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Here you will find the latest news related to the 2009 Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago. Just click on the article title to see the full story.
This Week's Meeting News
Chicago Sights
More Meeting Highlights
Reserve A Room for AGS' April 29 -- May 2 Annual Scientific Meeting Now -- And Qualify for a Discount on Lodging
Pre-register Now for the 2009 AGS Annual Scientific Meeting; Do It By March 27 And Qualify for Discount, Other Benefits
Other Chicago Sights
2009 AGS Annual Meeting Handout Site is Now Live!
The 2009 AGS Annual Meeting is less than 2 weeks away and the handout site is now live! Download and print handouts for sessions that you plan to attend at the 2009 AGS Annual Meeting. Please note, as with past meetings, not all speakers chose to submit handouts. The database will alert you to those speakers who have not submitted handouts, as well as to those who plan to distribute hard-copy handouts at their sessions. This handout site will be available through June 30, 2009.
We are also pleased to announce that for the 2009 Annual Meeting, we will be providing all meeting attendees with a CD-ROM containing speaker handouts. Conference attendees frequently cite the value of handouts as an important asset that enhances learning during the meeting and is useful for subsequent review and reference.
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Oprah Winfrey
While it's not easy to score tickets to the Oprah Winfrey Show, it is possible. The Oprah reservation line accepts ticket requests just one day a month for the following month's shows, so be prepared to spend some time on the phone. Visit this site for a detailed but straightforward explanation of the ticket request process. Good luck!
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Call for Proposals for AGS' 2010 Annual Scientific
The American Geriatrics Society's (AGS's) Annual Meeting Program Committee invites you to submit proposals for the 2010 AGS Annual Scientific Meeting, which will be held May 12-15, 2010 in Orlando, FL. Completed program proposals must be submitted by June 5, 2009. Please submit your 2010 proposal through our online submission site: (http://www.frycomm.com/ags/proposals/index.asp).
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Pre-Registration Rate Extended!
The deadline to pre-register for the 2009 AGS Annual Meeting has been extended! Register by April 17, 2009 to get the reduced meeting registration rate. This year's Annual Meeting promises to be one of the best yet. Visit the AGS Annual Meeting webpage for more information or to register online. Register today!
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Pre-registration closing soon!
There are only 4 days left to save on your meeting registration fee! Pre-registration for the 2009 AGS Annual Meeting closes on Friday, March 27th. The AGS encourages you to register before March 27, to take advantage of our special discount rates for members. Register online or access a hard copy of the registration form.
We look forward to seeing you in Chicago!
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Calling All AGS Meeting Attendees: Sign Up to Volunteer for the 2nd Annual "Get Up and Go" Falls Prevention Program
Friday, May 1 & Saturday, May 2 - during the AGS Annual Scientific Meeting in Chicago - the AGS' Public Education Committee and the AGS/ADGAP Education Committee will be hosting the second annual "Get Up and Go: A Falls Prevention Program" for older adults and their caregivers. The AGS needs volunteers from all disciplines, including trainees, to participate in two days of highly visible and unique activities to help older adults.
This exciting event on falls prevention will take place in Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital from 10 am - 12 pm on Friday, May 1, and again from 10 am - 2 pm at historic Navy Pier's Gateway Park on Saturday, May 2. Volunteers will provide older adults 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 the unique health care needs of older adults to thousands of people who pass through the hospital and the Navy Pier each day.
There's more! A session for volunteers!
Volunteers are encouraged to attend the Volunteer Orientation and Workshop on April 30 at 12:30 pm in Soldier Field Room. Trainees (fellows, residents, and students) are required to attend the Workshop to learn how to conduct the Timed Up and Go screening. At this session, volunteers will receive their event T-shirt and information packets for the "Get up and Go" event.
Volunteer Registration Form
All interested meeting attendees should complete the online registration form and we will send you more information via email.
If you have any questions, please contact Li-Chia Ong at long@americangeriatrics.org or (212) 308-1414.
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Making Your Travel Plans: Travel and Hotel Information
We would like to remind you to reserve your room at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, the headquarters for the AGS Annual Scientific Meeting, before April 7 in order to take advantage of our special group rate of $197 per night + tax. To make reservations, please contact The Hyatt Regency Chicago directly 1-888-421-1442 and identify yourself as an AGS attendee, or visit http://www.americangeriatrics.org/news/meeting/2009/hotel_information.shtml. Please make your travel and lodging arrangements now to avoid higher prices and room shortages. We look forward to seeing you in Chicago!
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Register today!
It's only 7 weeks until the 2009 AGS Annual Meeting in Chicago! Registering today will save you time and money. But act fast because the discounted pre-registration meeting rate is only available through March 27. Register now!
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Eat, Drink, Be Merry at "An Evening With Friends" - and Help A Student-Researcher Attend the 2009 Annual Meeting; Tickets Are Going Fast, So Reserve Yours Now
More than 250 AGS members, friends and supporters enjoyed last year's sold-out "An Evening With Friends" benefit -- and raised over $30,000 that helped 126 promising student-researchers attend the Society's 2008 Annual Scientific Meeting and learn more about geriatrics.
Now's your chance to reserve tickets for this year's "An Evening With Friends" -- slated for April 30 during the 2009 Annual Meeting in Chicago, IL -- and help a new group of students attend the meeting and learn about the field. A perennial highlight of AGS' annual meetings, "An Evening With Friends" benefits the AGS Foundation for Health in Aging's Student Researcher Fund, which offsets travel expenses for students invited to present their geriatrics research at a special student poster session during the meeting.
Advance registration for "An Evening With Friends," which runs from 8 to 10 pm, is required. Admission is $85 and covers entertainment, an open bar, and an irresistible array of desserts. The 8-piece Blooze Brothers Band will be performing music from the 40’s to Top 10, Swing, Motown, Soul, R & B, Classic Rock, Original music from the band, and of course the music and crazy antics of the original Blues Brothers. The evening will also showcase the improv talents of the Titanic Players, which includes Marie Semla, daughter of AGS Chair, Todd Semla, MS, PharmD.
If you still need to register for the annual meeting click here you have already registered for the meeting and would like to add a Donation or Evening with Friends Ticket please click here.
Sponsor-A-Student is back again this year! For just $500 - you can not only support a student who is presenting at the meeting, but mentor one as well! We will match you with a student attendee, providing contact information and career interests, before the meeting. If you're interested in sponsoring and mentoring a student, please email Li-Chia Ong at long@americangeriatrics.org.
If you can't attend EWF or sponsor a student, but would still like to support our student-researchers, you can make a donation directly to the fund. Ticket purchases and donations can be made online. For further information, contact Li-Chia Ong.
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Special Interest Groups
These popular grassroots groups meet during the May annual meeting to networking and discuss areas of mutual interest. Special Interest Groups (SIGs) are open to all AGS members with an interest in the area their area of focus, so please feel free to attend any of the following SIGs:
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 29
5:45 - 7:00 pm
The Cochrane Collaboration: Health Care of Older People Field
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
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, APRIL 30
7:30 - 9:00 am
Acute Hospital Care
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.
7:30 - 9:00 am
Long-term Care
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.
7:30 - 9:00 am
Veterans Health Administration
All VHA staff attending the AGS Annual Meeting are invited to participate in this special meeting. 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
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
Program of All Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE)
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.
12:30 - 2:00 pm
Rehabilitation
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.
2:15 - 3:45 pm
DOs in Geriatrics
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.
2:15 - 3:45 pm
Medical Humanities
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. The 2009 session will provide examples of how narrative methods can be used to elicit patient and family health care goals, enhance interdisciplinary teams, teach geriatric principles, and assess the integration of geriatrics into the medical school curriculum.
2:15 - 3:45 pm
Needs of Older Gay and Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Persons
Geriatrics has not yet fully considered the needs of older gay and lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons. This interest group intends to initiate a more formal analysis and observation of these needs.
FRIDAY, MAY 1
7:30 - 9:00 am
Family Physicians in Geriatrics
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
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.
7:30 - 9:00 am
Geriatric Rheumatology and Musculoskeletal Aging
This Special Interest Group will provide a better understanding of musculoskeletal and immune system aging and its effect on frailty and disability, and to improve the care of the elderly with musculoskeletal and rheumatic diseases.
7:30 - 9:00 am
Hospital Elder Life Program (HELP)
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. 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.
1:00 - 2:30 pm
Healthcare for Low-Income Seniors
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.
1:00 - 2:30 pm
Private Practice Providers in Geriatrics
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.
1:00 - 2:30 pm
AGS/SGIM Polypharmacy
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.
6:30 - 8:00 pm
Clinical Research in Dementia
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
This 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
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
Health Professional Students
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.
6:30 - 8:00 pm
Society for General Internal Medicine Geriatrics (SGIM)
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 2010 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 2
7:30 - 9:00am
Residents
All residents are encouraged to attend this special interest group meeting and luncheon. Come and meet other residents and discuss your own ideas about the field and ways to get more involved in AGS.
7:30 - 9:00 am
Elder Abuse and Neglect
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
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
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 2010 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
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 2010 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.
12:45 - 2:45 pm
Junior Faculty Research Career Development
This session will provide the opportunity for junior faculty, fellows, and students to informally meet over lunch with senior faculty and leaders in aging. Participants are encouraged to discuss research interests, academic career development, career choices, job opportunities, and/or other topics pertinent to junior faculty development.
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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 Chicago. 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, APRIL 30
7:30 - 9:00 am
CPT Coding: Basic Principles and Practice
Peter Hollmann, MD
2:15 - 3:45 pm
Geriatric Practice Management 101: Survival Techniques
Speakers: Jay Slotkin, MD, MPH, CMD; Michael R. Wasserman, MD; Michael H. Lewensohn
FRIDAY, MAY 1
2:45 - 4:15 pm
Update on Pay for Performance - OK, How Much Can I Get Paid for Doing the Right Thing?
Speaker: Tom von Sternberg, MD
SATURDAY, MAY 2
9:30 - 11:00 AM
Gadgets and Gizmos: State of the Art Technologies Available for Older Adults
Speaker: Victor A. Hirth, MD, MHA
11:15 AM - 12:45 PM
Medical Management of HIV in Older Patients
Speakers: Kevin P. High, MD, MS; Wayne C. McCormick, MD, MPH; Kelly A. Gebo, MD, MPH
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Pre-conference Sessions:
Fellowship Directors' Pre-Conference Course
Wednesday, April 29, 10:00 am - 5:30 pm
Additional fee session: $85
This session will present practical instruction for both new and seasoned fellowship directors. It will include presentations from FM and IM RRC members and the ADGAP SIG Business Meeting.
Using the AGS Annual Meeting to Facilitate Practice Improvement
Wednesday, April 29, 1:00 - 5:30 pm
Additional fee session: $85
This session is intended for those attendees who wish to enhance their knowledge of quality improvement and would like to implement changes in their practice that will affect the care they provide. Participants will chose a clinical track (Falls or Cardiovascular Disease) that they would like to focus improvement on during the meeting. They will audit their own medical records before the meeting to understand the need for improvement. During the session, participants will develop a quality improvement plan, and will then participate in activities during the annual meeting that will enhance their management of the target condition of interest. Approximately 6 months after the meeting participants will again audit their own medical records to evaluate the effect of the intervention.
Latest Updates in Hospice & Palliative Medicine: A Skill Based Hands-on Workshop for Interdisciplinary Clinicians
Wednesday, April 29, 1:00 - 5:30 pm
Additional fee session: $85
This skill based pre-conference session will use principles of problem-based learning and case-based learning to discuss common clinical problems encountered in providing palliative care for older adults with serious life limiting illnesses. Interactivity will be stressed using immersion learning principles aimed at having the learner grapple with real-life based clinical problems in small groups to enhance their ability to understand and retain material. The presenters will solve each problem with the large group after the small groups have worked on it. It is anticipated that attendees will solve about 25 cases during the course of the afternoon. Presenters will also offer tips and clinical pearls to the learners on an ongoing basis during the session.
Never Events and Value Based Purchasing - The Case for Geriatrics
Wednesday, April 29, 1:00 - 5:30 pm
Additional fee session: $85
This session will provide an overview of CMS processes (HACs and MCC DRGs) and Leapfrog's "never events". It will also focus on the role that geriatrics healthcare providers can play in preventing HACs and will look at a specific HAC (falls) and explore what does preventable mean and does being usually preventable matter? The session will conclude with a talk focusing on staffing models, systems, and education for purposes of eliminating never events and HACs.
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Top Five Reasons To Attend The 2009 Annual Meeting Are……
Clinical Content
The 2009 annual meeting will include more clinical content than ever before! The Program Committee developed an exciting program that will present high quality clinical and scientific content to our diverse audience. Based on feedback we received from AGS members and past meeting attendees, the Program Committee made a concerted effort to include more clinically focused sessions, and to include information that attendees can apply directly to their practices. This year's impressive selection includes sessions focusing on: anticoagulation, osteoporosis treatment, infectious disease, chronic kidney disease, pneumonia treatment and pharmacotherapy.
Plenary Lectures
To open the meeting, Mary Naylor, RN, PhD, Professor in Gerontology at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing and Director of the New Courtland Center for Transitions and Health will give the Henderson State-of-the-Art lecture where she will present the case for evidence-based transitional care and provide a roadmap for translation of proven transitional care models into the real world of clinical practice. To close the annual meeting, William J. Hall, MD, MACP, Professor of Medicine, Center for Healthy Aging, University of Rochester School of Medicine, will present the best articles selected from a review of approximately 30 peer-reviewed journals January-December, 2008. An emphasis will be placed on clinical advances in caring for older adults.
Workshops
The AGS Annual Meeting features over a dozen workshops presenting interactive forums on innovative topics in geriatrics. These engaging workshops include sessions focused on Multidisciplinary Clinical Skills, Education Materials and Methods Swap, Research Programs and Issues, Constructing Quality Indicators for the Care of Older Patients Visiting Emergence Departments, Caring for the Hospitalized Older Adult, and Managing Sleep Disturbances.
Network with Colleagues
Share ideas and experiences with friends and colleagues from all over the world. Meeting attendees will have many wonderful opportunities to network including the Presidential Poster Session Reception, Special Interest Group and Section Meetings scheduled throughout the meeting.
An Evening with Friends
Thursday, April 30, 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, April 30th from 8:00 to 10:00 pm. Plan to join the Society leadership in this star-studded night of music, 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 2009 Annual Meeting.
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Reserve A Room for AGS' April 29 -- May 2 Annual Scientific Meeting Now -- And Qualify for a Discount on Lodging
Reserve your hotel room for AGS' April 29 - May 2 Annual Scientific Meeting early, and you can qualify for a special group rate at the Hyatt Regency Chicago, the headquarters for the meeting. The Hyatt Regency Chicago is offering a limited number of rooms to AGS Annual Scientific Meeting attendees at the special group rate of $197 per night + tax. A limited number of rooms are available to attendees on a first-come, first-served basis until rooms are gone or until April 7.
A deposit of the first night's room fee and tax is required to guarantee a reservation. After April 7, we cannot guarantee the price or availability of rooms. To make reservations, please contact The Hyatt Regency Chicago directly 1-888-421-1442 and identify yourself as an AGS attendee, or visit http://www.americangeriatrics.org/news/meeting/2009/hotel_information.shtml.
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Pre-register Now for the 2009 AGS Annual Scientific Meeting; Do It By March 27 And Qualify for Discount, Other Benefits
Pre-registration for AGS' 2009 AGS Annual Scientific Meeting - slated for April 29 - May 2 in Chicago - is now open. Pre-registering for the Annual Meeting will save you time and money! Submitting your registration form by March 27 qualifies you for several benefits:
- You'll get a discount on the meeting registration fee
- Your meeting badge and tickets for special events will be mailed to you before the meeting, so you won't have to wait in long lines in Chicago to process your registration
- You'll boost your odds of getting tickets for pre-conference sessions. Tickets are available now, but they're going fast. Sessions may be sold-out if you wait to register on-site.
Click on http://www.americangeriatrics.org/news/meeting/2009/advance_program.shtml to register online or access a hard copy of the registration form.
We look forward to seeing you in Chicago!
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Sears Tower
Check out the view from the Sears Tower Skydeck, 1353 feet above ground. On a clear day, you can see up to 80 miles in any direction. The renovated Skydeck includes a new multimedia exhibit; murals and interactive special effects highlight Chicago’s history, historic landmarks, memorable events, sports teams, artists and writers. The Skydeck is open from 9 am to 11 pm every day and is handicapped accessible. Visit www.searstower.com for more information.
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Blackbird Restaurant
Hungry again? Try Blackbird, 619 West Randolph Street, (312) 715-0708. Located along the West Loop’s booming “Restaurant Row,” Blackbird features the cooking of Chef Paul Kahan, a James Beard nominee for Outstanding Chef in 2007 and winner of James Beard Best Chef of the Midwest in 2004. The restaurant serves contemporary American cuisine, relying on ultra-fresh produce and simple preparation. Open for lunch Monday through Friday, 11:30 am to 2:00 pm; dinner Monday through Thursday, 5:30 to 10:30 pm; and dinner Friday and Saturday, 5:30 to 11:30 pm. Accepts AX, DC, DI, MC, OP, VI.
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Navy Pier
Tour the Navy Pier (link to: www.navypier.com), a Chicago landmark that includes more than 50 acres of parks, gardens, shops and restaurants. Ride the 150 foot-high Ferris Wheel or the old-fashioned musical Carousal, or visit the Chicago Children’s Museum or Skyline Stage. Refuel at one of the Pier’s numerous restaurants. The Pier is located on the city’s lakefront and is open from 10 am to 10 pm Monday through Thursday and from 10 am to 12 am on Friday and Saturday. Navy Pier, 600 East Grand Avenue.
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Lincoln Park Zoo
More than 1,200 species of animals live at the Lincoln Park Zoo, which is dedicated to protecting wildlife and teaching conservation. Favorite visitor destinations include the Penguin and Seabird House, the Sea Lion Pool, and the Great Ape House, which is considered one of the finest gorilla exhibits in the world. The zoo, the nation’s oldest, is open from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm daily and admission is free. Visit the zoo Web site for more information.
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Charlie Trotter's
Hungry? The renowned Charlie Trotter’s serves up cuisine melding French techniques and Asian influences. Charlie Trotter was named Outstanding Chef in America in 1999 by the James Beard Foundation and Trotter’s has been named one of Restaurant Magazine’s ‘World’s 50 Best Restaurants' each of the past five years. The restaurant is open for dinner Tuesday through Thursday from 5:30 to 10 pm and Friday and Saturday, from 6:00 to 10:00 pm. Reservations are required. Accepts AX, CB, DC, DI, MC, VI.
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Chicago Botanical Gardens
Visit the Chicago Botanical Gardens and explore 385 acres of magnificent and diverse gardens. These include a romantic English garden, a quiet Japanese paradise, a cascading 45-foot Waterfall Garden, and an Endangered Species Garden. The Gardens are open from 8 am to sunset daily, and admission is free. Visit the Garden Web site for more information.
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Magnificent Mile
The stretch of North Michigan Avenue known as the "Magnificent Mile" is an upscale shopping district with more than 60 well-known retail establishments. There's something along this stretch for everyone. In addition to shops there are restaurants to suit everyone's taste.
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Wrigley Field
Root, root, root for the home team at historic Wrigley Field, home of the Chicago Cubs. A spring trip to Chicago provides the perfect opportunity to catch a game at Major League Baseball's second-oldest ballpark. Serendipitously, the 2009 AGS Annual Scientific Meeting coincides with a four game Cubs homestand against the Florida Marlins. For ticket information, visit www.cubs.com.
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Experience “Obama tourism”
Barack Obama's election has created a tourism boom at the Chicago-area businesses and institutions he's known to frequent. Visitors can sample the President’s favorite restaurants, bookstore, and other haunts, and even get a trim at his old neighborhood barber shop.
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Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art
Be sure to visit the Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, one of the country’s largest museums devoted to art created after 1945. Enjoy contemporary painting, sculpture, photography, video, film and performance. Don’t miss the museum’s terraced sculpture garden, which affords a stunning view of Lake Michigan. Check the museum's Web site for details on upcoming exhibitions.
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The Art Institute of Chicago
Located on Chicago’s famous downtown “Loop,” The Art Institute of Chicago is home to more than 300,000 works of art, including such masterpieces as Georges Seraut’s A Sunday Afternoon on La Grand Jatte – 1884, Edward Hopper’s Nighthawks, and 33 paintings by Claude Monet. Visit the institute's Web site for hours and information on upcoming exhibits.
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