Idaho Conference on Health Care, Thomas Geriatric Symposium set Friday Oct. 2 at Idaho State University

POCATELLO— The 28th annual Idaho Conference on Health Care and eighth annual Thomas Geriatric Health Symposium will be held at the Idaho State University Pond Student Union Ballroom and via video conference at the Idaho State University Meridian Health Science Center from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 2.

This year’s theme is “Keeping Your Brain Healthy.” The conference is free, but attendees must register by Sept. 28. Registration is required to attend.

The opening keynote address in Pocatello will kick off the event. The keynote address will be given by Tony Seikel. He received his doctorate from the University of Kansas in 1988, and taught at Washington State University until 1998, when he moved to Idaho State University. His career focus has been on neurophysiology, and specifically the study of neurodegenerative conditions and their effects on speech. He co-teaches courses on meditation and the effects of meditation, and has a strong interest in the effects of mindfulness meditation, compassion and loving kindness on an individual’s neurophysiology.

More information can be found at www.isu.edu/healthsciences/hlthconf/index.shtml.

The tentative schedule is as follows:

• 8-8:45 a.m. – Registration and check-in at the Pond Student Union Building Ballroom; Meridian check-in is in Room 697

• 8:45 – 9 a.m. – Welcome and Opening Remarks Dr. Linda Hatzenbuehler, Vice Provost & Executive Dean, Division of Health Science

• 9 – 9:45 a.m. – Keynote: “Brain Health and Mindfulness,” Dr. Tony Seikel

• 9:45-10 a.m. Break

• 10 –10:50 a.m. – Panel: “How I Kept My Brain Healthy” Betty Moore

• 11 – 11:25 a.m. – Inter-professional Case Discussion

• 11:35-noon Expert Panel: Response to Inter-professional Care

• 11:30 a.m. – noon – Professional panel: response to inter-professional case discussion

• noon − 1 p.m. – Lunch on your own

• 1 – 1:50 p.m. – Afternoon Speaker: “Patient Centered Medical Home,” Dr. Kevin Rich

• 1:50 p.m.-2 p.m. Break

• 2 − 3 p.m. – Brain health experiential activities that includes two, 20-minute segments, allowing participates to attend more than two different demonstrations. Demonstrations will be by community providers across various health dimensions, physical, social, cognitive, environmental, emotional and financial. Others include dancing, yoga, mindfulness, nutrition and other activities.

• 3 – 3:55 p.m. – “Dance and Brain Health,” Molly Jorgensen

• 3:55 – 4 p.m. – Concluding Remarks Dr. Linda Hatzenbuehler, Vice Provost & Executive Dean, Division of Health Science

Acclaimed comedy/drama “I’ll See You in My Dreams” will show at 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 1 in the Wood River Room at the ISU Pond Student Union. Admission is free.