The annual meeting of the American Public Health Association starts this weekend! This year the meeting is being held in person in Denver with lots of virtual options as well. I know everyone is excited about getting back together and connecting as a community. I can’t wait to connect with friends and colleagues and meet new people. Check out the online platform to see details (rooms and Zoom links) for the sessions mentioned below. Use “browse by program” and select “Medical Care Section.”
Donabebian Quality Award
Our own Dr. Gordon Schiff is the recipient of the 22nd annual APHA Medical Care Donabebian Quality Award!! Dr. Schiff will reflect on Dr. Donabedian’s contribution to quality in health care as it relates to his own work in diagnosis, and medication quality and safety, particularly in primary care. We will also get to hear a moving recording of Donabedian’s last spoken words. The session is on Monday, October 25th at 2pm MTN. Come hear about the science of quality and meet others in the field!
Student Paper Awards
Each year the Medical Care Section recognizes outstanding student papers in a special session where students get to present their work. This year the students’ papers award session addresses gaps in public health practice including access to care among agricultural workers, addiction services, integration of social determinants into discharge planning, and cost of gene therapies. Come hear about cutting-edge research on Tuesday, October 26th at 10:30am MTN.
An Evening with Dr. Mary T. Bassett
Come spend an evening with Dr. Mary Bassett and friends on Tuesday, October 26th at 7pm. Dr. Bassett will become the New York State Commissioner of Health on December 1, 2021. Presently, Dr. Bassett is director of the Francois-Xavier Bagnoud Center for Health and Human Rights at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Dr. Mary Bassett is a graduate of Columbia University’s College of Physicians and Surgeons, who did her residency in Internal Medicine at Harlem Hospital and earned her MPH at Washington University. She joined the medical faculty of the University of Zimbabwe for 17 years, where she developed a range of AIDs prevention interventions. Upon returning to the US, Dr. Bassett was appointed deputy commissioner of health promotion and disease prevention at the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, where she launched District Public Health Offices in communities plagued by racial, ethnic and economic health inequalities. Eventually, she became Commissioner of the Department, and addressed the structural racism at the root of racial health inequities. She is a leading advocate for health care as a basic human right and improved, single-payer Medicare for All.
Business Meetings
Of course, no annual meeting would be complete without a few business meetings! Coffee and bagels anyone? These meetings are geared towards current and potential section members. We’d love to see you there!
- Publishing Update & Governing Council: Medical Care and the blog (Sunday, October 24th at 6pm MTN)
- Committee and Working Group reports (Monday, October 25th at 7:30am MTN)
- Committee reports and Wrap-up (Tuesday, 26th at 7:30am MTN)
Special Congratulations
Dr. Oli Fein has been awarded the Sedgwick Memorial Medal for Distinguished Service in Public Health!! Dr. Fein is a long-time section member, former chair, wonderful supporter of Medical Care and TMCB. This honor is richly deserved and we are so happy that Oli has been formally recognized in this way for his outstanding accomplishments in the field of public health. Congratulations!
Jess Williams
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