FHIR DevDays 2025 Guide for Newcomers

Welcome to FHIR DevDays 2025 in Amsterdam!

Hello and welcome to FHIR DevDays 2025! Whether you’re a first-time attendee or new to FHIR, we’re thrilled to have you join our vibrant and supportive community from June 3-6 in Amsterdam.  

DevDays is an incredible opportunity to immerse yourself in all things FHIR, whether you are a developer, a healthcare professional, or simply curious about the future of healthcare interoperability.

Feeling Overwhelmed? We’ve Got You Covered

We understand that attending a large event like DevDays can be a bit overwhelming, especially if you’re new to the community and the technology. But don’t worry, we’ve put together some tips and a suggested program to help you navigate the event and make the most of your experience.

Top Tips for First-Time Attendees

• First-Timer Ribbon: When you pick up your badge, be sure to grab a first-timer ribbon. This way, the “experienced” DevDays crowd will know to say hi and help you feel right at home.
• Look for the Yellow Shirts: The people wearing yellow shirts are HL7 International and Firely staff who are here to help you. They might look busy, but their main goal is to be available for participants. Don’t hesitate to approach them with any questions or just to chat. 
• Join the Welcome Talk: On Day 1 (Tuesday), there’s a “Find your way around DevDays” welcome session where everything will be explained—from the program structure to the different types of sessions available. This is a great way to get oriented.
• First-Timers Meeting Point: On Day 1, there will be a dedicated corner for first-timers during lunch. It’s a great chance to network and chat with DevDays team members and FHIR experts who will be on hand to answer any questions you might have.
• Mix and Match Sessions: While we’ve suggested a program below, feel free to tailor your schedule to your interests. Some sessions might be more targeted towards developers, while others are more meant for architects and modelers. DevDays offers a wide range of sessions catering to all levels of FHIR expertise.  
• Filter by Track: Want to check out all the beginner sessions in one place? Head over to the DevDays Schedule, click on Filter by Track, and select the Beginner track. 
• Attend the Social Events: DevDays is not just about the sessions; it’s about building connections. Participate in the social events, like the morning run on Day 3. These informal gatherings are perfect for networking and making new friends in the FHIR community. 
• Connect and Engage: Don’t just attend sessions—participate in discussions, ask questions, and engage with other attendees. You’ll be part of the FHIR family in no time!
• Don’t forget to relax:  A lot is going on at DevDays, which can be a bit overwhelming. So, join Chair Yoga, the DevDays run or pickleball to unwind, or just skip a session and get some air with a cup of coffee.

Suggested Program for Your First DevDays

Day 1 (Tuesday)

• 9:30: Registration (come on time to get a feeling for the building and the layout) 
• 11:00 – 11:30: Find your way around DevDays 
• 11:45 – 12:30: Introduction to FHIR
• 12:45 – 13:15: First-timers meeting point
• 13:30 – 14:15: Introduction to Search 
• 14:30 – 15:15: Community talks
• 15:45 – 16:30: Messaging and Documents 
• 16:45 – 17:30: Opening Session 
• 17:30: Drinks! 

Day 2 (Wednesday)

• 8:30 – 8:50: Plenary Session – The WHO SMART Guidelines 
• 9:00 – 9:45: Introduction to SNOMED with FHIR 
• 10:15 – 11:00: Google Cloud sponsored session 
• 11:15 – 12:00: Introduction to FHIR Modeling 
• 13:30 – 14:15: Plenary Sessions EHDS and US-European treaties on privacy 
• 14:30 – 15:15: CQL for Authors 
• 15:45 – 16:30: Introduction to SMART on FHIR 
• 16:45 – 17:30: Chair Yoga! Or check out some community talks 
• 17:45 – 18:00: Nerd award winner announcement 
• 17:30 – 19:00: Food and drinks!
• 17:00 – 21:00: DevDays Pickleball competition

Day 3 (Thursday)

• 6:45 – 7:30: Join us for an early morning DevDays Run or Walk
• 8:30 – 9:00: Keynote – Healthcare data beyond the EMR. FHIR data in a high-compute world 
• 9:05 – 9:50: Hajj and FHIR 
• 10:15 – 11:00: Listen to the sponsored session by Health-Comm or check out some community talks 
• 11:15 – 12:00: The HL7 terminology ecosystem 
• 12:00 – 13:00: Grab lunch and check out the student track demo’s while you eat. 
• 13:30 – 14:15: Plenary Sessions 
• 14:30 – 15:15: Bridging the gender data gap in FHIR 
• 15:45 – 16:30: Mastering FHIR validation: tools, techniques, and best practices 
• 16:45 – 17:30: Enjoy some community talks 
• 17:30 – 17:45: Announcement – Student Award winner 
• 18:00 – 22:00: Social Event! 

Day 4 (Friday)

• 8:30 – 9:00: Plenary session – National Core Profiles Panel 
• 9:05 – 9:50: Building a European Health Data Space – a standards perspective 
• 10:15 – 11:00: Let’s build! A Python SMART on FHIR app in action 
• 11:15 –12:00: Check out some community talks
• 12:00 – 13:20: Lunch and speed talks 
• 13:30 – 14:15: Plenary talks 
• 14:30 – 15:15: Subscriptions 
• 15:30 – 16:30: Closing session 
• 16:30 – 17:30: Farewell drinks 

Welcome to the FHIR Family

We can’t wait to see you at DevDays! Whether you’re attending sessions, participating in social events, or simply exploring the venue, remember that the FHIR community is here to support you. Enjoy your time, make new connections, and most importantly, have fun!