The success of its 2013 strategic planning session continues to inspire Kentucky Medical Association (KMA) members and staff. This year, while discussing potential themes for the organization’s 2018 Annual Meeting, Education Director Miranda Mosley and Communications Director Emily Schott kept coming back to Focus Forward, and decided that the association’s current work and direction reflected back to the idea of streamlining resources to ensure future longevity. Thus, the 2018 KMA Annual Meeting theme will be “Forward Focus: The Path to Physical and Fiscal Health.”

Forward Focus will celebrate the five year anniversary of the strategic planning session, as well as look to the future of the association and the advancement of the medical community. Planning is already underway for the event, which will be held Aug. 24-26 at the Louisville Marriott East.

Catch Him If You Can: Frank Abagnale, Jr. To Keynote KMA Annual Meeting

Most notable among presenters will be author and security consultant Frank Abagnale, Jr., who rose to fame in the 1960s as one of the biggest imposters of all time. Before the age of 21, he had successfully posed as an airline pilot, lawyer, FBI agent, and even a physician, all while stealing millions through check fraud and forgery. His life became the subject of the 2002 Steven Spielberg film Catch Me If You Can, starring Tom Hanks and Leonardo DiCaprio. Abagnale will detail his time as a trickster and share advice on how members can protect themselves from fraud and identity theft.

 

Combating Physician Burnout

Forward Focus will also feature fellow Kentucky physician Shawn Jones, MD, who recently published a book called Finding Heart in Art: A Surgeon’s Renaissance Approach To Healing Modern Medical Burnout. Finding Heart in Art discusses how medical professionals can manage and even alleviate feelings of burnout through artistic study and expression. To further this idea, KMA is issuing a call for physicians to contribute to an “art gallery” that will be on display during the Annual Meeting showcasing the talents of physicians outside their clinical settings.

“We’re excited to bring a refreshed spin to our annual meeting with Forward Focus,” said KMA Executive Vice President Patrick Padgett. “Between memorable speakers, social events and our Leadership Academy, I think we have a lot to offer our physicians and we’re looking forward to a great event.”

More information on the 2018 KMA Annual Meeting is available at kyma.org.