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Cruise Conference Planning For Your Association

Topics in Primary Care and Rheumatology

7-Night Southern Caribbean Cruise Conference
from San Juan, Puerto Rico to San Juan, Puerto Rico October 27 - November 03, 2018
<em> Celebrity Summit</em>
Celebrity Summit
14.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
14 ACPE Credits
14 (part II) MOC points in medical knowledge in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program
14.0 Contact Hours
Course Fees

Target Audience
Nurses, Nurse PractitionersNurses, Nurse PractitionersPhysicians, Physician Assistants, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists
Program Purpose / Objectives
Topics:
  1. Primary Care Treatment of Essential Hypertension: A 2018 Update
    • Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to customize their treatment approach in the essential hypertension patient and maximize the percent of patients treated who reach goal blood pressure.
  2. Atrial Fibrillation: What the Primary Care Practitioner Needs to Know
    • Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to discuss the newest information regarding atrial fibrillation and describe the role of anti-arrhythmics in the management of the disease.
  3. Thromboembolic Disease in Primary Care: Focus on the New Anticoagulants
    • Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to discuss the role of the new oral anticoagulants and describe any relevant differences between the available agents.
  4. Asthma and COPD: New Recommendations and Treatment Options
    • Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to discuss the new recommendations for treatment of patients with asthma and COPD.
  5. Primary Care Treatment of Urinary Tract Infections in the era of Increasing Bacterial Resistance
    • Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to discuss the treatment options for UTI’s in the era of increasing antimicrobial resistance
  6. Antimicrobial Resistance: Implications for the Primary Care Provider
    • Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to describe the impact of antimicrobial resistance in both gram-negative and gram-positive infections and discuss treatment strategies for common infections.
  7. Osteoporosis: Review of Guidelines and New Therapeutic Options
    • Upon completion of this session, participants should be able to describe the new National Osteoporosis Guidelines and how the recommendations will impact the treatment and prevention strategies in their patients with osteopenia or osteoporosis.
  8. Gout - Management and where we fall short
    • Better manage acute flairs and improve confidence with chronic gout treatment
  9. Back pain - is it inflammatory
    • Identify different presentations of mechanical versus inflamatory back pain
  10. Lupus
    • Recognize the dianostic criteria, lab test and potential triggers for flairs
  11. Monitoring of Rheumatology Drugs -what to watch out for
    • Inform practitioners of common and not so common potential side effects and risks of drugs
  12. Labs and Radiology and their limitations
    • Assess labs and radiology results especially in initial work-up
  13. Clinical approach to Rheumatic Diisease
    • Identifying Arthritis vs. other Musculoskeletal pain and how to work it up
  14. The Pregnant Patient
    • Manage the unique challenges seen in Pregnant Rheumatologic Patients
Conference Sessions generally take place on days at sea (as itinerary allows), giving you plenty of time to enjoy your meals, evenings and ports of call with your companion, family and friends.
IMPORTANT NOTE: All conferees, their families, and guests must book their cruise within the University at Sea® meeting group through University at Sea® at 800-926-3775 or by registering online. This ensures our company can provide conference services and complimentary social amenities to all meeting participants and their guests. Thank you for your cooperation.
Faculty

John Gums, PharmD

John Gums, PharmD
Professor of Pharmacy and Medicine
University of Florida
Gainesville, Florida  Dr. Gums is a Professor of Pharmacy and Medicine in the Departments of Pharmacotherapy and Translational Research and Community Health and Family Medicine at the University of Florida. Additionally, he holds the title of Associate Dean for Clinical and Administrative Affairs in the College of Pharmacy. He received his undergraduate degree in pharmacy from the University of Wisconsin and his Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the Medical University of South Carolina. Subsequently, he completed a post-doctoral fellowship in Family Medicine at the Medical University of South Carolina. Dr. Gums is actively involved in teaching both in the College of Pharmacy and the College of Medicine. He has received the Faculty Recognition Award from the College of Pharmacy, Exemplary Teacher Award from the College of Medicine, and twice was selected as Teacher of the Year by the University of Florida, Department of Family Medicine.

He has authored over 200 peered-review articles, 26 continuing education programs, and 24 book chapters. He has given over 110 invited presentations to national and international pharmacy and medical associations. He maintains an active clinical research program, including past funding from the NIH. Currently, he is a co-investigator on numerous NIH-funded trials evaluating the impact and role of pharmacogenomics in the treatment of patients with hypertension.

Dr. Gums maintains membership in ASHP, AACP, and ACCP. He is a member of the Family Medicine Editorial Advisory Council for the Annals of Pharmacotherapy, and is a Scientific Editor for the journal Pharmacotherapy. In 1993, he was appointed by the governor as a member of the State of Florida Pharmacy Services and Technical Review panel. In 1997, he received the Outstanding Clinical Practice Award from ACCP. In 2002, Dr. Gums served as a Primary Health Care Policy Fellow through the office of the Secretary of Health and Human Services in Washington DC. And in 2007, he was elected as a Fellow in the American College of Clinical Pharmacy.

Nicole D. Melendez, MD, FACR

Nicole  D. Melendez, MD, FACR
Affiliate Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine (Voluntary Faculty)
USF Health Morsani College of Medicine
Tampa, FL  Nicole D Melendez, MD graduated from St Matthews University, completed her Internal Medicine residency at the University of Missouri- Columbia and her Rheumatology fellowship at Louisiana State University. She is board certified in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology. She has been practicing Rheumatology in the Tampa Bay area since 2011.

She has a very active practice and is also involved in clinical research.  She's been voluntary faculty at the University of South Florida in the Department of Rheumatology since 2015, and she has a personal interest in nutrition and diet and its impact on rheumatologic disease states.

Our staff can assist you with all your travel arrangements.

Questions? Call us at 800-422-0711.
We can assist you with all your travel arrangements. We'd be happy to help you plan your flights, hotels or tours before and/or after your cruise conference.

Cruise Itinerary

DATE PORT OF CALL ARRIVE DEPART
Sat Oct 27 San Juan, Puerto Rico
- 8:30 pm
Sun Oct 28 St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
8:00 am 5:00 pm
Mon Oct 29 Philipsburg, St. Maarten
8:00 am 6:00 pm
Tue Oct 30 Roseau, Dominica
8:00 am 5:00 pm
Wed Oct 31 Bridgetown, Barbados
8:00 am 6:00 pm
Thu Nov 01 St. George's, Grenada
8:00 am 5:00 pm
Fri Nov 02 *At Sea - Cruising
- -
Sat Nov 03 San Juan, Puerto Rico
6:00 am -
*Tentative course schedule, actual class times may differ.
Celebrity Summit Map

Ports of Call

San Juan, Puerto Rico - In days of yore, the waters near Puerto Rico teemed with pirate ships commanded by the likes of Sir Francis Drake. Aye, they are long gone, but in their wake they have left an island of national treasures: La Casa Blanca, built in 1501 for the island's first governor, Ponce de Leon; the cobblestone streets of Old San Juan; the tropical rain forests of El Yunque.

St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands - St. Croix, the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, is a tropical dreamland complete with stunning beaches, clear aqua-blue ocean water, a small rain forest and rolling green hillsides. The Danes purchased St. Croix in the 1700s at which time the slave trade and sugar cane fields thrived. Today, the Danish influence is still apparent in the island's architecture and language. Most of the sugar mills lie in ruins. Yet you can still get a taste of the island's history in freshly squeezed sugar cane juice or Cruzan Rum.

Philipsburg, St. Maarten - The capital of the Dutch side of St. Maarten is the town of Philipsburg, though St. Maarten is an island with two distinct sides. To the north is the French side, whose capital is Marigot, while Philipsburg sits on the southern part of the island. When exploring on cruises that go to St. Maarten, it’s important to visit both sides to understand their customs and heritage.

You’ll quickly be charmed by all sides of the island. Of course, this Caribbean island is best known for its beaches, like Maho Beach or Great Bay Beach, one of the area’s best snorkeling spots. Sample local seafood or rum during your time in port, which have become symbols of St. Maarten life. There’s just enough to fill the day here, especially if you hop between the French and Dutch beaches.

Roseau, Dominica - Ecotourists love Dominica's waterfalls, lakes, freshwater swamps and hiking trails. Roseau's brightly painted buildings recall an earlier time in the Caribbean. The 40-acre botanical gardens were founded in 1891 as an annex to London's famous Kew Gardens.

Bridgetown, Barbados - An island some say is more British than Britain. Here, cricket is the national sport and afternoon tea goes without saying. But Barbados is true blue Caribbean as well, with classic sand beaches, and wild monkeys in the jungle.

St. George's, Grenada - St. George's is the capital of Grenada. The city is surrounded by a hillside of an old volcano crater and is on a horseshoe-shaped harbor. The city has significantly developed in recent years, while preserving its history, culture, and natural beauty. It has a moderate tropical climate that ensures the success of spice production. Nutmegs are the most plentiful crop, followed by an array of such spices as cocoa, mace, cloves, vanilla, cinnamon and ginger.

At Sea - Cruising - Cruising

San Juan, Puerto Rico - The vibrant capital of Puerto Rico, San Juan offers something for every traveler — world-famous beaches with crystal clear waters, incredible cuisine, rugged natural beauty and a rich history that goes back 500 years. With its ancient fortresses and colorful colonial-era buildings, San Juan makes it easy to feel as though you’ve slipped into the past. Life moves at a slower pace along the sunny cobblestone streets of Old San Juan, and salsa beats seem to waft perpetually from open windows. If you’re craving a hike, head to El Yunque National Forest. And if you’re more in the mood to unwind, set your sights on the beautiful shores of Isla Verde or El Condado. Mealtime is also an adventure, with so many delicious options to try — from mofongo and pastelon to chillo frito and alcapurrias. Pair every bite with a piña colada — Puerto Rico’s national drink.

Our staff can assist you with all your travel arrangements.

Questions? Call us at 800-422-0711.
We can assist you with all your travel arrangements. We'd be happy to help you plan your flights, hotels or tours before and/or after your cruise conference.
SHORE EXCURSIONS
Please note that our shore excursions are operated separately and
independently of those offered by the cruise line.
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