Pennsylvania GeriatricS Society

HIGHLIGHTS

More than 380 geriatrics professionals from all disciplines, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, social workers, long-term care and managed care providers, and health care administrators participated in the 28^th Annual Clinical Update in Geriatric Medicine conference held at the Pittsburgh Marriott City Center Hotel, March 5-7. The course attracted registrants from all over the country.

The conference was jointly provided by the Pennsylvania Geriatrics Society-Western Division (PAGS-WD); University of Pittsburgh Division of Geriatric Medicine; and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine Center for Continuing Education in the Health Sciences.

Previously awarded the American Geriatrics Society Achievement Award for Excellence in a CME program, this conference continues to be a well-respected resource to educate healthcare professionals involved in the direct care of older persons by providing evidence-based solutions for common medical problems that afflict older adults daily and for which rapidly evolving research, much of which is done in Pittsburgh, is revealing new approaches that are feasible for the real world.

Under the leadership of course directors Shuja Hassan, MD, Neil M. Resnick, MD, and Lyn Weinberg, MD, who worked diligently with the planning committee, the course was a premier educational event in the region and attracted prominent international and national lecturers and nationally renowned local faculty.

Back by popular demand, a Geriatric Cardiology Expert Panel Q&A was well received and a crowd favorite for a second year in a row. Daniel Forman, MD, chair, Geriatric Cardiology, UPMC, moderated the session which included guest faculty Deirdre O’Neill, MD, MSc, assistant professor of medicine, Division of Cardiology, University of Alberta Hospital, Canada; Parag Goyal, MD, MSc, assistant professor of medicine, director, Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction Program, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York; and Ashok Krishnaswami, MD, MAS, cardiologist, clinical researcher, Kaiser Permanente, San Jose Medical Center, California.

Each lecture, symposium, and break-out session offered participants evidence-based “pearls for practice” designed to be immediately incorporated into the realities of daily practice. Additional highlights of the conference included two separate “rapid” question and answer sessions. A panel of experts within their own field, many of which practice in the Pittsburgh region, answered numerous questions from the audience.

Sunny Linnebur, PharmD, professor and geriatric pharmacist, University of Colorado School of Pharmacy, Aurora, Colorado, and president, American Geriatrics Society, presented the lecture De-Prescribing in an Era with Diagnosis Drift and Polypills on the first day of the conference and was the guest lecturer during the dinner symposium, presenting 4M’s: Medication in an Age Friendly Health System, which was engaging and well-received by guests. 

A Vendor Bingo also was provided, which generated excellent opportunities for engagement between vendor representatives and conference attendees. The Society would like to thank all 23 exhibitors who supported this year’s conference.

Cardiology Panel (with course directors) featured at the 28th Annual Clinical Update: (Left to Right)   Ashok Krishnaswami, MD, MAS; Neil Resnick, MD (course director); Deirdre O'Neill, MD, MSc; Daniel Forman MD; Lyn Weinberg, MD (course Director) and Shuja Hassan, MD (course director).  Missing from photo: Parag Goyal, MD, MAS (who presented his lecture virtually).

Sunny Linnebur, Pharm.D, BCBG, BCPS, president, American Geriatrics Society (center) presented "De-Prescribing in an Era with Diagnosis Drift and Polypills" at the dinner symposium. Pictured with Dr. Linnebur (left to right):  Fred Rubin, MD, Namita Ahuja,MD, MMM (president); Dr. Linnebur; Neil Resnick, MD (course director;  Heather Sakely, Pharm.D, BCBG,BCPS (board of director) and  Lyn Weinberg, MD (course Director).