Day three of the annual conference delivered excellent learning opportunities and the sharing of best practices. While there were dozens of noteworthy sessions, I want to highlight the plenary speakers and important topics.
One of the plenary sessions struck a chord with attendees around a timely, often overlooked issue in our nation, rural health. The session, moderated by Dr. Joseph Iser, DrPH, MSc, FACPM, President, Nevada Public Health Institute (NPHI), included insights from Macarena Garcia, DrPH, MPS, MIS, Senior Health Scientist and Epidemiologist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Dr. Tonette Krousel-Wood, MD, MSPH, FACPM, Professor and the Jack Aron Endowed Chair in Primary Care Medicine, Tulane School of Medicine and Professor of Epidemiology, Tulane School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine. The plenary focused on the challenges and experiences of preventive medicine physicians practicing in rural locations and the importance of research and community-academic partnerships in these areas.
We know that vaccine hesitancy, public mistrust, and misinformation are still prevalent across the country and have significantly impacted the current state of vaccinations and vaccine preventable diseases. That is why one of the plenary sessions focused on dispelling misinformation with evidence-based research by analyzing effects of the past and proposing priorities for the future. Dr. Peter Hotez of the Baylor College of Medicine started the session by sharing his unique expertise and experience in developing a low-cost and patent-free coronavirus vaccine, and his leading role in pushing back against anti-science and anti-vaccine movements. The session was co-moderated by Dr. Tonette Krousel-Wood and Dr. Frank Welch of the Louisiana Department of Health. Joseph Kanter, MD, MPH, State Health Officer and Medical Director, Louisiana Department of Health, also presented during the session on key learnings from his experience leading vaccination efforts in the state.
We ended the day with a fun excursion with the future leaders of the field, by gathering the community of preventive medicine residents on the beautiful paddle-wheel boat the Creole Queen, to network and celebrate against the backdrop of the Mississippi River.
The College thanks all attendees and presenters for another successful day and we look forward to celebrating and honoring the ACPM award winners, new Fellows and the closing remarks tomorrow while highlighting a few fun facts for Preventive Medicine 2024!
To learn more visit ACPM online, here, and follow the conversation on social media using #PM2023.