Annual Meeting of the American College of Preventive Medicine Spotlights Prevention and Quality in a New Era

The impact of federal health reform on public health and preventive medicine takes center stage

WASHINGTON, Feb. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American College of Preventive Medicine (ACPM), the nation's leading society of physicians committed to health promotion and disease prevention, kicks off Preventive Medicine 2011 this week in San Antonio from February 16-19. In addition to world-class education and scientific updates, ACPM's Annual Meeting will feature thought leaders who will address the potentially significant changes to healthcare, public health and preventive medicine as a result of landmark healthcare reform signed into law last year.

• Regina Benjamin, M.D., MBA, Surgeon General of the United States Public Health Service, who also chairs the National Prevention, Health Promotion and Public Health Council created under the Affordable Care Act, will discuss the development of the National Prevention Strategy to be presented to Congress next month.
• David Katz, M.D., MPH, an internationally renowned authority on nutrition, weight management, and the prevention of chronic disease, and a recognized leader in integrative medicine and patient-centered care, will serve as the KBS Guest Lecturer during the meeting's opening general session.
• Dean Ornish, M.D., best-selling author and president of the Preventive Medicine Research Institute in Sausalito, California, and William Dietz, M.D., Ph.D., director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity will discuss linking personal responsibility, economics, and policy to change lifestyle behaviors.
• Glenn Steele, Jr., MD, Ph.D., president and chief executive officer of Geisinger Health System, will discuss current innovations in healthcare delivery and financing, accountable care organizations and transformative changes in delivery of healthcare.

More than 900 physicians, nurses, medical students and other healthcare professionals will gather at Preventive Medicine 2011 for exceptional educational programming as well as the latest advances and best practices in Clinical Preventive Medicine, Public Health Practice and Prevention Policy. Nearly 40 educational sessions and skill-building institutes will be presented by the nation's leading experts in the field of preventive medicine.

"Preventive Medicine 2011 presents a unique opportunity for our community to gather, interact, and explore the tremendous innovations and advances in the field, but also to assess the growing importance placed on the role of preventive medicine as a result of sweeping federal health reform legislation," said Mark, Johnson, M.D., MPH, FACPM, president of ACPM.  "Our members, who are so committed to and passionate about disease prevention and health promotion, are on the front lines of patient care and community health promotion every day. At ACPM, it is our responsibility to ensure they are prepared with the necessary resources to thrive in their own communities and affect delivery of care to improve patient and population outcomes."

About ACPM

The American College of Preventive Medicine is the national professional society for physicians committed to disease prevention and health promotion. Founded in 1954, ACPM provides leadership in research, professional education, development of public policy, and enhancement of standards of preventive medicine.  Specialists in preventive medicine are uniquely trained in both clinical medicine and public health. They have the skills needed to understand and reduce the risks of disease, disability and death in individuals and in population groups.

More information on ACPM is available at www.acpm.org and the full conference schedule can be found at www.preventivemedicine2011.org.

SOURCE American College of Preventive Medicine