American Academy Of Physician Assistants' Annual Conference Showcases One Of The Nation's Fastest-Growing Professions

Main Category: Primary Care / General Practice
Also Included In: Public Health;  Conferences
Article Date: 14 May 2008 - 1:00 PDT

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SUMMARY:

The latest developments in immigrant health issues, medical response to school shootings, and combat veteran care are a few of the topics bringing more than 8,000 physician assistants (PAs) and other health care professionals from around the world to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center May 24-29 for the American Academy of Physician Assistants' (AAPA) 36th Annual PA Conference. Recently hailed as one of the top 10 best jobs to have during a recession by Money, U.S. News & World Report, and Kiplinger's, physician assistants (PAs) are coming into their own as the nation's health care system continues to see them as one of the solutions to the growing shortage of physicians.

Who:

The American Academy of Physician Assistants
Keynote speaker Carl Hammerschlag, M.D., a pioneer in mind-body-spirit medicine, who worked for more than 20 years with Native American communities, will address the Conference Welcome and General Session at 9:00 a.m. Saturday, May 24. The Dr. Fleischman character on the critically acclaimed TV series Northern Exposure is based on his life.

What:

AAPA's 36th Annual Physician Assistant Conference will feature more than 300 continuing medical education (CME) sessions on hot-button topics in health care such as: ethical challenges in genetic medicine; diversity and cultural competency in health care; health care for an aging America; health literacy; and the ethical challenges of personalized medicine. AAPA's 18th Annual National Medical Challenge Bowl will take place on Monday, May 26, at 7:30 p.m. You've got to see this to believe it: Teams of students - cheered on by fans in face paint and school colors - from 49 PA educational programs, including four Texas programs, will participate in a Jeopardy!-style game. The AAPA House of Delegates, policy-making body for the PA profession, will debate some 26 resolutions, including one urging PAs to be advocates of care in their communities for returning veterans; another calling for support of routine vaccination for HPV; and a plea for caution in the use of consumer genetic testing.

When:

May 24-29, 2008

Where:

Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center, San Antonio

Contact: Jane Howard, 703/836-2272, ext. 3502 jane@aapa.org
Janette Rodrigues, 703/836-2272, ext. 3509 jrodrigues@aapa.org

American Academy of Physician Assistants