Destination: San Antonio

61st Annual Session & Scientific Assembly
July 21-25, 2010
Westin Riverwalk and Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center

By Kate McCann

Join TAFP for a summer fiesta July 21 - 25, 2010, when the 61st Annual Session and Scientific Assembly returns to one of the Academy’s favorite host cities, San Antonio. All of the elements for the premier conference for primary care physicians come together at the Westin Riverwalk Hotel and the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center: informative CME events, entertaining special events, and plenty of time to get together with old friends.

Some of the CME topics that will be presented on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday are cardiovascular disease, wound care, pediatrics, orthopedics, and polypharmacy in the elderly. Thursday afternoon seminars, free for Annual Session registrants, are Pediatrics in Pictures with Paul Berman, M.D.; Orthopedics for the Family Physician with Michael Petrizzi, M.D., and Family Medicine Preceptorship and Medical Ethics with Cindy Passmore, M.A., Roy Martin, D.Min., and Brenda Wilson. Through seminars and lectures, attendees will be able to earn up to 24 PRA Category 1 Credits of CME.

Earn 12 prescribed credits by attending the National Procedures Institute Office and Musculoskeletal Ultrasound workshop, taught by TAFP member Grant Fowler, M.D. In this workshop, attendees will learn the applications and indications for musculoskeletal and procedural ultrasounds in a variety of practice settings: in the office, hospital, and emergency department. Through hands-on demonstrations with live patients, participants will gain experience recognizing the benefits, limitations, and alternatives for these ultrasounds, and they’ll learn the primary indications for ultrasound in the ER.

The NPI course runs all day Wednesday and a half-day Thursday. Can’t stay the rest of the weekend? No problem. Annual Session registration is not required to attend this course.

Attendees may choose to add the SAM Group Study Workshop on Asthma to their Annual Session education events, or attend the SAM only. The SAM, or Self Assessment Module, is one requirement of the American Board of Family Medicine’s Maintenance of Certification. At the one-day workshop on Wednesday, ABFM diplomates will discuss and complete the 60-question Knowledge Assessment portion of the module moderated by Clare Hawkins, M.D. To earn full credit, attendees should complete the Clinical Simulation online after the conference.

TAFP invites all members to attend commission, committee, and section meetings. During these meetings, family physicians come together to discuss current issues facing their practices and patients and propose actions to the TAFP Board of Directors that then become Academy policy. Most meetings will be held on Thursday, with the board meeting on Saturday. To view descriptions of the different groups, go to the membership section of the TAFP website.

It’s not all work and no play at TAFP’s Annual Session. Each year, the family physicians of Texas enjoy spending time catching up at the many social events on the calendar. The festivities kick off in the Exhibit Hall, starting with breakfast on Friday. Hosted by the TAFP Foundation, attendees will have the opportunity to eat, drink, and be merry in the Exhibit Hall, surrounded by 90 of the leading companies in the fields of medical services, products, supplies, and information technology. Don’t forget to check out the Student, Resident, and Family Physician Research Poster Competition in the back of the hall. These displays feature the best of family medicine research and will be available to view all day on Friday.

At Saturday’s Business and Awards Lunch, TAFP will reveal the 2010 recipients of the Academy’s top honors including Family Physician of the Year, Physician Emeritus, the Exemplary Teacher Award, the Public Health Award, and more. Plus, see the 2010-2011 installation of officers. The Members’ Reception Saturday evening honors all TAFP members, especially the 2010 award recipients, all new physicians, special constituency physicians, medical students, and residents. It precedes the Academy’s grandest event of the year, the President’s Gala on Saturday evening.

This year’s President’s Gala will be held in the Conservatory Courtyard of the San Antonio Botanical Gardens. The 33-acre horticultural facility features the flora of Texas, ranging from the wildflowers and traditional bluebonnets of the Hill Country to the rose gardens of East Texas. Exotic plants from all over the world can be found in the indoor collection. Enjoy an al fresco dinner and musical entertainment under the Texas sky and congratulate outgoing President Kaparaboyna Ashok Kumar, M.D., F.R.C.S., and welcome incoming President Melissa Gerdes, M.D.

The San Antonio Botanical Gardens are just one attraction of San Antonio. Through the bustling, modern city winds a quiet reminder of the city’s heritage. Cobblestone and flagstone paths line the banks of the San Antonio river along the famous Paseo del Rio, or River Walk, where river-level restaurants, hotels, retail shops and a diverse selection of people meet to create a unique blend of cultures. River cruisers meander past, offering leisurely tours and dinner rides along a 1.5-mile stretch.

Whether you prefer history, sightseeing or modern attractions, the city of San Antonio caters to all tastes. The San Antonio Missions National Historic Park, one of the few urban national parks in the country, presents the Spanish frontier missions, which were part of a colonization system that stretched across the Spanish Southwest in the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. A tour of the historic Mission San Antonio de Valero, better known as the Alamo, reveals Texas heroes such as Davy Crockett and William B. Travis. Visitors are led through a museum, shrine, and courtyard as they remember the historic battle between 189 Alamo defenders and 1,800 Mexican troops in Antonio López de Santa Anna’s army. In its 819 acres, the park also hosts Missions San José, San Juan Capistrano, San Francisco de la Espada, and Concepción.

The Spanish Governor’s Palace was the seat of government in 1749 when San Antonio was the capital of the Spanish Province of Texas and served as the residence of the local presidio captain. Tourists can explore the ornate rooms, large patio, and the one-story masonry structure that was built in Spanish Colonial style.

La Villita Historic Arts Village is located on the south bank of the San Antonio River. As San Antonio’s first neighborhood, it was home for Spanish soldiers and their families who were stationed at the Alamo, and provides modern-day visitors with the opportunity to stroll through shops that reflect the flavor of the city. Market Square, San Antonio’s original Mexican marketplace, features 32 craft stores and small shops as well as the Farmers Market Plaza. It is open from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. For more modern shopping, visit the Rivercenter Mall to shop through many floors or view movies on a six-story screen at the IMAX Theater.

For an aerial view of the entire city, visitors can explore the Tower of the Americas in HemisFair Park. At a height of 750 feet, the tower offers a panoramic view of San Antonio and the surrounding area. After ascending by glass elevator, visitors can dine at the Chart House restaurant or spend time on the observation deck. As the theme structure of the 1968 HemisFair, the Tower of the Americas symbolizes the progress made by the convergence of civilizations in the Western Hemisphere.

The historic Brackenridge Golf Course provides an 18-hole haven for golfers. It was recently inducted into the Texas Golf Hall of Fame as the original site of the PGA Winter Tour and is located five miles away from the hotel. The course opened in 1916 and the Texas Open Golf Tournament was played on the course from 1922 until 1959. A more recent addition to the golf scene in San Antonio is the Palmer Course at La Cantera.

Near downtown are the San Antonio Zoo at Brackenridge Park, the Botanical Gardens, the Sunken Gardens, several museums, and the King William and Monte Vista historical districts.

Since San Antonio was one of the first cities in the region to become preservation-conscious, much of the original architecture still stands from the early days of development, defining the Native American, Hispanic, German, and Southern Anglo-American cultures. The King William and Monte Vista historic districts neighborhood restoration efforts are home to many landmarks and homes, preserved from the 1800s.

One of these homes is the Guenther House. Built in 1860 by German immigrants at the foot of the King William district, the home represents the German influence in the city. Directly behind it is the historic Pioneer Flour Mill. The mill and house have been restored for use as a museum, restaurant and retail store.

In the historic St. Paul district, Sunset Station offers the experience of Hispanic and South Texas culture in downtown San Antonio. During a self-paced walking tour, visitors can explore the district and its turn-of-the-century architecture.

The San Antonio Museum of Art, located in the former Anheuser-Busch brewery, displays Greek and Roman antiquities, Asian art, Latin American and folk art, Texas art, and other American paintings. Besides exhibits, the museum offers poetry readings, concerts, storytelling, dance performances, lectures and art workshops for its visitors as well as a 2.5-acre sculpture garden.

For family fun, check out Fiesta Texas and Sea World. Fiesta Texas is a 201-acre family musical and entertainment theme park. Sister-park to Six Flags over Texas, Fiesta Texas offers roller coasters, games, and shows for all ages. Sea World in San Antonio is the largest marine-life theme park in the world. Throughout the park, visitors can view the many aquariums, open-air shows, and rides.

So mark your calendar for TAFP’s 61st Annual Session and Scientific Assembly as we visit the historic, festive city of San Antonio.

---

Hotel Information

Towering above the San Antonio River Walk is this year’s Annual Session host, the Westin Riverwalk Hotel. The Westin offers the luxurious grandeur of a southern mansion with the charm of Texas hospitality.

Located at the intersection of Navarro and Market streets, the hotel is a short walk away from famous San Antonio landmarks like the Alamo, La Villita, Market Square, Rivercenter mall, the King William Historic District, and the Convention Center. The Westin Riverwalk is truly the sights, sounds, and tastes of San Antonio at its very best.

Room rate

TAFP has negotiated a special group rate at the Westin Riverwalk. The room block is available until June 28, 2010, or until all rooms are reserved, whichever comes first. Single or double rate is $179 and is available July 17-28 if you’d like to extend your stay. Remember to mention that you are with the Texas Academy of Family Physicians to receive this special group rate. To make your reservation, contact the hotel locally at (210) 224-6500 or book your room online.

Touring San Antonio

For a free San Antonio visitor information packet, call the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau toll-free at (800) 477-3372 or (210) 207-6700. Or visit the SACVB’s home page at www.VisitSanAntonio.com.

To register

Visit TAFP online at www.tafp.org or call TAFP at (512) 329-8666. Online you’ll find a complete CME schedule, a description of all special events, a schedule of committee and commission meetings, and a listing of Annual Session’s distinguished speakers.

If you register by June 27, this year’s rates are:

• TAFP/AAFP members: $250
• New physician members (out of residency for 6 years or fewer): $200
• Non-member physicians: $350
• PAs and other health professionals: $350
• Life members, and resident and student members: FREE

These prices will increase by $100 after June 27. Workshops and most events are free, but you must register for them to attend. Space is limited and popular events fill fast, so call or visit www.tafp.org today. Join us in San Antonio!