The annual PVA Healthcare Summit+ Expo is set to return to Dallas
By Charles Brown
I’m dedicating this article to all of the doctors, nurses, clinicians and therapists who strive to help make our lives better and improve our quality of life.
As the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic has swept through the world, a lot of continuing education programs have, unfortunately, been put on hold or have been available only online. Here at Paralyzed Veterans of America (PVA), we’re proud of our annual health care summit. This year’s Healthcare Summit+ Expo is being held Aug. 28–31, at the Omni Dallas Hotel in Texas.
PVA has been hosting healthcare summits for more years than I remember. Our objective has always been one thing — to provide our clinicians with innovative techniques, information and resources to best serve all people with disabilities, focusing on those with spinal-cord injury and disease (SCI/D). While we’re a nonprofit veterans’ organization that deals mostly with the Department of Veterans Affairs, we offer these courses to everyone who works in the field of SCI/D.
Over the last two years, the pandemic has created a big hole in the training and education that these critical professionals dearly need. The purpose of our Summit + Expo is to showcase our reliable sponsors and vendors’ latest equipment and technology, and to give hands-on demonstrations to doctors, nurses, therapists, clinicians and to all in attendance.
It’s also about providing new information gained from all the research that has taken place during the pandemic. I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in person again because I know the effect human interaction brings to building relationships.
The simple ability to see someone on virtual Zoom video conferencing doesn’t have the same impact as being in the same in-person space. While we all need to be concerned about health, safety and not passing around germs, I think we’ve learned our lessons these last few years.
It’s up to all of us to be sanitary, respectful and considerate of each other’s space. Anything that we can do to help prevent the spread of any infection or disease is always the goal. With that said, I know there are some very good programs being presented, and we have some outstanding speakers who will also be able to interact with many of our clinicians.
Topics this year include obesity after spinal-cord injury; bone health and osteoporosis; fall prevention; and using telehealth effectively. These are all issues that are of interest to health care providers and veterans alike.
I pray that you’ll take a moment and visit www.summitpva.org and understand that the Summit + Expo is here for you to improve your quality of work and give you fresh ideas. It’s also about our medical professionals gaining some of those continuing education units that are required to maintain certifications.
I thank each of you for everything you do to serve veterans and others in need. For those of you who come to Dallas, I look forward to seeing you. It’s my hope and PVA’s goal that you will enjoy the camaraderie, collaboration and robust sessions that the 2022 PVA Healthcare Summit + Expo offers.
Be well and keep safe.
