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Freshen Up!
By Magnolia Molcan
Monday June 8, 2009

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It’s that time again!

The APTA Annual Conference takes place in Baltimore and runs June 10 to 13. This year’s theme is “Refresh: Energize Your Thinking.” Attendees can network with their colleagues at a variety of award celebrations and receptions, attend educational sessions and poster presentations, and browse the latest technology, products, and services in the APTA Exhibit Hall.

Highlights

On opening night, President R. Scott Ward, PT, PhD, will give an address on the development of the PT profession, including challenges and progress, along with an overview of what the APTA has been working on.

Afterward, Newt Gingrich will deliver a keynote address on the future of healthcare. Gingrich is the founder of the Center for Health Transformation and author of “Saving Lives & Saving Money: Transforming Healthcare in the 21st Century.” His address will focus on his vision for patient-centered care and a system built on knowledge and innovation.

Along with preconference courses and regular educational sessions, conference-goers can choose to attend a concentrated education series that includes complimentary and alternative medicine, home health, manual therapy of the upper quarter, school-based physical therapy, women’s sports issues, or wound management.

This year’s conference puts an emphasis on mentorship, offering a “First-Timer’s Guide to Navigating the Annual Conference” session on Thursday, where first-time attendees can talk with members of the conference committee about how to get the most out of the experience. There is also a special student mentoring reception on Friday, where attendees of “The Next Step!” can get tips from experienced therapists on transitioning from student to practitioner.

Honors

The conference includes a number of awards ceremonies that give PTs and PTAs a chance to recognize outstanding colleagues. On June 11, the APTA offers its highest honor when Carolee Winstein, PT, PhD, FAPTA, gives the 40th annual McMillan Lecture, titled “The Best We Can Be Is Yet to Come.” Winstein is a professor and director of research, as well as director of the Motor Behavior and Neurorehabilitation Laboratory at the University of Southern California.

On June 12, Helene M. Fearon, PT, is honored for her clinical contribution when she presents the Maley Lecture. Fearon, who is co-owner of Fearon Physical Therapy and a principal in the Rehabilitation Consulting and Resource Institute, has built several businesses and has extensive experience in reimbursement and fiscal management. Her presentation will cover “Perspectives on Functional Reform for an Impaired Payment System.”

Events

Special events include “Coffee With the Stars” on Friday, where attendees are invited to enjoy free coffee and network with recent APTA award winners and fellows, as well as this year’s speakers. In the evening, attendees can take part in the 2009 Oxford Debate, which pits two teams against each other to argue their side of a key issue. A new debate topic is chosen each year and audience participation is highly encouraged.

Attendees can wrap up their experience with a tour of the University of Maryland School of Medicine and the Baltimore VA Medical Center on Saturday. The tours, sponsored by the Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation Science, begin at the convention center and include a walk through historic Baltimore. On campus, participants will get an inside look at the university’s research facilities, including the simulation lab, the anatomical dissection lab, and the Shock Trauma Center.

Additional information on the conference can be found at: www.apta.org/annualconference.



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