August 22, 2007

SIU Med School Sponsors Obesity Conference

“Tipping the Scale . . . Managing Obesity in Southern Illinois” is the topic of a medical education conference for primary care physicians and other allied health professionals sponsored by Southern Illinois University School of Medicine and the Southern Illinois University Carbondale Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development.  The program will be offered 7:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. Thursday, September 20, at John A. Logan College, 700 Logan College Road, Carterville.

Sessions begin at 8:30 a.m. with “Illinois Delta Region Health Status.”  Keynote sessions are “Prevention of Obesity” (8:45 a.m.) and “Strategies to Address the Global Obesity Epidemic” (10 a.m.).  A panel discussion includes various topics – sustaining behavior change, genetic influences and obesity, and physical activity promotion (11:05 a.m.). 

Afternoon concurrent sessions begin at 1:30 p.m. and are repeated at 2:45 p.m. – “Understanding the Patient Mindset,” “Genetic Influences on Body Type,” “Physical Activity Promotion in the Overweight/Obese Patient,” “Wellness at All Sizes,” and “Pharmaceutical and Surgical Options.”  The remaining session begins at 3:45 p.m. with “State of the State on Overweight and Obesity:  An Overview of Ongoing and Planned Initiatives.”

Dr. Penny Tippy, SIU professor and associate chair of family and community medicine in Carbondale, is the course director.  Two SIU faculty and three guest faculty will present.

The SIU School of Medicine designates this educational activity for a maximum of 6.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. The registration fee is $110 for physicians and $75 for allied health professionals for registrations made by September 7.  Late registrations are an additional $10.  To register contact the SIU Center for Rural Health and Social Service Development at (618) 453-8455, or download a conference brochure at www.siumed.edu/cme.

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