Past NAAHP National Meeting

Highlights of the association's 2002 
15th National Meeting in Las Vegas: 

 "Enhancing Communication in Prehealth Professions Advising"

The Rio Resort & Convention Center
Las Vegas, NV
June 24-June 28, 2002

Click here to see photos from this meeting.

Monday    Tuesday    Wednesday    Thursday    Friday

Monday, June 24

        Registration        11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.    
        Exhibits               11:00 a.m.–7:00 p.m.

Conference totebags are sponsored by the Association of Chiropractic Colleges. 

         Noon–1:50 p.m.               Regional Board of Directors Meetings        
                                                 (closed)
         2:00–5:00 p.m.                 Opening Workshops  (Concurrent Sessions)

Choose one workshop from the following options:

Workshop No. 1—New Advisors’ Workshop

This workshop will acquaint new advisors with mentors from institutions “like theirs” and will provide useful information, tools, and resources, including a New Advisors Handbook. The goal is to assist each new health professions advisor to function effectively without having to individually “reinvent the wheel.” Panels of seasoned advisors will share their experiences and expertise. Ample time will follow to consider how what works for them might be applied elsewhere.

Moderator: Glen Zamansky, Boston University
Introduction: Meeting the Mentors and Learning to Speak “Advisorese”

Panel 1.  Informing the Uninformed Student: Student Exploration of the Health Professions—What, When, and How?

  • Carol Baffi-Dugan, Tufts University

  • Judith Baxter, University of Illinois Chicago

  • Carol Morton Schmidt, Illinois State University

Panel 2.  Negotiating the Application Cycle(s)—Becoming the “Expert” Fast

  • Beverly Childress, Auburn University

  • Lee Ann Michelson, Harvard University

  • Laura Thompson, Furman University

Panel 3. Letters: Recommendations or Evaluations—What Constitutes a Useful Letter?

  • Robert Blystone, Trinity University

  • Carol Elam, University of Kentucky College of Medicine

  • Ruby Mason, Stanford University

Workshop No. 2—Improving the Advising of Underrepresented Students 

NAAHP recognizes the problem of decreasing numbers of minorities who are recruited and retained in the pursuit of health careers and, as an Association, is sensitive to the unique role that health professions advisors play in this process. Health professions advisors have the potential to recognize early, encourage, and make a difference in promoting the candidacy of underrepresented students pursuing careers in the health professions. This roundtable will showcase best practices in advising underrepresented students, featuring interactive presentations by advisors who have been recognized by the AAMC for excellence in advising minority students as well as the sharing of ideas from professional organization representatives.

Moderators: Cecilia Fox, Occidental College, and Chere Pereira, Oregon State University               

Workshop No. 3—Beyond Information & the Application Process: Tools for Prehealth Advising

The role of the pre-health advisor goes well beyond providing information about the health professions, entrance requirements, and deadlines, and assisting students through the application process. The health professions advisor typically has an influence over the student’s educational planning and career direction. This workshop will focus on developing approaches to enhance advisor – advisee communication and subsequently support and facilitate the student’s preparation process. Participants will focus on advising strategies that assist students in developing the ability for meaningful self-evaluation, challenge them to maximize their academic and extracurricular opportunities and guide them in building strong decision making skills. Case studies will be used and ample time will be allotted for discussion of the ideas presented.

Moderators: Nancy Walburn, University of Alabama Birmingham                

7:00-7:30 p.m.          Welcome

  • Hugo Lane, NAAHP President

  • Susan Maxwell, NAAHP Executive Director

  • Larry Sullivan, NAAHP National Meeting Planning Committee Chair

7:30-8:45 p.m.           Keynote Address

Robert Sabalis, Ph.D., Associate Vice President, Student Programs, Association of American Medical Colleges

8:45–10:30 p.m.         Opening Reception

Sponsored by Ross University School of Medicine and School of Veterinary Medicine.

Tuesday, June 25

Registration:              8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.             
Exhibits:                     8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.            

7:30-11:15 a.m.            Regional Breakfasts, Business Meetings, 
                                     and Programs

Sponsored by the American Dental Education Association, Physician Assistant Education Association and Karol Marcinkowski University of Medical Sciences.

11:30 a.m.–1:00 p.m.         Lunch

Sponsored by St. George's University School of Medicine and School of Veterinary Medicine.

1:00-1:50 p.m.        Advisor Fair—Ideas That Work         

The Advisor Fair is a unique opportunity to see what works for your colleagues in advising offices across the country. Share your favorite tools of the trade – handouts, booklets, forms, flyers, web sites, powerpoints, listservs, useful software, special programs, workshops, health professions courses and more in a variety of display categories including poster presentations, table-top exhibits and techno-tools.

2:00–3:50 p.m.  “The Right Thing To Do, The Smart Thing To Do”:              

A Workshop On Sustaining Minorities in Prehealth Advising Programs

NAAHP is committed to helping health professions advisors recognize early, encourage, and promote the candidacy of underrepresented students pursuing careers in the health professions. Recently, NAAHP has partnered with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to move this process forward. This workshop will focus on the academic challenges faced by underrepresented minority students as they encounter the demands of a pre-health curriculum. Current prehealth professions students will share their stories in the pursuit of admission. The emphasis will be on identifying strategies that promote academic success. In groups, participants will consider case scenarios of underrepresented students pursuing health careers who encounter various obstacles and challenges during their undergraduate program. Groups will identify and attempt to pinpoint and clarify issues of cultural diversity, and identify ways in which advisors can promote academic success and eventual acceptance to health professions schools.

Moderator: Saundra Oyewole, Trinity College     

4:00–6:00 p.m.    Professional Trends and Updates I

Presentations on major changes in the admissions requirements for health professions schools and recent data on applicants and matriculants to these schools. Trends in the health profession schools’ curricula and the health profession field will also be highlighted. Mechanisms by which advisors can stay current on admissions requirements and professional trends will be given. Ample time will be allotted for questions and answers. The health professions which will be represented in this session are listed below.

Moderator: Hugo Lane, Wake Forest University

  • Dentistry—Dr. Richard Carr, Jr., ADEA Consultant, Director of Student Services, UNLV School of Dentistry

  • Chiropractic—David O’Bryon, Association of Chiropractic Colleges

  • Nursing—Ellen-Marie Welan, Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing

  • Allopathic Medicine—Robert Sabalis, Association of American Medical Colleges

  • Occupational Therapy—Guy McCormack, Samuel Merritt College

  • Pharmacy—Elisabeth Ross, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy

  • Public Health—Allison Foster, Association of Schools of Public Health

6:00–7:30 p.m.                Dinner on Your Own

7:30–8:50 p.m.                AMCAS Update Session

Pamela Cranston from AMCAS will present updates on the centralized medical school application process. Time will be allotted for questions and answers from advisors.         

Moderator: David Owen, University of Chicago

9:00 p.m.                Reception

Sponsored by the Association of Schools and Colleges of Optometry.

Wednesday, June 26

Registration:                8:00 a.m.–noon            

Exhibits: 8:00 a.m.–noon            

7:00–7:50 a.m.         Breakfast

Sponsored by the American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine.

8:00–10:00 a.m.           Professional Trends and Updates II

This session is a continuation of the Professional Trends and Updates I held Tuesday from 4:00–6:00 p.m. The health professions represented in this session are listed below.

  • Veterinary Medicine—Jerry Pijanowski, College of Veterinary Medicine, University of  Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  • Osteopathic Medicine—Linda Heun, American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine

  • Podiatric Medicine—Moraith North, American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine

  • Optometry—James Caldwell, Pennsylvania College of Optometry

  • Physical Therapy—Susan S. Deusinger, Washington University St. Louis

  • Physician Assistant—James Fry, Physician Assistant Education Association

  • Naturopathic Medicine—Paul Mittman, Southwest College of Naturopathic Medicine and Health Sciences

10:15 a.m.–noon         Enhancing Communication Through Technology Use

Whether a part-time advisor  and full-time faculty member or a full-time advisor, we each face the same challenge of making the most of our time with our advisees. Several of our colleagues are employing technology in creative ways in their advising. Come hear about and see demonstrated tools designed to enrich the advisor/advisee relationship. You will have time to see two demonstrations and then we come together to discuss ethical considerations about the use of technology in advising.

Moderators:  Peggy Abels, University of Nebraska Kearne; Lisa Alty, Washington and Lee University; Jason Boyd, University of Washington; Charles Ellis, Northeastern University

Noon–7:30 p.m.                 Free Time                                                 

7:30–8:50 p.m.                   Hot Topics                            

Small Group Discussions.  Some topics will be identified prior to the meeting.  These topics could include: Legal Aspects of Advising, MCAT Preparation, and Confidentiality.  Other topics will be identified by advisors at the meeting. Each session will have at least one experienced advisor to facilitate discussion.

9:00 p.m.                            Reception

Sponsored by American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine.

 

Thursday, June 27

Registration:                8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.            
Exhibits:                       8:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.             

7:00–8:20 a.m.                 “Wellness Breakfast”

Sponsored by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.

8:30–10:00 a.m.                Application Updates

Panelists will provide information on changes in the centralized application services listed below.  They will also share with advisors ways to keep current on future changes. A question and answer period will follow the panelists’ presentation.

Moderator: Deborah Paris, University of Miami

  • AACOMAS—Robert Ruiz, American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine

  • AACPMAS—Moraith North, American Association of Colleges of Podiatric Medicine

  • AADSAS—Chonte James, American Dental Education Association, Dr. Richard Carr, Jr., ADEA Consultant, Director of Student Services, UNLV School of Dentistry

  • CASPA—James Fry, Physician Assistant Education Association

  • PharmCAS—Elisabeth Ross, American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy

  • VMCAS—John E. Roane, Jr., Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges

10:10–11:45 a.m.                Admissions Workshops

Six panels each with up to three Admissions Deans from allopathic and osteopathic medical schools will facilitate the discussion of application case studies.

Noon–1:30 p.m.                 “Meet the Deans” Luncheon

Sponsored by NAAHP, Inc.

1:45–2:45 p.m.   Enhancing Communication with Health Professions Schools

Six panels each of up to four Admissions Deans from a variety of health professions schools will hold informal conversations with advisors.

3:00–5:45 p.m        “Meet the Deans” Exhibit

Representatives from Health Professions Schools set up displays on their institutions and are available for one on one conversations with advisors.

6:00–7:00 p.m.                Cocktail Reception

There will be a cash bar for this reception.

7:00–9:00 p.m.                Conference Banquet

Celebrate the success of our national meeting during an evening of wonderful food and entertainment.

Sponsored by Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara School of Medicine.

Friday, June 28

Registration:                8:00–11:00 a.m.  
Exhibits:                       8:00–11:00 a.m.         

7:30–8:50 a.m.                Breakfast on Your Own

NAAHP is pursuing sponsors for this event.

9:00–9:50 a.m.                Concurrent Sessions

Effective Communication Skills and the Medical School Interview

What happens when the student you see as “the best in ten years” is rejected after interview while the student you describe as “a solid applicant” has multiple offers? Could it be the difference in interview skills? This presentation will provide strategies for helping students examine their strengths and weaknesses and ways that advisors can help students improve their performance in this important aspect of the admissions process.

Moderator: Barry Anton, University of Puget Sound

Presenter: Sylvia Robertson, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine

The Impact of Extended Time on MCAT Examinees with Learning Disabilities or Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Students with learning disabilities and attention-deficit /hyperactivity disorders (LD/ADHD) who request testing accommodations on the MCAT most commonly receive extended time. Their score reports are flagged with an asterisk when sent to medical school admissions offices. How do test scores and GPAs of students with LD/ADHD compare with those who have flagged scores for other reasons and students with standard scores? Are students with LD/ADHD and other students with flagged MCAT scores held to the same standard of admission as others? This study analyzes seven years of data, including MCAT scores, undergraduate GPAs, race and gender of students with LD/ADHD who used extended time on the MCAT, and compares these data to that of all other students who took the test under standard conditions between 1994 and 2000.

Moderator: Ed Kirven, University of the South

  • Anthony Hilger, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  • Deborah J. Ingersoll, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

  • Ellen Julian, Association of American Medical Colleges

Curricular Changes at Medical Schools and Premedical Requirements

This session considers issues related to medical school and premedical education by addressing the following questions: Why are medical schools changing their curriculum and should these changes affect premedical requirements? Will changes affect the content of the MCAT?

Moderator: Carol Baffi-Dugan, Tufts University 

  • Lisa Alty, Washington and Lee University

  • Carol Baffi-Dugan, Tufts University

  • Lloyd Michael, Baylor University

  • Mary R. Rifkin, Mt. Sinai University

International Education and the Premedical Experience

It is accepted in many quarters that American colleges and universities should do a better job of exposing students to international issues, particularly medical ones. The course of study described in this session provides students with such an opportunity. It focuses on diseases that have a cross-cultural impact in America and Africa, as well as some that are endemic to tropical areas.  The course is augmented by internships with both American and Kenyan physicians. Four weeks are spent at a hospital in Kikuyu, Kenya, which is near Nairobi. A short video presentation will encapsulate the Kikuyu experience.

Presenter: Jeremiah L. Putnam, Davidson College

Foreign Medical Schools from the Premedical Advisor Point of View

A panel of prehealth professions advisors will provide some opening comments on their impressions of foreign medical schools and will then open the session for feedback from other advisors. This interactive session will focus on the role these schools play in the education of American premedical students. When to advise students to attend foreign medical schools will be a central issue of this session. Advisors are encouraged to bring their experiences and those of the student to the session for discussion.

Moderator: Paul J. McLoughlin II, Harvard University

  • Paul J. McLoughlin II, Harvard University

  • Alice Sima, BenedictineUniversity

  • Clete Sellers, James Madison University

10:00–10:50 a.m.      Medical Education, Humanism, and the Arts

A historical view of physicians in the arts will be presented along with a national survey on the arts and medical education. There will be a discussion of influences that are resulting in the increase in the arts in medical education.

Moderator: Cassandra Flambouras, University of Chicago

Presenter: Paul Rodenhauser, Tulane University School of Medicine   

11:00 a.m.–noon         “Hitting the Road”

Grab a snack and beverage before leaving Las Vegas.  Have informal discussions with other advisors.  Exchange email addresses.

Sponsored by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine.

NOON          Fifteenth NAAHP National Conference Ends

 

Program Chair 
C. Larry Sullivan, Ph.D
Avila College

Contact:
NAHSM Department
O'Rielly Hall
11901 Wornall Road
Kansas City, MO   64145
phone:  816/501-3655
fax:  816/501-2457
email: 
larry.sullivan@avila.edu

Background

NAAHP schedules national meetings once every two years, with the aim of familiarizing pre-health advisors with trends in admissions and various fields, pooling resources and strategies for success, and developing relationships with colleagues, Deans and admissions representatives.  On alternate years, NAAHP is active at the regional meetings of its four constituent associations:  NEAAHP, SAAHP, WAAHP, and CAAHP.