FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept. 28, 2011
(CHICAGO) – Just how effective are vaccinations in helping to prevent disease? An update on immunizations is one of the many health care topics being presented during the American Osteopathic Association’s (AOA) OMED 2011, the Osteopathic Medical Conference & Exposition.
The conference, themed “The Future of Medicine is in Your Hands,” will be held Sunday, Oct. 30, through Thursday, Nov. 3, at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. Osteopathic physicians (DOs), osteopathic medical students and other members of the osteopathic medical profession from across the nation will convene in Orlando for this year’s conference.
Presentations and Research Findings
DOs and other experts in a variety of fields will share the latest information about health care topics and medical research at workshops and presentations taking place Oct. 30 to Nov. 2.
Topics include:
Opposition to national vaccination recommendations continues to receive a lot of attention in the media. This presentation offers an update on pediatric and adult immunizations, including the effectiveness and safety of vaccines as well as the role of vaccines in preventing diseases. During the conference, the AOA also will release results of a national consumer survey asking parents of teenagers about the importance they place on vaccinations and if their children are current on all national recommendations for vaccinations.
- Concussions in sports are a significant problem, especially for football players who frequently endure collisions with other athletes on the field. This presentation will provide an overview of new methods being used to detect head injuries in athletes sooner and a system for rating a football helmet’s ability to prevent concussion.
- Recent guidelines on food allergies from the National Institutes of Health are the focus of a presentation that discusses the diagnosis and management of allergies in both children and adults.
A presentation reviewing the evidence between hair dye use and the risk of malignancy looks at existing research to evaluate the risk between different types of hair dye and several forms of cancer.
Community Outreach
Members of the osteopathic medical profession will provide free health care screenings during a health fair from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 29, at the Orlando Union Rescue Mission, 1521 W. Washington St., Orlando. The health fair is hosted by the National Osteopathic Medical Association, an organization representing the minority DO population; the Student Osteopathic Medical Association; the Council of Osteopathic Student Government Presidents; and the American Osteopathic Foundation.
Exhibits
The exhibit hall at OMED 2011 will feature commercial vendors and scientific exhibitors who will provide information about the medical advancements and services available to health care providers.
Exhibit hall hours are:
10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 30.
9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Oct. 31.
9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 1.
Media Registration
OMED 2011 is open to working journalists (editorial staff of newspapers, magazines, medical or health care publications, broadcast or Web-based media, including bloggers) whose attendance at the meeting may result in coverage of the AOA or its individual members. Journalists interested in attending OMED 2011 can pre-register by sending the media registration form to Nicole Grady, AOA media relations manager, via email at ngrady@osteopathic.org or fax to (312) 202-8338. See OMED press room guidelines for more information.
Meeting Updates
Times and access to presentations and events are subject to change. Visit the online press kit for the latest information and alerts about meeting activities. Regular media updates from the meeting also will be available on Twitter at @AOAforMedia.
About the American Osteopathic Association
The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) proudly represents its professional family of more than 78,000 osteopathic physicians (DOs); promotes public health; encourages scientific research; serves as the primary certifying body for DOs; is the accrediting agency for osteopathic medical schools; and has federal authority to accredit hospitals and other health care facilities. More information on DOs/osteopathic medicine can be found at www.osteopathic.org.
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Media Contacts
Nicole Grady
(800) 621-1773, ext. 8038 (Toll free)
(312) 202-8038 (Office)
ngrady@osteopathic.org
Vicki Martinka
(800) 621-1773, ext. 8159 (Toll free)
(312) 202-8159 (Office)
vmartinka@osteopathic.org
Twitter: @AOAforMedia