Dear Colleagues,
I'd like to take a moment of your time and invite you to attend AudiologyNOW! 2008 in the 'Queen City' of Charlotte, North Carolina. As you know, the Academy is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year and AudiologyNOW! 2008 will be the crowning conclusion to commemorate that milestone.
Your convention committee has been hard at work since May discussing, deliberating and designing an educational program just for you. The committee has taken all of your suggestions and comments into consideration in planning the Learning Labs, Featured Sessions, Learning Modules, Focus and Discussion Groups, Research Podiums and Posters and Exhibitor Courses. In addition, the Employment Services, Student Volunteer Student Research and Local Support sub-committees are consumed with making all aspects of your attendance at AN!2008 a majestic success.
We will continue the use of 'Super Tracks' (mini-conferences in specific topic areas which weave through the entire 4 days of the convention). The following areas have been designated as Super Tracks for 2008:
- Practice Management - including but not limited to coding and reimbursement, successful marketing, Medicare and Medicaid issues, BEST practice management topics, advocacy, state leadership, purchasing or selling a practice, etc.
- Geriatrics - including but not limited to the study of aging, diagnostic techniques and procedures, prevention of hearing loss, early intervention, effective treatment options (including hearing aids, implantables, hearing assistive technology), advocacy issues, research, counseling and (re)training programs as part of treatment and other issues of particular interest to our aging patients.
- Vestibular - including but not limited to state-of-the-art evaluation and diagnosis, vestibular rehabilitation, effective interdisciplinary programs, medical, pharmalogical and psychological influences, and clinical and basic science research in all aspects of vestibular function.
- Pediatrics - including but not limited to hearing loss prevention, newborn screening and diagnostic follow-up, diagnostics, treatment options (hearing aids, implantables), the use of hearing assistive technology, early intervention, research, genetics and advocacy issues.
- Implantables - including but not limited to effective candidacy evaluations, diagnostics, interdisciplinary programmatic issues, research into new techniques and devices, clinical trials, counseling and short and long term care.
We intend to build on a 20-year history of convention successes and all of the triumphs of the previous 20 years will culminate in Charlotte, North Carolina. The continued success of AudiologyNOW! relies on you and your contributions and active participation. Plan now to submit an innovative proposal for a Learning Module or Research Podium or Poster when the call comes in August. In addition to the grand educational program, celebrations are being planned to give you the royal treatment in Charlotte, so mark your very busy schedules now to attend this meeting - you won't want to miss it!
Therese Walden
2008 Program Chair
Therese.Walden@NA.AMEDD.ARMY.MIL