September 14, 2023
Bring on the celebrations! This year's Winter Family Physicians Weekend, scheduled for Nov. 30 – Dec. 3, 2023, will mark the NCAFP's 75th Anniversary, and we can hardly wait to celebrate this fantastic milestone with you! Your program chair, Dr. Tamieka Howell, and your program vice-chair, Dr. Thomas White, have a fantastic weekend planned. This year's premier learning opportunity, hosted at the Omni Grove Park Inn, promises over 30+ CME credits, endless networking opportunities, and lots of fun. With several surprises to commemorate our diamond jubilee, we promise this is the one annual conference you do not want to miss!
Expect to enjoy a wide range of sessions on new treatment options, patient care, physician well-being, and technology brought to you by the best and brightest experts in primary care. Mainstage sessions will address continuous glucose monitoring, pediatric atopic dermatitis, Hepatitis B, hormone replacement therapy, weight management, autism, diabetes, sports medicine, bipolar disorder in adults, adolescent mental health, narcolepsy, Alzheimer's Disease, chronic kidney disease, MALFD fatty liver disease, CVD prevention, hypertension, osteoporosis, lung cancer, cancer screening, long Covid, and more.
Your NCAFP CME Team is also excited to include a variety of CME sessions focused on prioritizing physician health and well-being. While the GPI will not let us host these physician wellness sessions in their world-class spa (even with my best efforts!), we have carefully integrated them into the schedule so you can take full advantage of them. Thursday afternoon's general sessions include presentations on ways to remain sane while managing your overflowing email and cool coding tips to save you time and money. During your online registration, select Saturday's optional CME lunch, where you will also discover ways to enhance clinical workflow efficiency through technology and a team-based approach – all while promoting physician well-being. A dedicated Sunday session also aims to keep you mentally fit and physically strong so that you can continue to provide the best care for your patients.
As any great December meeting should, this conference just keeps on giving! The main schedule is filled from start to finish with can't-miss learning opportunities brought to you by family medicine experts. When the afternoons roll around, the optional workshops and social activities are just as fantastic. In other words, you'll have some hard decisions to make when it comes to how to spend your afternoons in Asheville. If you arrive on Wednesday, November 29, you can participate in the optional KSA on Diabetes or the optional Long-Acting Reversible Contraception workshop. The group-study KSA offers 10 ABFM activity points and eight prescribed CME credits. The two-hour pre-conference LARC CME workshop combines interactive didactic sessions with practical training using medical models.
Additionally, take advantage of the osteopathic manipulations workshop on Thursday afternoon, where you'll learn hands-on manual techniques to address musculoskeletal issues, reduce pain, and improve mobility in your patients. There is also an important preceptor workshop that afternoon for active preceptors (or those seeking to learn more about precepting!). This workshop underscores the need, value, and importance of precepting and spotlights ways to share your family medicine enthusiasm and expertise with medical students.
On Friday afternoon, you can pick up 1.5-credit hours towards NC's controlled substance training requirement with a 90-minute optional opioid and pain management workshop. Or, choose to attend our first-ever skin of color dermatology workshop. This applied learning session will teach ways to deliver safe, effective, and culturally competent skincare procedures to a diverse patient population.
As a reminder, Friday morning's annual Practice Management Seminar, co-hosted with the NC Medical Society, is always a terrific opportunity for physicians and office staff to improve their practice management skills and knowledge. Discussions during this year's optional seminar will include collaborative care and behavioral health integration, prior authorizations, wellness initiatives, and navigating Medicaid. Conference attendees can add this concurrent session to their conference registration for an additional $45. Those interested in attending only the Practice Management Seminar can register and attend the course for $55.
If you still want more after a full day of learning, here are a few more suggestions to enhance your conference experience. Enjoy a self-guided candlelight tour of the Biltmore House with family and friends on Thursday evening. Delight in the merriment and breathtaking holiday decorations as you stroll through the magnificent estate. Be sure to add your tickets to your online registration and pick them up when you check into the conference. (Transportation is on your own.) Take your conference experience to another level with a visit to the Grove Park Inn's renowned spa. Choose from revitalizing body treatments, soothing facials, relaxing massages, and more. Guests staying at the Grove Park Inn should book their spa appointments soon.
It's important to recognize this annual weekend of CME and camaraderie would not be possible without our many terrific sponsors and vendors. Believe it or not, the exhibit hall offers more than just coffee and yummy snacks. Be sure to take advantage of this bustling hub filled with over 75 vendors committed to family medicine. We kindly invite you to show your appreciation for their support and explore the exhibit hall daily to connect, network, and discover their many resources and valuable offerings. Even better, many offer door-prize drawings and other spectacular giveaways!
Last but certainly not least, Saturday evening's Presidential Gala is always the pinnacle of the weekend's festivities. Join us as we pay tribute to the remarkable legacy of family medicine and acknowledge the many contributions of our esteemed leaders throughout the years. We will formally introduce your newest NCAFP Board Members and inaugurate Dr. Garett Franklin as your 2024 NCAFP President. The commemorative evening will include a gourmet meal prepared by the GPI chef, a brief live auction to support the NCAFP Foundation, and live music by the NCAFP's unofficial Winter Weekend band, Too Much Sylvia. Dress in your favorite holiday attire, wear your dancing shoes, and prepare for a night of fun memories and family medicine celebrations.
Your NCAFP is proud to continue this tradition of top-notch CME led by family medicine experts in a beautiful, relaxed setting. Plan to join us for another unforgettable weekend filled with meaningful learning, camaraderie, and fun surprises to commemorate our 75th Anniversary. We cannot wait to celebrate you and the essential work that you do. We sincerely hope to see you there!
Registration is open, and full conference details are available at www.ncafp.com/wfpw. Please contact me at Katkinson@ncafp.com with any questions.