News Release

November 4, 2004

Contact: Jane Shaskan, 860-679-4777
e-mail: shaskan@nso.uchc.edu

2nd Annual Roger Beck Symposium November 23

Improving the Quality of Patient Care and Safety

FARMINGTON, CONN. – The University of Connecticut Health Center and the Connecticut State Medical Society are co-sponsoring the second annual Roger Beck Symposium “Injecting Science into the Art of Medicine to Enhance Quality.” The symposium will be held Tuesday, November 23, from 4 to 7:30 p.m. in Keller Auditorium at the University of Connecticut Health Center. It will be moderated by Peter Deckers, M.D., executive vice president for health affairs at the Health Center. Timothy Norbeck, executive director of the medical society, will offer welcoming remarks.

Dr. Deckers will introduce the panel of experts. The topics and speakers include:

  • “Wisdom and Science: The Education of a 21st Century Healer” will address the genesis of physician discontent and offer an educational model that may allow physicians to reconnect with the wisdom that has guided healers over time. Presenting will be James Duffy, M.D., head medical psychiatry and palliative medicine, and associate professor in the departments of psychiatry and medicine at the Health Center, and medical director of the UConn Huntington’s Disease Program. He is also the medical director of the Wolfson Palliative Care Program at New Britain General Hospital. 
  • “How Our Students See Us: Successes and Barriers in Achieving Professionalism” will focus on a novel clinical rotation for third-year medical students who accompany and observe patients during their hospital stays. Presenting will be Anthony Voytovich, M.D., who has served in a number of capacities at the Health Center, including head of the general medicine section, director of the residency program, and chief of staff for the hospital. Prior to his recent retirement, he was the associate dean for student affairs. He is currently teaching at the medical school. 
  • “Best Practices and Standards – Fact or Fancy? Can They Improve the Quality of Patient Care?” will focus on developments in evidenced-based medicine, standards of practice, and the general enhancement of quality care. Presenter Paul Barach, M.D., is medical director of safety and quality for Jackson Memorial Hospital in Miami. He is also an associate professor in anesthesiology, and associate dean for patient safety and quality improvement, and director of the Miami Center for Patient Safety, University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital. 
  • “Putting Best Practices into Use – Barriers and Solutions” will address the underlying obstacles that prevent best practices from being fully utilized by practitioners. Presenting will be Joseph Civetta, M.D., professor and vice chairman of surgery at the Health Center and director of the integrated general surgery residency program.

Dr. Deckers will moderate two sessions of “comments, questions and answers” during the course of the evening. There will be a break and a light dinner will be offered.

The program is free and open to the public, but registration is required and seating is limited. To register, call 1-800-535-6232.

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