Networking Events & Plenary Sessions

Several events at this year’s Annual Assembly are designed to unite attendees at various points throughout the meeting and build networking opportunities within the Academy community. Three receptions will offer social gatherings for meeting attendees, while the meeting’s four plenary sessions provide shared learning opportunities at times that won’t conflict with other educational sessions.

Click here to learn more about the plenary sessions.

Receptions

Welcome Reception

Thursday, November 20: 5 pm–7 pm, San Diego Convention Center

The Welcome Reception is the perfect event to start the meeting. You will be able to greet old friends, make new acquaintances, and meet with our industry partners. Held in the Exhibit Hall, the reception is an ideal opportunity to socialize and preview this year’s array of products and services.

Guests and children must be registered for admittance to this event.

Residents’ Reception

Friday, November 21: 6 pm–7 pm, San Diego Marriott Hotel

Keeping with tradition, residents will have the opportunity to network with each other at this cocktail reception.

The Annual Assembly resident and medical student registration fees include admittance to the Residents’ Reception.

President’s Reception

Saturday, November 22: 7 pm–8:30 pm, San Diego Marriott Hotel

This closing event features a cocktail reception and the opportunity to network with other meeting attendees. Enjoy an entertaining evening with your friends, colleagues, and new acquaintances by sharing in some food, drinks, entertainment, and camaraderie.

Guests and children must be registered for admittance to this event.

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Plenary Sessions

Presidential Address and Panel Discussion (Course 600)

Thursday, November 20: 11 am–12:30 pm, San Diego Convention Center

This session will kick off the Annual Assembly with the official Opening Ceremony, featuring a speech from Academy President David Cifu, MD.

Then, a panel discussion, “Saluting America’s Heroes: The Foundation and Future of PM&R” will focus on the connection between the evolution of PM&R with the care and reintegration of America’s combat wounded. After reviewing the historical foundation of the field, the presenters will elaborate on the current generation of rehabilitation challenges. This will include experience of the methods used in acute battlefield medicine. Using case-based models, the presenters will introduce ground-breaking advances that will form the future of the field. Finally, the presenters will provide opportunities for physiatrists to support this generation of America’s heroes.

PASSOR: The Dysfunctional Upper Quadrant: The Chained, Spastic, and Absent (Course 148)

Friday, November 21: 9:30 am–11 am, San Diego Convention Center

Whether one's focus is neurorehabilitation, musculoskeletal, or general physiatry, this session is a must. Its underlying theme is the coordinated function of the upper limb, with particular emphasis on the intergrated neuromusculoskeletal system.

Presenter W. Ben Kibler, MD, FACSM, is a team physician for several schools and medical director at the Lexington Clinic Sports Medicine Center in Kentucky. He specializes in the upper extremity, shoulder pathology, scapula, and biomechanics of tennis.

Integrative Pain Medicine (Course 450)

Saturday, November 22: 9:30 am–11 am, San Diego Convention Center

As pain medicine has evolved, much of its development has focused on symptom reduction rather than treating the cause of pain. Intergrative pain medicine accounts for the whole person (body, mind, and spirit). By developing a therapeutic relationship with the patient, the patient becomes an active participant in the healing process. PM&R is uniquely situated to bring an evidence based, intergrated approach to patient care. The goal of this session is to better acquaint participants with the array of complementary and alternative medicine strategies that can safely and effectively intergrated into the treatment of pain.

Fortieth Walter J. Zeiter Lecture/Richard and Hinda Rosenthal Foundation Lecture (Course 601)

Saturday, November 22: 11:30 am–1 pm, San Diego Convention Center

Two annual lectures are combined to create one dynamic session. Speakers for these two lectures will be announced later this summer.

The Walter J. Zeiter lectureship is awarded to a physiatrist who shares Dr. Zeiter’s qualities of statesmanship, scholarship, executive leadership, and warm friendship. The Richard and Hinda Rosenthal lectureship is awarded to a young physiatrist who has demonstrated noteworthy advancement in the non-surgical care of low back pain.

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