Laredo, Texas – On October 25-26, 2019, a 2-day medical conference held at the UT Health Laredo Campus, drew a variety of practicing providers to obtain continuing education credits and receive the latest medical research studies information on topics ranging from Diabetes, Hypertension, Mental Health, Heart Diseases, Infectious Diseases, Nutrition, Spine Disorders, Pain Management, Vaping, Medical Ethics and others.
Dr. Ralph Nimchan and Ms. Julie Bazan, Conference Directors, welcomed the medical community and thanked Doctors Hospital, Laredo Medical Center, Laredo Rehabilitation Hospital, Laredo Specialty Hospital and Ruthe B. Cowl Rehabilitation Center for their continued support of the program.
The program, cosponsored by the Area Health Education Center (AHEC) and the Webb-Zapata-Jim Hogg Medical Society, hosted over two hundred attendees who were fascinated with a presentation offered by Dr. Rafael J. Deliz, an internal medicine specialist in private practice, who detailed the harmful effects of vaping on the lungs and the brain.
“Although vaping may appear to be a harmless act” he stated “the effects are devastating and are killing individuals.”
Another keynote speaker, Dr. Jaime Fergie, Director of Pediatric Infectious Diseases at Driscoll Children’s Hospital spoke of the importance of immunizations in preventing public health outbreaks. Dr. Mario Gutierrez, Board Certified in Family Medicine and Wound Care, presented on the Obesity Epidemic and shared the best practice methods for helping patients afflicted with the epidemic.
The 2-day program included a group of well-versed practicing specialists who traveled from out of town to share their knowledge on kidney transplant, peripheral vascular disease, endoscopic neurosurgery and pancreas transplantation. This year, the program offered up to thirteen hours of continuing education for physicians, physician assistants, dentists, pharmacists, nurses, nurse practitioners, dietitians, counselors, and social workers.
“This annual conference is always great…if it was not for the AHEC staff, we would have to travel out of town for similar conferences” remarked a practicing provider who faithfully attends the program each year…”it gets better each year”. This educational setting also promotes networking among health care providers in the region. “This educational setting is really for the community; linking educational resources to the practicing providers and students is important” remarked Julie Bazan, AHEC Executive Director “the continued partnerships with the medical society as well as the health care institutions to offer this conference, make this a personalized program for the entire community.”
For additional information on this conference and other continuing education programs, call Ms. Julie Bazan at (956)712-0037.
