My GO experience: After going for many years, I FINALLY went to some surgery workshops and I'm so glad. So great to have all that experience--patients and doctors--in one place. And I volunteered for the first time, which I recommend to your readers; they can always use some help and it's a good way to not just feel like an isolate, atomized consumer at the conference (if you're not already presenting).
So happy to hear you went and had an amazing experience!
This sounds similar to my own journey. The turning point was definitely going to my first conference (in Philly), and the Show And Tell Chest Surgery workshop literally changed my life. I also volunteered as a way to get into conferences and be more active in the community! You get to meet the organizers and have an excuse to talk to people.
(And, if we met, please remind me of your name because it’s hard to put a face to the online avatar.)