Paula,
Are you talking about the Therapeutics conference in New York in Sept/Oct?
I am thinking of attending and I posted a message here assuming someone from this forum would surely be attending. If its the same one as you mentioned, I didnt see anywhere in the application where it says its only for scientists. I am surprised to hear that it is a closed and an exclusive conference. Please let me know which conference you are taking about, I will do my share of complaining to them. It may not change their minds, at least makes them notice the population they are working for and ignoring them at the same time.

thanks
Girija