A popular option amongst physician assistants (PAs) looking to earn Physician Assistant CME credits is attending physician assistant CME conferences. Conferences are a great way for PAs to meet their CME requirements of 100 CME credits, while also expanding their knowledge around their specific focus area.
In addition, these conferences will often be held in a luxurious vacation destination. The life of a PA can be quite stressful so holding the conferences in enjoyable and relaxing vacation spots such as Hawaii, Los Angeles, Florida, etc. gives PAs a great opportunity to get away from their stressful day to day lifestyle for a bit when meeting their professional requirements.
Finding the right Physician Assistant Conference can be difficult so we have compiled a list of the top 3 conferences that PAs can attend in 2019 to meet their CME requirements.
American Academy of Physician Assistants (AAPA) 2019 Annual Meeting
The AAPA 2019 Annual Meeting is being described as the “world’s largest PA conference”. The Conference will take place at the Colorado Convention Center in Denver, CO from May 18-22, 2018.
PAs who attend this conference can earn up to 35 AAPA Category 1 CME creditsTM depending on which sessions they choose to attend. There are various sessions that take place at this conference including:
- Fast Fifteen Sessions
- Meet the Expert Sessions
- Speak Like a Pro Sessions
- Hands-On Workshops
Fast Fifteen Sessions
The fast fifteen sessions are specialty focused 15-minute sessions that are followed by a 15-minute q&a. This was a new session introduced at the 2018 AAPA Annual Meeting. This gives PAs a good opportunity to get quick insights into topics and specialties most relevant to them.
Meet the Expert Sessions
Meet the Expert Sessions are specialty focused topics that are targeted towards PAs who have specialized in their specific specialty for at least 5 years. These sessions feature both lecture-based and case-based content. They are run by professional facilitators and leading experts in various specialties and topics pertinent to PAs.
Speak Like a Pro (SLaP) Sessions
Speak Like a Pro Sessions are is a professional development session that is designed for Physician Assistants who want to improve their speaking skills. During these sessions, PAs will have to make presentations that will be videotaped and reviewed by experts. Communication skills are an integral part of being a good PA and these sessions are a great way to hone these skills.
Hands-on Workshops
The conference offers several hands-on workshops that are designed to improve various clinical skills important to physician assistants such as reading EKGs. There is a wide range of workshops covering multiple real-life situations so there is something for every PA, regardless of the specialty they focus in.
The AAPA 2019 Annual Meeting will host various physician assistants across the country who are eager to learn and improve various skills ranging from clinical skills to communication skills. It also provides a great opportunity to earn CME credits that will count toward meeting a PA’s recertification requirements.
There are various registration costs for this conference that depends on your members status and when you register. Click here for all registration costs.
7th Annual Primary Care Winter Conference
The 7th Annual Primary Care Winter Conference is part of the Continuing Education Company’s Primary Conference CME Series, which is designed to “update primary care clinicians in rapidly changing therapeutic areas”. The Winter Conference will be held from February 18-22, 2018 in Ka’anapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii.
By attending this program, physician assistants can earn a total of 35 CME credits. You will earn 20 CME credits by attending the conference and attendees are also given a free online CME course from CME365 that offers up to 15 CME credits.
In addition to earning CME credits, this conference is a great way to improve your skills as a physician assistant. According to the Continuing Education Company, after attending the conference physician assistants will better be able to:
- Assess and provide patients with an accurate diagnosis and optimal care for a broad range of disorders seen in primary care.
- Utilize current guidelines in the diagnosis and management of commonly encountered therapeutic issues.
- Formulate comprehensive evidence-based interventions and treatment strategies that will lead to the reduction of modifiable risk factors and improved long-term outcomes.
There are numerous sessions at this conference that physician assistants can attend to improve their overall performance and patient care. Given that there is a wide range of specialties PAs focus on, the conferences offer sessions covering many different topics. Some examples of courses offered at the conference include:
- Update in Heart Failure
- Skin Cancer Essentials: Recognition, Treatment, and Prevention
- COPD: Beyond Inhalers
- Cardiovascular Disease in Type 2 Diabetes
Also, with the conference being located in Ka’anapali Beach, Maui, Hawaii, PAs are given a great opportunity to relax and get away from their hectic and often stressful day to day lives. The town often referred to as “the jewel in Maui’s crown” offers plenty of fun activities for visitors including dinner shows, feasts, snorkeling, and scubaing.
Registration for this conference costs $625 for physician assistants. Click here for complete registration details.
Providing Better Patient Care in 2019
Providing Better Patient Care in 2019 will be hosted by University Learning Systems in Las Vegas, NV from February 27, 2019 – March 1, 2019.
Physician assistants can earn up to 15 CME credits by attending multiple sessions covering various relevant topics that will help PAs deliver improved care to their patients. Some examples of sessions offered at the conference include:
- Update in the Management of Headaches and Seizure Disorders, Polypharmacy and the Elderly
- New Cholesterol Treatment Guidelines: Has the Treatment Paradigm Changed?
- Opioids, Cannabinoids, and Gabapentenoids: Defining the Best Pharmacological Practice Model for the Treatment of Pain
The session will be hosted by leading faculty members from top medical & pharmacy schools across the country. The sessions will be small and intimate classes, giving PAs a good opportunity to receive personalized learning.
PAs attending this conference will also be able to enjoy all the amenities the Westgate Las Vegas Resort and Casino has to offer. The Resort is located right on the Las Vegas strip, so this is an enjoyable and exciting opportunity for PAs looking for a fun vacation destination with their CME conference.
This conference has various registration fees based on when you register. Click here for all registration prices and details.
Check out the best Physician Assistant CME conferences to attend in 2020.