Welcome Message

Greetings,

The 2006 Annual ABSAME meeting will examine Depression and Anxiety (D/A) and their relationship as co-morbid states to physical and mental illness. The overarching objective is to highlight D/A Co-morbidity as a key domain of mental health that is under taught, under diagnosed and under studied particularly for vulnerable populations. Mental health is a primary indicator of population health status and D/A, the most prevalent mental disorders, are epidemic. There remain many unanswered questions and new questions to consider about the epidemiology of D/A Co-morbidity in physical and mental illness and their influence on health outcomes in general. Furthermore, the influence of social, cultural, economic and political factors on the prevalence of D/A Co-morbidity is also poorly understood and requires systematic investigation. Importantly, the comprehensive understanding of D/A Co-morbidity in health and healthcare is not a required competency in medical pedagogy, training and practice. Synthesizing and reporting our current knowledge about D/A in the context of increasingly multi-cultural and vulnerable populations is a logical step toward identifying and developing sustainable approaches to inculcating D/A Co-morbidity in medical pedagogy, practice and research. The objective of this conference series is synergistic with the NIMH comprehensive strategic plan to eliminate health disparities.

We look forward to seeing you in Annapolis

Patrick Hardigan Ph.D.
Jeff Kingsley, D.O.
2006 Program Co-Chairs

Audience

• Physicians, psychologists, sociologists, anthropologists, nurses, public health practitioners, social workers, and other professionals and/or behavioral scientists engaged in medical education and practice. • Investigators who wish to present their work to a cross-disciplinary membership for critique and dialog. • Medical school and residency level faculty who wish to explore and develop teaching skills and new curricula in the behavioral sciences. • Medical students and house staff planning a career in family medicine, primary-care, internal medicine, pediatrics, psychiatry, or preventive medicine.

Objectives

At the end of this conference, participants will be able to:

• Review and report current knowledge of D/A Co-morbidity and its role as a risk factor for inadequate health services utilization, diminished compliance and poorer health outcomes and population health status with a focus on racial/ethnic minority and other vulnerable populations.
• Identify and report gaps in our knowledge about D/A co-morbidity and prioritize a list of topics for future inclusion in pedagogy, practice and research with attention to its relevance to multi-cultural populations.
• Review and report current knowledge of culture-bound syndromes associated with D/A, their influence on D/A as Co-morbidities, and influence on mental health disparities.
• Review and report current approaches for incorporating behavioral and social sciences curricula in medical schools, training and continuing education programs and identify barriers to their incorporation.
• Establish an interdisciplinary network of collaborators who will identify and/or develop and report on strategies for inculcating D/A Co-morbidity as a core competency in pedagogy, practice and research.
• Use the information gained from addressing the above specific aims as the foundation for the ABSAME 2007 annual conference.
  
  

Continuing Education Credits

Genesys Regional Medical Center, an organization accredited by the Michigan State Medical Society Committee (MSMS) on Continuing Medical Education Accreditation, designates that this activity meets the criteria for a maximum of 17.5 hours in Category 1 Credit toward the requirement for Michigan relicensure and of the Physicians Recognition Award of the AMA, provided it is completed as designed. This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essentials and Standards of the MSMS through the joint sponsorship of Genesys Regional Medical Center and the Association for the Behavioral Sciences and Medical Education.

The Association for the Behavioral Sciences and Medical Education is approved by the American Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. The Association for the Behavioral Sciences and Medical Education maintains responsibility for the program. ABSAME is offering this activity for 17.5 hours of continuing education credit provided it is completed as designed.

Membership in ABSAME

Annual membership dues are $95 for regular members and $25 for student members. Institutional memberships which entitle your institution to five individual memberships are available for $550 per year. Membership year is from July 1 to June 30.

Payment of registration fee at non-member rate provides ABSAME membership for 2006-2007 year.