recent findings at major conferences¹ suggest new approaches to treatment.”

The superscript corresponds to the reference list entry.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Mistake 1: Incomplete Conference Name

Wrong: Smith JA. Title. Presented at: ASCO Meeting; June 2024; Chicago. Correct: Smith JA. Title. Presented at: American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting; June 2-6, 2024; Chicago, Illinois.

Use the complete, official conference name.

Mistake 2: Missing Location Information

Wrong: Williams RT. Title. Presented at: AHA Scientific Sessions; November 2024. Correct: Williams RT. Title. Presented at: American Heart Association Scientific Sessions; November 16-19, 2024; Chicago, Illinois.

Always include the complete location and dates.

Mistake 3: Incorrect Date Format

Wrong: Brown LD. Title. Presented at: Conference Name; 10/15-10/19/24; City. Correct: Brown LD. Title. Presented at: Conference Name; October 15-19, 2024; City.

Use spelled-out month names and complete year.

Mistake 4: Mixing Citation Styles

Wrong: Davis KE. Title. Conference Name. Presented at March 2024 meeting. Correct: Davis KE. Title. Presented at: Conference Name; March 2024; Location.

Use consistent AMA conference paper format.

Mistake 5: Omitting Required Elements

Wrong: Green MC. Title. Presented at important conference. Correct: Green MC. Title. Presented at: Name of Conference; Date; Location.

Include all required information.

Conference Proceedings vs. Journal Publications

When to Use Conference Citation

• Conference presentation not published elsewhere
• Abstract presentations
• Unpublished research findings

When to Use Journal Citation

• Paper published in conference proceedings that appear as journal special issue
• Paper later published in journal based on conference presentation
• Published proceedings with standard journal format

Example distinction: Conference: Smith JA. Title. Presented at: Conference; Date; Location. Journal: Smith JA. Title. Journal Name. Year;Volume:pages.

Accessing Conference Information

Many conferences now provide:

• Mobile apps with complete schedules
• Online abstract databases
• Digital proceedings
• Video recordings of presentations
• Supplementary materials and handouts

Special Considerations

Unpublished vs. Published Presentations

Clearly distinguish between unpublished conference presentations and those published in proceedings or journals.

Preliminary Results

If citing preliminary or unvalidated research, note that the findings come from a conference presentation and may be subject to change.

Access and Reproducibility

Conference presentations may not be permanently archived, so verify accessibility before citing.

Practical Citation Checklist

Before finalizing your conference paper citation, verify:

• Author names are correct
• Paper title matches exactly
• Conference name is complete and official
• Conference dates are accurate
• Location is complete (city, state/country)
• Format matches AMA style
• If in proceedings, publisher information is correct
• All required elements are included

Conclusion

Citing conference papers properly ensures that readers can identify and locate your sources, even though conference presentations may not have the permanence of journal articles. Whether the paper appears in published proceedings or stands alone as a conference presentation, following these AMA guidelines will create accurate, complete citations that demonstrate proper academic attribution and research rigor.