ACPM conference to feature research findings, practice innovations in preventive medicine

Preventive Medicine 2006 scheduled for Reno/Tahoe, February 22-26

New research findings, emerging issues, and state-of-the-art presentations on disease prevention and health care quality highlight the program for Preventive Medicine 2006, the premier meeting held annually for physicians and other healthcare professionals with an interest in preventive medicine. The forum serves as the annual meeting for the Washington, D.C.-based American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM), a national professional society for physicians dedicated to disease prevention and health promotion.

Scheduled for February 22-26 in Reno/Tahoe, Nevada, Preventive Medicine 2006 will attract more than 700 physicians and other health care professionals. The meeting will be held at John Ascuaga's Nugget Resort.

Provocative plenary sessions will focus on:

• Genomics and its impact on clinical medicine,
• Transformational changes in healthcare,
• The threat of avian flu and flu pandemic, and
• Evidence-based public health

Topics to be discussed during the meeting will fall into five major areas: public health practice, clinical preventive medicine, healthcare quality improvement, prevention policy, and teaching preventive medicine.

The conference will address a wide variety of timely preventive medicine issues, including terrorism and disaster preparedness, cancer prevention, chronic diseases and health disparities, cardiovascular disease prevention, food safety, maternal and child health, vulnerable populations, mental illness, obesity, adolescent violence, clinical preventive services, information technology, quality improvement, public health education, environmental health, adolescent vaccinations and prevention services, global health, and many more important issues.

Selected highlights of the meeting include:

• David Eddy, MD, PhD, internationally renowned consultant and champion of quality and evidence-based medicine, will deliver an exciting keynote presentation on "Releasing Pent Up Prevention.
• Carolyn Clancy, MD, Director of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, will discuss the linkages between prevention and quality and the need to translate prevention research and evidence into practice and policy.
• Kenneth Kizer, MD, MPH, former President and CEO of the National Quality Forum, will discuss transformational changes in healthcare and quality improvement.
• Gualberto Ruano, MD, MPH, from Genomas, Hartford Hospital, and Mark A. Rothstein, JD, from the University of Loulsville, will explore how genomics will change the practice of clinical medicine.
• Gregory C. Gray, MD, MPH, Center for Emerging Infectious Diseases, College of Public Health University of Iowa, and a panel of reactors from the public health practice, military, and industry sectors, will address the threat of pandemic influenza and avian flu.

Other highlights will include the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force and CDC-sponsored Task Force on Community Preventive Services providing updates on the most recent preventive health recommendations.

In addition to the formal plenary and concurrent sessions, the meeting will feature original research oral presentations and new research poster presentations, as well as the Preventive Medicine Marketplace, where registrants can learn about products and services designed for application in preventive medicine and health promotion. There will be an awards banquet at which members of the College will recognize their peers for professional achievement, career advancement sessions, and social events to provide networking opportunities.

Preventive Medicine 2006 will be convened jointly with Medical Quality 2006, the annual conference of the American College of Medical Quality. Medical Quality 2006 will address emerging issues in healthcare quality improvement and patient safety.

Detailed information about Preventive Medicine 2006 can be found at www.preventivemedicine2006.org.

The American College of Preventive Medicine is the national medical specialty society representing physicians committed to health promotion and disease prevention. Founded in 1954, ACPM provides leadership in research, professional education, development of public policy, and enhancement of standards of preventive medicine. In addition to physicians Board-certified in preventive medicine, ACPM's members include physicians Board-certified in other medical specialties who have a strong interest in health promotion and disease prevention. For more information about ACPM, visit www.acpm.org.

Last reviewed: By John M. Grohol, Psy.D. on 21 Feb 2009
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