TAFP drops anchor in Corpus Christi

The forecast for this year’s Annual Session is mostly sunny and warm with 100 percent chance of fun for everyone. TAFP invites you to join us in Corpus Christi, Texas, for the 58th Annual Session and Scientific Assembly, July 25-29, 2007. This year’s round-up of business meetings, CME lectures and special events confirms our panache for the art of mixing business with pleasure. The Omni Corpus Christi Hotel – Bayfront Tower and the American Bank Center will host this year’s events. But while you’re there, don’t forget to step outside to take a stroll on the beach, breathe plenty of salty air and soak up some rays for a healthy dose of Vitamin D—it’s the doctor’s orders.

TAFP has a full range of CME events offering timely and relevant topics in family medicine with up to 24 AMA PRA Category 1 credits™ available at this conference. Further, several double-prescribed credits will be available through evidence-based CME lectures. Attendees will have the opportunity to peruse the latest in products and services as well as research posters from medical students and residents in the Exhibit Hall at the American Bank Center. TAFP members active in policy-making will attend meetings for the various committees and commissions. Once business is taken care of, there will be ample occasion to mix and mingle with your colleagues at special events including the TAFP Awards Lunch, Members’ Reception and President’s Gala.

The popular Texas State Aquarium is the site of this year’s President’s Gala, one of the Academy’s most anticipated events.

Delving into the pith of CME offerings, the conference will commence Wednesday with the Hot Topics in Procedures Workshop, “Hemorrhoids and Gynecological Procedures” by Stephen Erickson, M.D. Thursday’s line-up will offer another chance to attend the procedures workshop plus practical seminars focusing on pediatrics; a workshop on leadership, led by TAFP past-president, Tim Coleridge, D.O.; and an obstetrics workshop. Hear discussion on the contentious question, “Should Physicians be Compensated for the Value of Care They Render?” in a talk by Stephen Spann, M.D.

This year’s opening keynote address will be given Friday by Louis Kuritzky, M.D., clinical assistant professor for the Department of Family Medicine at the University of Florida, Gainesville. From the viewpoint of an insightful family doctor, he’ll bring to light “Five Things I Wish I Knew Last Year.” Other talks include, “First Seizures: Is it Epilepsy?” and “Diabetes Management: Optimizing Control.” Be sure to pick up an ethics credit at a lecture by Patrick Carter, M.D., on Palliative Care. Evidence-based CME credit will be available through “Contraception in Primary Care” by Rebecca Gladu, M.D. Don’t miss the talk on the headlining issue, “Preventing Cancer by Vaccination: An In-Depth Discussion of HPV.” This year’s CME schedule is brimming with informative and thought-provoking programs for our attendees.

TAFP proudly welcomes AAFP board member Judith Chamberlain, M.D., for the closing keynote address on TransforMED, the practice redesign initiative of the American Academy of Family Physicians. Chamberlain practices in a primary care group in Brunswick, Maine, and is adjunct faculty with the University of New England. She is on the executive committee of Parkview Hospital in Brunswick and chaired the Committee on Special Constituencies as well as several reference committees for the AAFP Congress of Delegates. She’ll lend her insight on how TransforMED is studying and implementing models of high performance practices that meet the needs of both patients and practices.

The American Bank Center will house the CME classroom for all education events on Friday and Saturday of the conference. It will also be the site for TAFP’s Exhibit Hall.

A bittersweet highlight of the 58th Annual Session will be Friday evening as TAFP holds a celebratory scholarship dinner for TAFP Executive Director Jim White. With plans to retire in December 2007, the dinner will provide an opportunity for leadership, staff and colleagues to honor Jim’s 25 years of exceptional service to the Academy. Proceeds from the dinner and other donations will fund a scholarship in his name to benefit students pursuing a career in family medicine.

Saturday’s schedule for this year’s Annual Session will be devoted to recognizing exemplary leaders and members of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians. President Doug Curran, M.D., will host the TAFP Awards Lunch at the convention center, honoring Physician of the Year John Richmond, M.D., Physician Emeritus Mathis Blackstock, M.D., and other award recipients. Later in the afternoon, everyone is invited back to the hotel for our Members’ Reception. You’ll have the opportunity to network with peers, raise your glass to TAFP award honorees and help us welcome the up-and-coming medical student and resident members.

For this event, the Academy puts out an express invitation to all members of the recognized Special Constituencies: new physicians, international medical school graduates, minority physicians, female physicians, and gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender physicians. Come be a part of the “family” of family medicine.

A coastal oasis: Corpus Christi beaches are some of the main attractions in the city.

Later in the evening, we’ll keep the festive spirits high by heading over to the President’s Gala at the Texas Sate Aquarium. TAFP welcomes Linda Siy, M.D., of Fort Worth, as incoming president. We’ll celebrate with food and drink amidst the backdrop of beautiful creatures of the Gulf of Mexico and the tropical rhythms of the Steel Vibrations band. The gala is sure to be an enchanting event, fun for the whole family.

Annual Session’s picturesque location at the Omni Corpus Christi Hotel – Bayfront Tower positions conference attendees in the lively downtown Marina district and just 15 minutes from Corpus Christi International Airport. A host of attractions for history buffs, nature lovers and cultural enthusiasts await you in Corpus Christi. Whether by chartered boat, harbor ferry, trolley or golf cart, you’ll be transported on a grand adventure.

So mark your calendars to attend TAFP’s 58th Annual Session and Scientific Assembly. Conference details can be found on the Annual Session page of www.tafp.org.

Photos courtesy of the Corpus Christi CVB and Texas Tourism.