2007 FAPA Summer Symposium Highlights

by Erika Nager, MMS, PA-C

Whether it was the fantastic "Caribbean Night at the Beach" Welcome Reception, the Hors d'oeuvres Reception over Sleep and Insommia Updates, or the entertaining "Havana Nights" salsa dancing extravaganza, this year's FAPA 2007 Summer Symposium was one to remember.  With over 450 registrants and a variety of lectures and workshops to choose from, FAPA provided one of the best conferences yet in spectacular Miami Beach!  Lecture highlights included Dr. Michael Chizner, author of the book “Cardiology made Ridiculously Simple,” with an excellent lecture on re-discovering clinical cardiology followed by a book signing event, and Dr. Anthony Ottaviani, FOMA President-elect, joining us for a lecture on Obstructive Sleep Disorders.

Workshops were well attended, including our new "Urgent Care Potpourri", where the procedures of I&Ds, subungual hematomas, fish hook removal, ocular emergencies, casting, and splinting were addressed and practiced.  Other workshops included Cultural Competency, Medical Spanish I and II, Joint Injections, Suturing and Demystifying Radiology.   

FAPA also provided an early morning "PA Core Fitness Training" to encourage physical fitness while incorporating boot camp-style training techniques.  This session will likely be offered in symposiums to come, so be on the look out for more ab-burning workouts.

New to this year's summer symposium were two specialty tracks: Dermatology and ER.  This allowed specialty PAs in dermatology and emergency medicine to attend sessions particularly important to those fields.  Next summer two new specialty tracks will be selected--so be on the look out for yours! 

The Exhibit Hall was an exciting place to visit during the symposium. There was a variety of new and innovative exhibitions.  Many thanks to our Platinum Sponsors for supporting our symposium.  The Summer Symposium 2007 Platinum Sponsors were: Glaxo Smith Kline, Takeda North America, Inc, Astellas Pharma, and Pfizer. 

During the Annual Membership Luncheon, President Mike Funk and his committee chairs gave reports on the state of the Academy, highlighting a very bright future for PAs in Florida legislatively and in the improvement of statewide Physician/PA relations.  Awards were also presented at the Luncheon.  The Bob Scully Physician Assistant of the Year award was presented to Tom Tran PA-C, for his invention of the Trans-Catheter Extractor. Special thanks to Novartis for sponsoring and presenting this award.  Dr. David Spellberg was named as the recipient of this year’s Physician Recognition/ Outstanding Preceptor Award, nominated by Marc McCollaum.  The Area Reps of the Year were named also at this Luncheon.  Paul Cumello accepted his award for the South region’s Area Rep of the Year.  Rudi Dimas was named Area Rep of the Year for the West Central Region, and accepted his award the following week during one of his monthly PA dinners in Clearwater.  Richard Molinksi was named the Area Rep of the Year for the Northeast Region. 

Also during the Annual Membership Luncheon, Ron Pace was awarded Lifetime Membership for his outstanding dedication and service to the Academy for the past several years.  And our own Dayne Alonso, Conference Planning Committee Chair, was given a special appreciation award for her ongoing excellent work at making our conferences the best they have ever been.

Many thanks to the team efforts of the FAPA conference planning committee and Kautter Management for organizing such a great conference.

Upcoming Conferences include:

• 2008 Winter Symposium and Recertification Review in Orlando , FL February 6-10, 2008
• 2008 Summer Symposium in Marco Island , FL July 30- August 3, 2008.

More information to follow regarding future conferences on our NEW and IMPROVED Conference section of our website.

Erika Nager ,MMS ,PA-C

Florida Academy of Physician Assistants

Continuing Medical Education Co-Chair