AGS Conference Preview

American Geriatrics Society Celebrates Diamond Anniversary

By Heather Hogstrom

The American Geriatrics Society (AGS) Annual Scientific Meeting will be held in San Antonio May 18–20, with preconference sessions on May 17. AGS is celebrating 75 years of caring for older adults, which will be acknowledged on Thursday in a 75th anniversary lecture as well as a reception. The lecture, given by AGS Past-President James T. Pacala, MD, will reflect on the past, present, and future of geriatrics, including the advances that have been made over the last three-quarters of a century, as well as what’s next for the field.

Other forward-looking sessions include “Providing High Quality Dementia Care in 2017 and Beyond,” “That Was the Year That Will Be: Bench Research Findings of 2016 That Will Be at the Bedside by 2021,” and “Translating Today’s Research Into Tomorrow’s Practice: Strategies to Maximize the Reach and Impact of Our Work Post-Publication.”

AGS session tracks include clinical practice (eg, “Using Direct Oral Anticoagulants Safely in Older Adults”), education (eg, “Integrating Geriatrics Into Primary Care: Learning From Four Model GWEP Programs”), ethics (eg, “From Physical Examination to Cross Examination: An Interprofessional Approach to Decisionally Impaired Older Adults”), models of care (eg, “Getting Started in Telehealth: Leveraging Technology for Geriatric Practice”), professional development (eg, “Productivity Skills for Geriatrics Faculty: How to Do the Work You Want, Get Promoted, and Be Happy!”), public policy (eg, “Navigating Through Uncertain Times in Public Policy”), and research (eg, “Fit for Purpose: Effective Use of Existing ‘Big Data’ Sources Towards Improving Care for Older Adults”).

AGS will also provide many networking opportunities, such as “Fun Stations: Test Your Skills and Win Prizes!” Students can interact with geriatric faculty who will offer prizes to those who answer quizzes on topics such as aging physiology and its effects on disease, dermatological conditions, functional impairment, and use of assistive devices.

Networking breakfasts will be provided for some attendees, including fellows-in-training, nurses, pharmacists, and social workers. Attendees can also network with those who share their areas of interest, as the conference will have meetings for a wide variety of special interest groups, such as aging and oral health, care transitions, elder abuse and neglect, information technology issues, osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease, palliative care, polypharmacy, postacute and long term care, private practice providers in geriatrics, wound prevention and management, and more.

Follow the conference and participate in the discussion on social media with the hashtag #AGS17. For more information or to register, visit www.americangeriatrics.org/annual_meeting/2017_annual_meeting/.

— Heather Hogstrom is an editorial assistant at Today’s Geriatric Medicine.