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2008 Annual Meeting News

Here you will find the latest news related to the 2008 Annual Scientific Meeting in Washington DC. Just click on the article title to see the full story.

This Week's Meeting News


More Meeting Highlights


This Week's Meeting News

CME/CEU Application and Evaluation Forms Provided at the 2008 Annual Scientific Meeting
Based on feedback we received from attendees at the 2007 AGS Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago, we will provide the CME/CEU Application and Evaluation Form in 3 different formats. You can apply for CME/CEU credits and complete your Evaluation Form in any of the following ways:

  1. Onsite: Visit the designated CME Certificate and Evaluation computer stations in the registration area. This method will allow you to instantly print your CME certificate.

  2. Online: Go online to complete the CME/CEU Application and Evaluation Form. Attendees who pre-registered for the annual meeting can access the CME/CEU site online directly from a PDA or laptop during the meeting. Attendees who registered onsite for the meeting can access the online site after the meeting at www.americangeriatrics.org. The online site will be available through August 31, 2008.

  3. Hard Copy: A limited number of hard copy CME/CEU Application and Evaluation Forms will be available - at first come, first served basis - at the AGS information booth in the registration area. Please note that submitting your CME/CEU Application and Evaluation Form in hard copy format will take approximately 4-6 weeks longer to process than submitting your application electronically.

We strongly encourage meeting attendees to complete the evaluation form. The AGS would appreciate feedback, ideas and suggestions from meeting attendees.

Continuing Pharmacy Education Pharmacists will need to pick up an application for Continuing Pharmacy Education credit at the AGS Information Booth located in the registration area and submit CEU requests via hard copy - either by dropping these off in the boxes provided near the CME/CEU Pavilion during the meeting or sending them to the AGS office.

DC Sights

The National Archives
Home to some of our country’s most important historical documents, the National Archives is a classic DC destination. This is the place to go to see the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, Bill of Rights, Emancipation Proclamation, and more. To bypass the long lines, make a reservation by e-mailing the Visitors Services Manager at vistorsservices@nara.gov. Reservations must be submitted at least 6 weeks prior to your visit.

National Geographic Museum at Explorer’s Hall
Known for its creative and educational exhibits, the National Geographic Museum celebrates past and current expeditions, adventures, and scientific research. Enjoy stunning photography, a tornado simulator, a giant globe, and numerous interactive exhibits. Check www.nationalgeographic.com/museum before your visit for a schedule of live events, lectures, and performances.

More Meeting Highlights

HYVET Symposium Description

A special symposium - "Results from the Hypertension in the Very Elderly Trial (HYVET): Implications for Geriatrics" - has been added to the annual meeting program to present the findings from this important clinical trial that were published March 31, 2008 (N Eng J Med 10/1056/NEJMe0801369). This clinical trial involving 3845 patients above age 80 demonstrated that active treatment was associated with a 21% decrease in mortality, 30% decrease in the relative risk of stroke and 64% decrease in the relative risk of heart failure. In the accompanying editorial, Dr. Kostis concludes, "The results of HYVET prove that it is not too late to start antihypertensive therapy in older people and expands the upper limit of the age spectrum for which there is evidence from clinical trials of a treatment benefit." (N Eng J Med 10/1056/NEJMe0801709).

The symposium will feature four AGS members - two epidemiologists and two clinical research investigators - who will discuss the epidemiological data, the earlier clinical trials, the HVYET study itself, and the study's implications for clinical practice. This study has provided a definitive answer to whether to treat hypertension in the very old and will result in a change in the clinical management of this prevalent and important condition.


RESULTS FROM THE HYPERTENSION IN THE VERY ELDERLY TRIAL (HYVET):
IMPLICATIONS FOR GERIATRICS
Room: Washington 5/6
Moderator: Mark A. Supiano, MD
Friday, May 2; 7:30 to 9:00 am


Epidemiology of Blood Pressure and Aging
James Goodwin, MD

The Early Clinical Trials: From SHEP to HYVET
Anne Newman, MD

HYVET Study Design and Results
Mark A. Supiano, MD

Implications for Clinical Practice: Who Should We Treat?
Ihab Hajjar, MD

Conclusions and Questions
Mark A. Supiano, MD

Call for Proposals for AGS' 2009 Annual Scientific
The American Geriatrics Society's (AGS) Annual Meeting Program Committee invites you to submit proposals for the 2009 AGS Annual Scientific Meeting, which will be held April 29 -May 3, 2009 in Chicago, IL. Completed program proposals must be submitted by June 6, 2008. Please submit your 2009 proposal through our online submission site: (http://www.frycomm.com/ags/proposals/index.asp).

Sessions of Interest to Researchers
In addition to the 8 paper sessions and 4 poster sessions scheduled during the meeting (see schedule below), all researchers are encouraged to attend the NIA symposia:

Thursday, May 1 from 12:30 - 2:00 pm
NIA/NIH SYMPOSIUM ON COGNITIVE AGING

Developed by the National Institute on Aging and the National Institutes on Health. This symposium will feature highlights from the October 2007 NIA Cognitive Aging Summit, including assessments of the state of the science and recommendations for a research agenda to advance our understanding of cognitive aging. Cross-disciplinary research will be emphasized as will practical approaches that can be taken to develop pharmacological and lifestyle interventions that will facilitate positive cognitive trajectories in the aging population.

Friday, May 2 from 2:30 - 4:00 pm
GETTING TO KNOW THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE ON AGING: A SYMPOSIUM FOR GO-GETTERS IN AGING RESEARCH

The National Institute on Aging (NIA) at the National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, conducts and supports biomedical and behavioral research with a focus on understanding basic processes of aging, improving prevention and treatment of diseases and conditions common in later years, and improving the health of older persons. The NIA also supports the training and career development of scientists focusing on aging research and the development of research resources. The symposium will provide an overview of NIA's extramural research programs and initiatives, funding and training opportunities and will provide an opportunity to meet and consult with representatives of relevant program areas.

In addition, the following sessions may be of interest to researchers:

Thursday, May 1

3:00 - 4:30 pm
RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND ISSUES SERIES: METABOLIC SYNDROME AND AGING

The program will provide an overview on metabolic syndrome, the underlying mechanisms, and its impact on health and quality of life in older people, including the latest research related to underlying hormonal, cellular, and molecular mechanisms of metabolic syndrome and pathologies associated with it.

Friday, May 2

7:30 - 9:00 am
STEM CELL BASED THERAPIES FOR OLDER PATIENTS: REALIZABLE GOAL OR HOPELESS FANTASY?

This program will describe recent developments in stem cell research and the debate regarding the potential application of such discoveries to the care of older adults.

12:45 - 2:15 pm
RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND ISSUES SERIES: PILOT STUDIES

High quality pilot data are essential for sound science, external funding, and the ongoing productivity of an investigator's long-term research program. This workshop will educate investigators in the skills and knowledge needed to develop successful pilot studies.

2:30 - 4:00 pm
NEW FRONTIERS IN GERIATRICS: THE JAHNIGEN AND WILLIAMS AWARDEES REPORT ON RESEARCH LEADING TO IMPROVED CARE BY SURGICAL AND MEDICAL SUBSPECIALISTS

Room: Washington 5/6
CME: 1.5 credits   Nursing contact hours: 1.8   CME/CEU Session Code: 0220
Moderator: William R. Hazzard, MD
This symposium will highlight the research supported by the Dennis W. Jahnigen and T. Franklin Williams Career Development Awards Programs, which support research on older patients who are cared for by the targeted disciplines. The Jahnigen Awards program supports faculty in the surgical and related medical specialties and the Williams Award program supports faculty in the subspecialties of internal medicine. Funding for these Research Award Programs is provided by The Atlantic Philanthropies and The John A. Hartford Foundation through grants to the American Geriatrics Society (the Jahnigen Program) and the Association of Subspecialty Professors (the Williams Program).

Saturday, May 3

7:30 - 9:00 am
RESEARCH PROGRAMS AND ISSUES SERIES: INTEGRATING QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE METHODS - THE BENEFITS AND CHALLENGES OF USING MIXED METHODS STUDIES IN AGING RESEARCH

This workshop will describe important issues in designing, analyzing and presenting studies using mixed methodology in aging research.

11:15 am - 12:45 pm
THINKING, MOVING, AND FEELING: COMMON UNDERLYING MECHANISMS? REPORT OF THE NIA U13 CONFERENCE

Material from the September 2007 NIA U13 "bedside to bench" conference, which examined evidence about the co-occurrence of problems with cognition, mobility and mood, will be highlighted and summarized by members of the conference planning committee.

11:15 am - 12:45 pm
ENHANCING YOUR PUBLICATION PROFILE

Room: Delaware B
CME: 1.5 credits   Nursing contact hours: 1.8   CME/CEU Session Code: 0319
Moderator: Lona Mody, MD, MSc
Developed by the Junior Faculty Research Career Development Special Interest Group and the Research Committee.
This workshop will address challenges faced by junior faculty in enhancing their publication profile and will include a panel discussion on various topics including the pathway from an average writer to a good writer and the biggest mistakes junior faculty make that get papers rejected.

Paper and Poster Sessions

THURSDAY, MAY 1

Paper Session: Ethics & Quality of Life
7:30 am - 9:00 am

Plenary Paper Session
10:30 am - 11:30 am

Poster Session A
11:30 am - 1:00 pm

Paper Session: Neurology and Biology of Aging
12:30 pm - 2:00 pm

Poster Session B
2:00 pm - 3:30 pm

Paper Session: Health Services & Policy Research
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

FRIDAY, MAY 2

Poster Session C
11:45 am - 1:15 pm

Paper Session: Geriatric Education
12:45 pm - 2:15 pm

Presidential Poster Session D
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm

SATURDAY, MAY 3

Paper Session: Epidemiology
9:30 am - 11:00 am

Paper Session: Clinical Geriatrics
11:15 am - 12:45 pm

Paper Session: Research on Geriatric Syndromes
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm

"An Evening With Friends" Performer Profiles
The Howard University Jazz Ensemble will kickoff the 2008 “An Evening With Friends” fundraiser in Washington, DC, followed by special performances by members of the AGS community. Read about some of the "Evening's" performers, profiled below, and get excited for the fabulous entertainment and time with friends ahead.

For information on the 2008 event and supporting the Student Researcher Fund, please visit http://www.healthinaging.org/research/studentresearcher.php. There, you will be able to learn more about the students you can support, purchase tickets or make a donation. If you have any questions, or would like any further information, please contact LiChia Ong at long@americangeriatrics.org.

Howard University Jazz Ensemble (HUJE) - one of the foremost college jazz ensembles – will kickoff the 2008 Evening With Friends event. HUJE, which was founded in 1975 by its director, Fred Irby, III and has performed in the United States, Europe, South America, Asia, and the Caribbean and has been on radio and television, will be performing for the first hour of the FHA event. The HUJE was featured during the 1992, 1996 and 2005 Kennedy Center Honors Gala (CBS-TV) and has released thirty recordings in a distinguished series that began in 1976.

Miguel Paniagua, MD, Assistant Professor of Medicine, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, will perform vocal lead and harmony, and will also play the harmonica. His passion for the arts has included civic chorale and various citywide music jams, improv comedy and most recently has spawned multiple impersonations from Elvis to James Brown. His nationwide karaoke and live jam tour will soon take him to his home of the blues, St. Louis.

Philip Sloane, MD, MPH, Professor of Family Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will perform on keyboard, banjo, and vocals. His amateur musical career has included opening for the Box Tops (1967), creating an album of satirical songs as a medical student (1975), and playing in a bluegrass band (1985-95).

Eric Tangalos, MD is Professor of Medicine at Mayo Clinic. He sang with the University of Michigan Men's Glee Club and in his early days in Rochester, sang with "Special Delivery." He only recently came out of retirement to help support "An Evening with Friends."

NEW Special Interest Groups at the May 2008 AGS Annual Meeting in Washington, DC

The AGS adds a new Special Interest Groups (SIGs) to its May Annual Meeting schedule:
Geriatric Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Aging

Please see below for this year's schedule of Special Interest Groups (SIGs), including the 3 new SIGs.

Special Interest Groups
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 30

5:45 - 7:00 pm
The Cochrane Collaboration: Health Care of Older People Field

Convention Center, Room: 304
Chairs: Gilbert Ramirez, PhD; Shelley de la Vega, MD, MSc; David James Stott, MD; Susan Bravard
Visit with the Health Care of Older People Field to learn how you can participate with this international organization. A brief overview of The Cochrane Collaboration will be provided followed by a discussion of what and how the Health Care of Older People Field can best support your evidence-based needs.

5:45 - 7:00 pm
Palliative Care

Convention Center, Room: 303
Chair: David J. Casarett, MD, MA
The Palliative Care SIG promotes awareness of palliative care issues in the Geriatrics community and identifies and builds on synergies that exist between geriatrics and palliative care.

THURSDAY, MAY 1

7:30 - 9:00 am
Acute Hospital Care

Convention Center, Room: 304
Chair: Robert M. Palmer, MD, MPH
The mission of the Acute Hospital Care Special Interest Group is to improve the outcomes of hospitalization of elderly patients through improvements in clinical care, dissemination of research findings and promotion of health professional education. Innovative approaches to acute hospital care are discussed at AGS meetings. The SIG meeting is open to all AGS participants.

7:30 - 9:00 am
Health Care Systems

Convention Center, Room: 309
Chairs: Robert Schreiber, MD and Rosemary Laird, MD
For many of us, making medical decisions is the easy part; dealing with the health care system is what makes our professional lives challenging. The Health Care Systems SIG is committed to improving health care systems to more effectively meet the needs of older adults and their caregivers. We also strive to support the effectiveness of geriatric providers within health care systems. For professionals concerned about the future of health care for older adults, this is the SIG to become involved with now. All interested health care practitioners, no matter where they practice in the health care continuum, are encouraged to come and share their time and talents.

7:30 - 9:00 am
Long-term Care

Convention Center, Room: 3A/B
Chair: Deborah W. Robin, MD & Jean K. Pals, RN, BC, BSN The SIG on Long-Term Care (SIG on LTC) is a resource and active voice to the AGS, the public, healthcare practitioners, policy makers and educational centers regarding issues on the availability, delivery, quality and regulation of LTC in the US. All members of the SIG on LTC are urged to attend as well as other interested AGS members who wish to join.

7:30 - 9:00 am
Veterans Health Administration

Convention Center, Room: 308
Co-Chairs: Thomas Edes, MD and Kenneth Shay, DDS
All VHA staff attending the AGS Annual Meeting are invited to participate in this special meeting, which will be co-chaired by Drs. Tom Edes and Ken Shay of the Office of Geriatrics and Extended Care, VA Central Office. Announcements and key issues relating to geriatrics and extended care clinical programs and to research and education initiatives will be discussed in an open forum.

12:30 - 2:00 pm
Cancer and Aging

Convention Center, Room: 201
Co-Chairs: Arash Naeim, MD, PhD, & Arti Hurria, MD
The Cancer and Aging Special Interest Group is an interdisciplinary assemblage of geriatric, gerontologic, and oncologic professionals whose collective mission is to: (1) promote multidisciplinary-centered cancer prevention, assessment, and management of older adults; (2) promote education and training in geriatric oncology concepts; (3) promote research in geriatric oncology; (4) facilitate linkages among those organizations and institutions which serve or focus upon geriatric and/or oncologic causes; and (5) champion and advocate for those elders and their families who are impacted by cancer.

12:30 - 2:00 pm
Healthcare for Low-Income Seniors

Convention Center, Room: 305
Chair: Steven R. Counsell, MD
The mission of the Healthcare for Low-Income Seniors AGS Special Interest Group is to improve the quality and outcomes of healthcare and maximize independence among low-income seniors by bringing together geriatrics professionals dedicated to the care of the poor, disseminating practical solutions and innovative geriatrics team care models, and advocating for public policy change to better address the needs of this population. The Healthcare for Low-Income Seniors SIG is open to all AGS meeting participants.

Successful Models of Care in Safety Net Teaching Hospitals:

Outpatient Primary Care for Diverse Older Patients in Boston
Heidi Auerbach, MD

The ACE Unit at San Francisco General Hospital
Edgar Pierluissi, MD

House Calls for Seniors in Indianapolis
Robin Beck, MD

12:30 - 2:00 pm
Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)

Convention Center, Room: 210
Chair: Melinda Lee, MD
This session is aimed at those who are in the early phase of PACE (Program for All-Inclusive Care of the Elderly) development, may be considering the establishment of a PACE program, or have an interest in the provision of primary care within PACE. This comprehensive, fully integrated model provides community-based care for the frail elderly. We encourage anyone with questions to come and explore why this model has become so successful.

12:30 - 2:00 pm
Rehabilitation

Convention Center, Room: 306
Chair: Neil Nusbaum, MD, JD
The Rehabilitation Special Interest Group has focused on topics of particular interest to those addressing the rehabilitative needs of frail older adults. The Rehabilitation SIG meeting program will include speakers on the topic of frailty (its measurement, and its rehabilitation), consistent with that focus.

3:00 - 4:30 pm
DOs in Geriatrics

Convention Center, Room: 305
Chair: Janice Knebl, DO, MBA
The DO's at the AGS SIG is a special interest group of osteopathic geriatricians that provides a forum for networking and discussion about the opportunities in geriatric medicine within the osteopathic profession and at the osteopathic medical schools. Come meet and engage in conversation with your osteopathic geriatrician colleagues for a lively discussion.

3:00 - 4:30 pm
Needs of Older Gay and Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgendered Persons

Convention Center, Room: 303
Chair: David O. Staats, MD
Geriatrics has not yet fully considered the needs of older gay and lesbian, bisexual and transgendered persons. This interest group intends to initiate a more formal analysis and observation of these needs. This SIG meeting is open to all AGS participants.

FRIDAY, MAY 2

7:30 - 9:00 am
Family Physicians in Geriatrics

Convention Center, Room: 306
Chair: Erik J. Lindbloom, MD, MSPH
This Special Interest Group is devoted to discussing and acting on issues of concern to family physicians caring for older adults. Issues pertinent to family medicine fellows and residents are also of interest. This group works in collaboration with the Society of Teachers of Family Medicine (STFM) Group on Geriatrics.

7:30 - 9:00 am
Geriatrics Consultative Services

Convention Center, Room: 304
Chair: Taryn Lee, MD
This meeting is open to anyone who provides or is interested in providing geriatric medicine consultative services. Participants will have an opportunity to learn from other practitioners how geriatrics consultative services are provided in various clinical settings. Discussion topics will include the extent to which our services are in demand; types of patients whom we are asked to see; various collaborative efforts with other services; billing processes and concerns; incorporating geriatrics teaching within the consultative setting; and types of problems we encounter. The session's goal will be to generate an exchange of ideas and experiences that will allow practitioners to provide more effective geriatrics consultation services.

7:30 - 9:00 am
Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP)

Convention Center, Room: 303
Chair: Sharon K. Inouye, MD, MPH
The Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP) is an innovative model of hospital care designed to prevent delirium and functional decline and to improve overall quality of hospital care for older persons. The mission and goal of this SIG is to allow all current and potentially interested HELP sites to come together to discuss successes and challenges in the implementation process. A new HELP website (funded by the National Library of Medicine) was implemented to try to meet the needs of HELP sites nationally and internationally. At this SIG, we will discuss the progress on our HELP collaborative paper, as well as the latest updates on the website. We hope to gain feedback on both projects. All current HELP sites, and anyone interested in learning more about HELP are encouraged to participate. You need not have an active HELP site to participate, just an interest in improving hospital care for older persons.

12:45 - 2:15 pm
E-Learning in Geriatrics

Convention Center, Room: 310
Chair: Jorge Ruiz, MD
The e-learning special interest group (el-SIG) is working on developing, standardizing, sharing, using or evaluating e-learning resources in support of geriatrics blended learning instruction of health care professionals. It is important to begin this effort early and on a national scale in order to minimize duplicate effort. The goals of the group are designed to understand the current state of e-learning resources and how members use them. Furthermore, it will review materials to establish benchmark examples of e-learning content. The el-SIG will enlist a national group of users to participate in characterization of e-learning resources and the planning for a national strategy for growth in e-learning. Through the el-SIG faculty at schools of medicine and nursing will have access to e-learning resources and support for personal faculty development. The el-SIG will seek guidance from the AGS education committee and other AGS special interest groups.

12:45 - 2:15 pm
Medical Humanities

Convention Center, Room:
Chair: Louise Aronson, MD, MFA
The Medical Humanities Special Interest Group aims to use the humanities to illuminate medical practice and illness experiences in ways inaccessible via traditional methods of scientific inquiry. Drawing on both the content and methods of literature, creative and reflective writing, film studies, history, philosophy, cultural studies, and the visual arts, we hope to foster a new and productive discourse on the social and moral issues that arise daily in our clinical work and teaching about the care of older adults.

12:45 - 2:15 pm
Private Practice Providers in Geriatrics

Convention Center, Room: 211
Co-Chairs: Cheryl Woodson, MD & Michael Wasserman, MD
Discuss challenges and share success strategies with other geriatricians who have chosen to serve seniors through private practice. Topics will include: patient flow and practice management, billing and reimbursement, staffing, alternate revenue streams, marketing, institutional LTC or not, and comprehensive geriatrics assessment. Please feel free to bring other issues to discuss.

2:30 - 4:00 pm
Geriatric Dermatology

Convention Center, Room: 310
Chairs: Barney Spivack, MD & Robert Norman, DO
Geriatrics health professionals from diverse environments of care are often confronted with evaluation and management of dermatologic disease and can provide guidance in the prevention of age-related and other skin disease. This group will bring together geriatrics clinicians, researchers, and other professionals with the common goals of professional education and evidence-based guideline development for the prevention and therapy of dermatologic disease, sharing of best clinical practices, clinical research and development, and improved quality of life for older adults. This SIG will create a link between the AGS and the professional dermatologic community including the American Academy of Dermatology and the International Society of Geriatric Dermatology.

5:30 - 6:30 pm
AGS/SGIM Polypharmacy

Convention Center, Room: 211
Chair: Michael Steinman, MD
The AGS/SGIM Polypharmacy Special Interest Group is a collaborative effort of the two societies to address the issue of polypharmacy in older adults. Please join us for this meeting where we will discuss potential projects that the AGS and SGIM can collaborate on. Anyone with an interest in polypharmacy issues is invited to attend this meeting, which immediately precedes the SGIM SIG meeting.

6:30 - 8:00 pm
Clinical Research in Dementia

Convention Center, Room: 305
Chair: Malaz Boustani, MD
The aim of the Special Interest Group on Clinical Research in Dementia (SIG-CRD) is to bring together AGS members who are dedicated to advancing the health care of older adults suffering from dementia by advancing clinical research in geriatrics, across disciplines and care settings. In addition the SIG-CRD aims to disseminate interdisciplinary, evidence-based clinical knowledge about the management of dementia in older adults. This meeting will feature a round-table discussion on the current controversies in dementia research and clinical care. We will focus on the complexity of managing aggression related to dementia at primary care, long-term care, and non-psychiatric hospital settings.

6:30 - 8:00 pm
Disaster Planning and Preparedness

Convention Center, Room: 303
Chair: Charles A. Cefalu, MD, MS
This new SIG will provide up-to-date, accurate, and useful information as well as guidance to all geriatric healthcare professionals regarding disaster planning and preparedness. It is open to health professionals who work with older adults in all geriatric health care sites, including acute, long term care, rehabilitation, and home settings.

6:30 - 8:00 pm
Ethnogeriatrics

Convention Center, Room: 211
Chair: Upinder Singh, MD, CMD, AGSF, FACP
This meeting is open to anyone with an interest in the relationship between aging, ethnicity and community research teams. Participants will find out what projects are being developed by the Ethnogeriatrics Committee and offer suggestions for future AGS symposia, and are welcome to bring any new ideas to this meeting. The group's endeavors are to find out challenges and practical solutions to providing appropriate care to different cultures and ethnicities in our diverse country.

6:30 - 8:00 pm
Society for General Internal Medicine Geriatrics (SGIM)

Convention Center, Room: 304
Chair: Hollis Day, MD, MS
The Society for General Internal Medicine Geriatrics Special Interest Group has traditionally been a source of collaborative activity between AGS and SGIM. This interest group will focus on ways to collaborate on developing workshops for the 2008 annual meetings of both societies as well as fostering ongoing collaborative efforts and better communication between the two groups. We welcome researchers, clinicians, and educators at all levels of training and expertise to our meeting.

SATURDAY, MAY 3

7:30 - 9:00 am
Elder Abuse and Neglect

Convention Center, Room: 307
Chair: Carmel B. Dyer, MD
The Elder Abuse and Neglect SIG is an interdisciplinary group of gerontologic professionals whose interests lie in the prevention and intervention of elder mistreatment. The group's agenda includes the advancement of clinical, education and research issues.

7:30 - 9:00 am
Information Technology Issues

Convention Center, Room: 307
Chair: F. Michael Gloth, III, MD
The Information Technology (IT) Issues Special Interest Group (IT Issues SIG) represents members of the American Geriatrics Society who see Electronic Health Records (EHR) as a means for improving medical care by reducing error rates, improving efficiency, augmenting communication, facilitating optimal reimbursement and decreasing expenses. The mission of the IT Issues SIG is to provide a venue for members with an active interest in Electronic Health Records to review new EHR developments, provide input into the progress of EHR in the area of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology, and to facilitate communication regarding EHR. The goals of the IT Issues SIG for the 2007 meeting are to 1) to identify interested persons and establish a contact a contact list, 2) to develop a framework for a symposium for the 2008 meeting and 3) to discuss presentations at the 2007 AGS meeting. Further discussion will address problems the current status of EHR nationwide and regionally with an emphasis on efforts underway to institute national standards and concerns about LTC. Additionally, the future role of the IT Issues SIG with regards to potential funding available to the AGS in this arena, a possible vendor event, and the leadership role of AGS regarding EHR in healthcare nationally.

7:30 - 9:00 am
International Activities

Convention Center, Room: 201
Chair: Liliana Oakes, MD
Any member with an interest in the development of international activities within the AGS should attend this meeting. The agenda will include a discussion of the proposed international symposium of aging around the world for the 2008 meeting. Issues of concern to the members of this SIG will also be addressed at that time.

7:30 - 9:00 am
Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Diseases

Convention Center, Room: 210
Chair: Kenneth W. Lyles, MD
Supported by an educational grant from Merck & Co., Inc.
The Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Diseases Special Interest Group (SIG) will meet to discuss future strategies to promote improved education and care with regards to bone loss in older adults. The meeting agenda will include developing a symposium topic for the 2008 meeting and establishing leadership for that program. Other agenda items will include venues for increased communication during the year among the SIG membership, other projects that may be useful in promoting better bone health among seniors, and clarification of the SIG's mission and goals. Anyone interested in participating in the Osteoporosis and Metabolic Bone Diseases SIG is invited to attend the meeting.

12:45-2:45 pm
Social Workers Luncheon
Pharmacists Luncheon
Residents Luncheon
Junior Faculty Research Career Development

3:00 - 4:30 pm
Health Professional Students

Convention Center, Room: 304
Chair: Joy G. Bang
All health professional students are encouraged to attend this special interest group meeting. Come and meet other students, discuss your own ideas about the field and future career opportunities.

Pre-registration for the 2008 AGS Annual Meeting closes next Monday, March 24th.
The AGS encourages you to register before Monday, March 24, to take advantage of our special discount rates for members. Submitting your registration form by Monday, March 24th will ensure that you receive the following benefits:

  • Discounted meeting registration fee
  • The opportunity to purchase tickets -- now -- for pre-conference sessions. (These tickets are going fast and may be sold-out if you wait to register on-site.)
  • Having your tickets for special events mailed to you before the meeting (enabling you to avoid long lines in Washington)
  • The ability to access the CME and evaluation form directly from your PDA or laptop during the meeting instead of waiting until you get home or completing it at the onsite kiosk

Click on the link below to register online or to access a hard copy of the registration form. http://www.americangeriatrics.org/news/meeting/2008/index.shtml

We look forward to seeing you in Washington, DC!

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Calling All Trainees, Fellows and Students for “Get Up and Go” Falls Prevention Program

Friday, May 2 - during the AGS Annual Scientific Meeting in Washington - the AGS’ Public Education Committee and the AGS/ADGAP Education Committee will be hosting "Get Up and Go: A Falls Prevention program" for older adults and their caregivers. The AGS needs trainee volunteers from all disciplines – fellows, residents, and students – to participate in this highly visible and unique activity to help older adults.

This exciting new event on falls prevention will take place in the West Hall of the famous, Union Station from 10 am - 7 pm. Trainees will provide seniors and their caregivers with free screenings to detect gait and balance problems, offer one-on-one education on falls prevention, answer questions, and raise public awareness about geriatrics and older adult health to some of the 90,000 visitors who pass through Union Station each day.

There's more! A workshop session for volunteers!
All volunteers should attend the Multidisciplinary Clinical Skills Workshop on May 1, 2008 at 12:30 pm. At this session, volunteers will participate in an interactive, hands-on program designed to help develop clinical skills relevant to the care of older adults. Up to 10 different skill stations will be available, one of which will be falls prevention and screening.

Volunteer Registration Form & Multidisciplinary Clinical Skills Workshop Registration
Please indicate your interest in this event by filling out this form and we will send you more information via email. Be sure to also sign-up for the Multidisciplinary Clinical Skills Workshop, which must be done through the Annual Meeting registration page. If you have any questions, please contact Li-Chia Ong at long@americangeriatrics.org or (212) 308-1414.

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Meet-the-Expert Sessions

We are very excited about the Meet-the-Expert sessions planned for this year's annual meeting in Washington, DC. These popular sessions allow participants to discuss current important topics in geriatrics with experts in small group settings. Below is a complete list of all the Meet-the-Expert sessions. There is no additional fee to attend these sessions.

THURSDAY, MAY 1, 2008
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
CPT Coding: Basic Principles and Practice
Peter Hollmann, MD

12:30 PM - 2:00 PM
Prostate Cancer in the Older Man
James S. Goodwin, MD

FRIDAY, MAY 2, 2008
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Get to Know YOUR AGS
Cheryl Phillips, MD, AGSF

7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Improving Health Literacy in Older Adults to Safeguard Patient Safety
Fred Kobylarz, MD, MPH & Alice Pomidor, MD, MPH

SATURDAY, MAY 3, 2008
7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
Using the PDA Version of Geriatrics At Your Fingertips (GAYF) in Teaching and Patient Care
Fred A. Kobylarz, MD, MPH

7:30 AM - 9:00 AM
The Benefits and Pitfalls of Screening in Very Frail Older Persons
Louise C. Walter, MD

9:30 Am - 11:00 AM
Heart Failure in Older Adults: A Cardiogeriatric Syndrome
Michael W. Rich, MD

11:15 Am - 12:45 PM
Using the PDA Version of Geriatrics At Your Fingertips (GAYF) in Teaching and Patient Care
Fred A. Kobylarz, MD, MPH

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Register for AGS's 2008 Congressional Visits Program
We invite Annual Meeting Attendees to participate in AGS' special election year Congressional Visits Program, which coincides with our April 30-May 4 2008 Annual Scientific Meeting in Washington, DC. Program participants schedule meetings with their Congressional representatives to discuss policy affecting elder healthcare. Although participants are responsible for arranging their own meetings with representatives, the AGS asks that you register for the event to receive helpful materials on how to schedule a visit, procedural tips on conducting a successful visit, the Society's legislative objectives, and get linked with other individuals from your district.

The AGS will hold a Member Advocacy Briefing Session, slated for Wednesday, April 30 from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM, for members participating in the program. Participants will be briefed on the issues they'll be discussing with their legislators and legislative staff and will also have an opportunity to meet other participants. A continental breakfast will be provided.

The AGS will also have an onsite Congressional Hill Visits Office this year where members can talk one-on-one with staff about upcoming visits, pick up any late-breaking briefing materials and/or tell the AGS how the visit went! We hope you'll join us in familiarizing lawmakers and their staff with geriatrics and why it is important to ensure that adequate numbers of these specialists and other healthcare professionals exist, in order to address the nation's aging population.

Register Now!

Those who register will receive templates to assist them with scheduling their visit. Closer to the meeting date, registrants will also receive briefing materials and talking points to ensure a successful meeting with their Congressmen.

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Other Public Policy Sessions at the 2008 Annual Meeting

State Affiliate Leadership and Advocacy Training
Wednesday, April 30 from 8:00 AM - 1:00 PM
Developed by the Council of State Affiliate Representatives (COSAR), this session will help state affiliate leaders and COSAR members hone their leadership and advocacy skills. Sessions will cover leadership administrative tips and tools for building a strong affiliate, as well as advocacy training, and a Congressional briefing. Breakfast and lunch will be provided.

CPT Coding: Basic Principles and Practice
Thursday, May 1, from 7:30 am - 9:00 am
Speaker, Peter Hollmann, MD will address important coding, documentation and billing/payment rules of the Medicare program, and will explain how to obtain proper reimbursement while following all regulations.

How Much Do You Know About Advocating For Public Policy Change Through Grassroots Efforts?: Geopoardy or Double Geopardy
Thursday, May 1, from 3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Moderator Charles A. Cefalu, MD, MS and speakers, Marie A. Bernard, MD and Christopher T. Cushing, Wolf Block Public Strategies, LLC, will discuss how health policy is made in Washington and who the key players are. It will provide attendees with the tools they need to communicate with their elected representatives and influence health policy related to geriatrics.

Public Policy Lecture
Friday, May 2, from 10:00 am - 11:00 am
As Executive Director and CEO of AARP, a membership organization of over 38 million people age 50 and older, Mr. Novelli's leadership and advocacy help older adults to have choice and control, and maintain independence in ways that are beneficial and affordable to them. In early 2007 AARP introduced their "Divided We Fail, Together We Can Do Anything" campaign, the largest advocacy campaign in its history, designed to address the health care system and long-term financial security. The campaign coincides with the 2008 presidential campaign to encourage public leaders to offer solutions. In this lecture, Mr. Novelli will discuss how to advance the highest quality health care for older adults, especially in light of the IOM Geriatrics Workforce Study which will be released in March 2008.

AGS Washington Update
Friday, May 2, 2008, from 12:45 PM - 2:15 PM

Speakers Steven Counsell, MD, AGSF, Chair, AGS Public Policy Committee and Christopher Cushing, WolfBlock Public Strategies, LLC will present the American Geriatrics Society's federal policy agenda and efforts, and will offer attendees an opportunity to discuss key issues on the legislative agenda with AGS staff and its federal lobbying firm.

Coding and Reimbursement: Stump the Professors
Saturday, May 3, 7:00 am - 2:30 pm

Peter Hollmann, MD will moderate the open workshop of AGS experts who will focus on answering your questions about CPT coding and billing, reimbursement rules and related practice management issues. Come prepared to try to "stump the professors".

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Special Public Policy Sessions: Additional Symposia

Release of the IOM Study on the Future Healthcare Workforce for Older Americans
Thursday, May 1, from 4:45 pm - 6:15 pm
The Institute of Medicine (IOM) has undertaken a consensus study entitled, The Future Healthcare Workforce for Older Americans, to be released in March 2008. The study will determine the healthcare needs of the rapidly growing and increasingly diverse older population, and then address those needs through a thorough analysis of the forces that shape the healthcare workforce, including education, training, modes of practice, and financing of public and private programs. Dr. Jack Rowe will present an overview of the IOM Study, and then a panel comprised of Dr. Rowe and other IOM Committee members will make focused comments (e.g. targeting the segment of the workforce they represent and/or their role on the panel). Then all will answer questions from the audience.

Federal Legislative Trends in Healthcare Impacting Older Adults
Friday, May 2, from 7:30 am - 9:00 am
Moderator Peter Hollmann, MD and Senior Congressional staff and counsels will discuss the hottest topics and bills on Capitol Hill regarding US healthcare impacting older Americans. Learning objectives: (1) identify the major trends currently affecting the U.S. system of health coverage; and (2) recognize the impact on senior patients and their providers of the current legislative efforts to improve U.S. healthcare. This session was developed by the Health, Economics & Technology Committee, the Public Policy Committee, and the Quality & Performance Measurement Committee.

Fighting Against Age Discrimination in Clinical Trials
Friday, May 2, from 12:45 pm -2:15 pm
Moderators Todd Semla, MS, PharmD and Jean-Pierre Michael, MD, along with speakers from the AGS, FDA, EUGMS and EMEA will discuss the need to include, and the difficulties of including, the oldest, sickest and frailest patients in drug trials.

Payment Reform and Patient Safety: How Does the Quality Agenda Improve Safety for the Elderly?
Saturday, May 3, from 9:30 am - 11:00 am
Moderator, Thomas L. Von Sternberg, MD, and panelists will review how CMS is changing its expectations regarding clinical outcomes and performance, focusing on initiatives involving patient safety and quality. The panel will also discuss how Pay for Performance initiatives could impact safety of the frail elderly and at risk patients in different settings. Learning objectives: (1) develop a clear understanding of quality and pay-for-performance initiatives that will impact and potentially improve the safety of the frail elderly and at-risk patients in hospital, nursing home and outpatient settings; (2) describe how CMS, health plans, hospitals and quality improvement organizations are changing their expectations for their physicians by implementing quality measures and standardization methods to improve health outcomes and the quality of care for their patients; and (3) contribute to the discussion of which quality measures can bring about change within the environment of care and improve patient safety.

This symposium was developed by the Health, Economics & Technology Committee; the Public Policy Committee; and the Quality & Performance Measurement Committee.

Medicare Tomorrow: Less Money, Better Quality?
Sunday, May 4, from 3:00 - 4:00 pm
Moderator, Belinda Vicioso, MD, and Paul McGann, MD; and Christopher Cushing, Executive Staff from CMS, will focus on the changes to the Medicare program and AGS' position with regard these changes. Learning objectives: (1) describe the changes occurring to each of the parts of Medicare - Parts A, B, C and D; (2) describe the pay-for-performance program and the particulars of the Physician Quality Reporting Initiative; and (3) identify the AGS positions with regards to the anticipated changes for the Medicare Program.

Developed jointly by the Health, Economics & Technology Committee; the Public Policy Committee; and the Quality & Performance Measurement Committee

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Registration reminder
Pre-registration for the 2008 AGS Annual Meeting closes Monday, March 24th The AGS encourages you to register before Monday, March 24, to take advantage of our special discount rates for members.

Click on the link below to register online or to access a hard copy of the registration form. http://www.americangeriatrics.org/news/meeting/2008/index.shtml

Members get a further discount on registration. If you're not yet a member or haven't yet renewed your membership, you can do so and register for the meeting simultaneously, and take advantage of the members' discount.

Pre-conference Programs
Wednesday, April 30

Pre-conference programs will be held at The Marriott Park Wardman Hotel in Washington, D.C. on April 30, the day before the official start of the 2008 Annual Scientific Meeting. These pre-conference programs are expanded sessions that cover several current and hot topics that impact how we care for the older adult population. Below are a few highlights:

Fellowship Director's Pre-Conference Course
10:00 am - 5:30 pm
The role of the geriatrics fellowship director is complex and involves a variety of activities and responsibilities. Most, if not all geriatricians who take on this role, have little to no formal instruction or preparation when they begin. This session will present practical instruction for both new and seasoned fellowship directors. Additional fee session: $85

Intervention and Prevention of Elder Mistreatment: Policy and Practical Implications for Practitioners
1:00 pm - 5:30 pm
This pre-conference session is for those who wish to enhance their knowledge and skills in advocating for improvements in elder abuse interventions, including an interdisciplinary approach, comprehensive legislation, and increased research.
Additional fee session: $85

Palliative Care Boot Camp: A Skill Based Workshop for Multidisciplinary Clinicians
1:00 - 5:30 pm
This session will present information on management of nociceptive pain, neuropathic pain, and pharmacotherapy of dyspnea, nausea/vomiting, and common affective symptoms in a palliative care situation.
Additional fee session: $85

How to Survive in Geriatrics Private Practice
1:00 - 5:30 pm
This program will describe various methods for a successful private practice in geriatrics. Speakers will discuss the importance of a comprehensive business plan and budget; important operational issues such as coding and goal setting; and the practical implications of effective billing processes.
Additional fee session: $85

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Top Five Reasons To Attend The 2008 Annual Meeting Are……

Symposia
This year's impressive selection includes Death by Neglect: What Healthcare Providers Need to Know; What Every Geriatrician and Geriatric Health Provider Needs to Know About Medicare Advantage Special Needs Plan; Regional Differences in Management of Medicare LTC Quality Indicators and Implications for Geriatric Practice; Osteoporosis: Advances and Controversies; NIA/NIH Symposium on Cognitive Aging; Preventive Medicine and Life Style Modification.

An Evening with Friends
Thursday, May 1, 8:00 to 10:00 pm
Evening with Friends, AGS' annual benefit to support students in all health disciplines attending the annual meeting will be held on Thursday, May 1st from 8:00 to 10:00 pm. Plan to join the Society leadership in this star-studded night of music provided by Phil Sloane and his merry band of troubadours, dance, and fun. Proceeds from the event will support the FHA Student Researcher Fund, which provides travel expenses for students in all health professional disciplines whose research has been accepted for presentation at the AGS 2008 Annual Meeting.

Henderson State-of-the-Art Lecture
Thursday, May 1, 9:30 - 10:30 am
Linda P. Fried, MD, MPH, AGS member and Director of the Center on Aging and Health, Director of the Division of Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology and the Director of the Training Program in Clinical and Population-based Research on Aging at the Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions, is the 2008 recipient of the Edward Henderson Award and will give the State-of-the-Art lecture where he will discuss frailty and aging.

Workshops
The AGS Annual Meeting features over a dozen workshops presenting interactive forums on innovative topics in geriatrics. Some of these topics are Cross-Cultural Communication for End-of-Life Care, House Calls for Academic Programs and Practice, Teaching Physical Diagnosis in Older Adults, and Translating Dementia Discovery to Dementia Delivery.

AGS Presidential Reception
Thursday May 1, 6:30 pm to 7:30 pm
The Presidential Reception is a terrific networking opportunity for you and your colleagues. The reception will feature cocktails, light hors d'oeuvre and conversation. Please join us!

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A Room for AGS' April 30- May 4 Annual Scientific Meeting Now --And Qualify for a Discount on Lodging
Reserve your hotel room for AGS' April 30- May 4 Annual Scientific Meeting early, and you can qualify for special group rates at DC-area hotels.

The Marriott Wardman Park Hotel (headquarters for the meeting) and The Onmi Shoreham Hotel are both offering a limited number of rooms at the following group rates to AGS Annual Scientific Meeting attendees:

  • The Marriott Wardman Park Hotel: $242/night for single/double occupancy, $272/night for triple occupancy and $302/night for quad occupancy (rates do not include tax)

  • The Onmi Shoreham Hotel: $225/night for single occupancy, $245/night for double occupancy, $265/night for triple occupancy, and $285/night for quad occupancy (rates do not include tax)

A limited number of rooms at each hotel will be available to attendees on a first-come, first-served basis until rooms are gone or until March 28.

A deposit of the first night's room fee and tax is required to guarantee a reservation. After March 28, we cannot guarantee the price or availability of rooms. To make reservations, please contact The Marriott Wardman Park Hotel directly (202) 328-2000 or the The Onmi Shoreham Hotel directly (202) 234-0700, and identify yourself as an AGS attendee, or visit www.americangeriatrics.org. You'll find additional information about DC hotels and rates, including information on how to reserve a room, on the site.

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Pre-Registration for AGS' 2008 Annual Meeting Scientific Meeting Now Open
Pre-registration for the 2008 AGS Annual Scientific Meeting is now open. Pre-registering for the Annual Meeting will save you time and money! Submit your registration form by March 24th to receive the following benefits:

  • Discounted meeting registration fee

  • The opportunity to purchase tickets -- now -- for pre-conference sessions. (These tickets are going fast and may be sold-out if you wait to register on-site.)

  • Having your tickets for special events mailed to you before the meeting (enabling you to avoid long lines in Washington)

  • The ability to access the CME and evaluation form directly from your PDA or laptop during the meeting instead of waiting until you get home or completing it at the onsite kiosk

Click on the link below to register online or to access a hard copy of the registration form. http://www.americangeriatrics.org/news/meeting/2008/index.shtml

Members get a further discount on registration. If you're not yet a member or haven't yet renewed your membership, you can do so and register for the meeting simultaneously, and take advantage of the members' discount.

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DC Sights

United States Botanic Garden
This lesser-known DC attraction sits right on the Capitol grounds and houses some 4,000 different plant species. Popular features include the medicinal plants collection, the orchid collection, a rose garden, a butterfly garden, and the First Ladies’ Water Garden. Check at the Visitors Desk to see if a highlight tour will be offered on the day of your visit.

National Museum of the American Indian, and World War II Memorial
Both of these museums have opened since AGS’ last annual meeting in D.C. Renowned for its curvilinear architecture, the Museum of the American Indian displays more than 8,000 pieces from hundreds of Native American tribes and nations. The World War II Memorial, just down the Mall, honors the 16 million who served in the US armed forces and the more than 400,000 who died in the war, as well as those who supported the war effort from home.

Union Station
Union Station is one of DC’s most popular attractions. This historic and beautiful station is filled with galleries, boutiques, specialty shops and restaurants -- great places to browse, relax and people-watch. Stop by the east hall, an area similar to London’s Covent Garden, where vendors sell a variety of ethnic products in open stalls.

On Friday, May 2, 10:00 am to 7pm, come visit Get Up and Go: A Falls Prevention Program where volunteers from the American Geriatrics Society will be on hand to provide free screenings and educational materials to the public. Look for us in the West Hall!

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United States Holocaust Memorial Museum
Profound and powerful, the Holocaust Memorial Museum tells the stories of the millions killed by the Nazis between 1933 and 1945. It includes numerous exhibitions, artworks, publications, and artifacts relating to the Holocaust. The museum’s Hall of Remembrance provides a space for quiet reflection. (Please note: the museum is not recommended for children under 11.)

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National Air and Space Museum
Want to touch the moon? Visit the National Air and Space Museum. This popular museum explores all aspects of aviation, from the first attempts at air flight to the exploration of space. See hundreds of interesting artifacts from aviation history, including Wright Brothers’ "Spirit of St. Louis," the Apollo 11 command module, and a lunar rock sample that visitors can touch. To get a taste of what it’s like to be an astronaut, stop at the gift shop, which sells freeze-dried "Space Food", including ice cream sandwiches and pizza.

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National Museum of Natural History
Bones, fossils, exotic taxidermied animals and other natural wonders fill the National Museum of Natural History, one of the world’s leading natural history museums. The Dinosaur Hall is one of the most popular exhibits, with a variety of fossilized skeletons, including one of a 90-foot-long diplodocus. Don’t miss the interactive exhibits, including the Discovery Room, filled with elephant tusks, petrified wood, seashells, rocks, feathers, and other items that can be handled, and the O. Orkin Insect Zoo, which features a walk through a recreated rain forest that’s home to at least 60 species of live insects.

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The National Mall
Grab your camera and head for The National Mall. Ringing this two-and-a-half mile stretch of tree-lined parkland, you’ll find many D.C. icons. These include the Lincoln Memorial, the Capitol, and most of the Smithsonian Institution museums. The White House, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, World War II Memorial, Jefferson Memorial, and the Tidal Basin are all just steps away.

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National Gallery of Art, East and West Buildings
One of the most popular of the Smithsonian Institution museums, the National Gallery of Art is a must-see for the art enthusiast. For those who prefer modern art, the East Building, with works by the likes of Picasso and Pollack, is the best place to start. The West Building, a gift to the nation by financier Andrew Mellon, contains masterpieces from the 13th through 20th centuries, including Ginevra de’Benci, the only painting by Leonardo da Vinci in the Western Hemisphere. Classical music devotees should be sure to attend the Sunday concert series in the West Garden Court.

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National Zoological Park
Washington DC is beautiful in May, so spend some time outdoors - at the National Zoo. You can visit the zoo's panda family; trek through a recreation of the rain forests of Amazonia; and watch the orangutans swing from ropes and towers above the zoo's walkways. Don't forget the Komodo dragons!

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National Museum of Health and Medicine
This museum includes displays you won’t find elsewhere, including the bullet that killed Abraham Lincoln, and all sorts of artifacts and instruments important in the development of medicine. Some displays are interactive, like the one including a “pregnancy suit” you can try on to get a sense of how it feels to be on the brink of delivering, and the brain coated in plastic that curiosity seekers can touch. Hungry yet? The hospital café (open from 12 noon to 2 pm) is a short walk away and offers a variety of dishes at affordable prices.

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Kennedy Center: Millennium Stage
Interested in concerts and live performances? Enjoy a free performance at the Kennedy Center. As part of the "Performing Arts for Everyone" initiative, there's a special no-tickets-required show on the Millennium Stage every day at 6 P.M. A range of art forms are featured. Visit www.kennedy-center.org/programs for a schedule of upcoming performances.

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Get Acquainted with DC's Historic Georgetown During AGS' Annual Scientific Meeting
What to do during breaks between AGS' Annual Scientific Meeting sessions in DC this spring? Consider taking a stroll through historic Georgetown, Washington DC's oldest neighborhood. Browse the upscale shops and take in the elegant architecture or walk through the campus of Georgetown University, one of America's most prestigious colleges. After all that walking, enjoy one of Georgetown's many cafes and restaurants.

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