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Cruise Conference Planning For Your Association

Autism, ADHD and
Developmental Disabilities through the Lifespan

Biological and Environmental Perspectives

7-Night Western Mediterranean Cruise
Round-trip Barcelona, Spain
May 28 - June 04, 2023
Royal Caribbean's <em>Symphony of the Seas</em>
Royal Caribbean's Symphony of the Seas
12 CE Credits for Psychologists
12 ASWB ACE Credits
12.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
12 ACPE Credits
Up to 12 MOC (Part II) points in the American Board of Pediatrics' (ABP) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program
3.0 Hours of Pharmacology for Nurse Practitioners
12.0 Contact Hours
Course Fees
$895 for Physicians, Attorneys, Psychologists, Doctors of Pharmacy, & Dentists
$750 for Physician Assistants
$495 for Nurses, Residents, Students & Others

Target Audience
Psychologists, Social WorkersPhysicians, Physician Assistants, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, PharmacistsPediatricians
Program Purpose / Objectives

The purpose of these lectures is to teach appropriate, comprehensive, compassionate family focused and culturally competent medical care for patients with developmental behavioral and educational challenges. Through disease state education, physicians will feel more comfortable with the presenting conditions and will be able to incorporate evidenced based care, medical treatments and “caring” for those with these conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder in children and adults and ADHD.

Children with developmental disabilities represent a diverse population with a variety of causes, a variety of conditions and a wide range of developmental, behavioral, and medical manifestations.

The care of children with developmental disabilities, therefore, requires an appreciation of the complexities of diagnosis, and management involving medical care, promotion of optimal development and education, and attention to social, emotional, environmental and economic factors that influence the children, the family and the community.

This series of lectures will provide for the audience a framework for understanding the complex set of conditions characterized as developmental disabilities. In addition, there will be an orientation to the genetic and environmental factors that result in developmental disabilities and we will offer strategies for addressing these challenges to promote optimal health and well being for the children.

  1. History and Overview of Developmental Disabilities
    • Appreciate the history of societal approach to developmental disabilities and have an understanding and an approach to management
  2. Prematurity and its Consequences
    • Be familiar with the neonatal complications of prematurity and their long term consequences with and an approach to management
  3. Cerebral Palsy
    • Be aware of the manifestations and an approach to management of cerebral palsy
  4. Children's Environmental Health
    • Appreciate and understand the role that environmental factors play in the health and well being of children
  5. Children's Environmental Health Disparities
    • Become aware of the factors that predispose to children's health disparities and develop strategies to reduce the disparities and promote health equity for all children
  6. Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Overview
    • Provide comprehensive treatment approaches to children with ASD and their families
    • Describe DSM 5 Diagnostic criteria for ASD
    • Integrate screening for ASD in toddlers and in middle school
    • Appreciate the mental and medical conditions commonly co-occurring with ASD
  7. Autism: Delivering the diagnosis and impact on the parents and family
    • Provide comprehensive treatment approaches to children with ASD and their families
    • Prepare appropriately for feedback sessions when delivering the diagnosis of ASD
    • Understand the stages of grief encountered by parents at the time of diagnosis
    • Appreciate the impact the diagnosis has on parents and the extended family
  8. ADHD: An Overview
    • Provide comprehensive treatment approaches to children with ADHD and their families
    • Describe DSM 5 criteria for ADHD diagnosis
    • Provide developmental strategies to children and their families with ADHD
    • Understand potential barriers to therapy adherence and 4. Consider ADHD presentation in girls
  9. ADHD in Adults
    • Provide evidenced based diagnostic approaches to adults with ADHD and their families
    • Describe DSM 5 criteria for ADHD diagnosis in Adults
    • Consider ADHD presentation in girls., and 3, Know a ADHD diagnostic tool
  10. Management of Anxiety Disorders in children
    • Differentiate between normal anxiety and anxiety disorders in childhood
    • Implement anxiety screening strategies in practice
    • Understand the medical problems associated with anxiety
    • Implement developmental counseling strategies for anxiety in children in the office
    • Appreciate integrative treatment strategies for anxiety in children
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

Raun David Melmed, MD, FAAP

Raun David Melmed, MD, FAAP
Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician; Director of the Melmed Center in Scottsdale, Arizona; Co-founder and Medical Director of the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center Raun D. Melmed, MD, FAAP Bio Raun Melmed, MD, FAAP, a developmental and behavioral pediatrician, is director of the Melmed Center in Scottsdale, Arizona and co-founder and medical director of the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center.
Dr. Melmed is on faculty at Arizona State University in Phoenix, the University of Arizona in Tucson and Creighton Medical School. He earned his medical degree at the University of Cape Town, South Africa, and completed fellowship training at Children's Hospital Medical Center in Boston, where he was an Instructor at Harvard Medical School. He is a member of the Society for Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics and a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He is board certified in both Pediatrics and Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics.
He has set up nationally recognized physician training programs for the early identification of infants and toddlers with developmental and behavioral concerns and has authored programs geared toward screening for autism spectrum disorders.
Dr. Melmed is an investigator of novel psychopharmacological agents and digital therapeutic devices for the treatment of ADHD, autism, Fragile X and related disorders. He studies include the identification of biomarkers in ASD as well as the development of diagnostic tools for developmental disorders.
He is the author of the ST4 Mindfulness Series for Children including Marvin's Monster Diary ‐ ADHD Attacks, Timmy's Monster Diary: Screen Time Attacks! (But I Rock it Big Time), Harriet's Monster Diary ‐ Awfully Anxious (But I Squish it Big Time), Marvin's Monster Diary 2 (+ Lyssa): ADHD Emotion Explosion (But I Triumph, Big Time), Marvin's Monster Diary 3: Trouble with Friends (But I Get By, Big Time!) and Marvin's Monster Diary 4: Neighborhood Bully (But We Stand Up, Big Time).
He is also the author of books for families including Autism: Early Intervention; Autism and the Extended Family; and Autism Parent Handbook: Beginning with the End Goal in Mind.

I. Leslie Rubin, MD

I. Leslie Rubin, MD
Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Morehouse School of Medicine
Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine
Co-director, Southeast Pediatric Environmental Health Specialty Unit, Emory University School of Medicine 
Founder, Break the Cycle of Health Disparities, Inc.
Medical Director, Developmental Pediatrics Specialists
Atlanta, GA  I Leslie Rubin MD is Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Morehouse School of Medicine, Adjunct Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at Emory University School of Medicine, Co-director of the Southeast Pediatric Environmental Health Unit at Emory University, Medical Director of The Rubin Center for Autism and Developmental Pediatrics, and Founder of Break the Cycle of Health Disparities Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia.

As a Developmental Pediatrician, he has provided care for children and adults with developmental disabilities for decades, and in 2016 published the 3rd edition of his text: Health Care for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Across the Lifespan, (Springer Switzerland).

As an Environmental Pediatrician, he started a program in 2004 called: Break the Cycle of Children’s Environmental Health Disparities, to raise awareness of children’s environmental health disparities and cultivate future leaders. This program, now in its 15th year, has resulted in the publication of more than 100 student papers in 10 international journal supplements and 10 Books with Nova, publishers in their Public Health Series.

He is actively involved in a number of local, national and international organization and has received a several awards for his work.

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
Sun May 28 Barcelona, Spain
- 6:00 pm
Mon May 29 Palma De Mallorca, Spain
8:00 am 4:00 pm
Tue May 30 Provence (Marseille), France
9:00 am 6:00 pm
Wed May 31 La Spezia, Italy
8:30 am 8:30 pm
Thu Jun 01 Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy
7:00 am 8:00 pm
Fri Jun 02 Naples, Italy
7:00 am 7:00 pm
Sat Jun 03 *At Sea - Cruising
- -
Sun Jun 04 Barcelona, Spain
5:00 am -
*Tentative course schedule, actual class times may differ.

Ports of Call

Barcelona, Spain -

Barcelona is a one of the world's great cities. Stroll down her tree-lined boulevards, the magnificent Passeig de Gràcia or the more touristed Las Ramblas. On the Passeig, shop a serious fashion district while marveling at examples of Mordenisme architecture, seemingly sculpted from the stuff of dreams (Gaudi's masterpiece of a family home, Casa Batlló is well worth a visit). If a trip on the Passeig hasn't convinced you of Gaudi's genius, a visit to La Sagrada Familia Cathedral will do the trick; this fantastic, soaring marvel will live on in your memory long after you've returned.

Not far from the Passeig and just north of Las Ramblas, the Gothic Quarter (the Barri Gotic) provides an abundance of shopping opportunities for all tastes, and a bit of European history to boot - check out the tranquil Cathedral of Barcelona. To see a bit of local life a visit to a food market is a quick, fun detour: try Santa Caterina near the Cathedral or Mercado de La Boqueria, right off of Las Ramblas.

Barcelona's food is also a highlight: stop into a tapas bar and try a variety of delicacies. "Standard" restaurants of every style are available, too. And, there's music, too! Visit an underground jazz club or the magnificent Palau de la Música Catalana; or stop by the Palau Dalmases for a stunning, flamenco performance (it's near the Picasso museum). Did we mention art? One of the largest collections of Picasso's art is found at the Museau Picasso, and a great collection of contemporary, figurative (i.e not abstract) painting and sculpture is housed at the European Museum of Modern Art just around the corner.

It's probably clear by now that you really can't get it all done in a day (even if all means "just the must-sees"). So, stay for a day or three in the Gothic Quarter or near Plaça de Catalunya and really get a feel for what makes Barcelona such a wonderful place. Partly it's the result of the "accidents" of its history and present: as the regional capital of Spain's prosperous Catalunya region, Barcelona has a "flavor" that is a bit of a mix between Spanish and French (it's located quite close to the French border). Yes, you can practice your Spanish here - it attracts Spaniards from throughout the country - but you'll also see and hear Catalan with it's own charm. You won't regret your time here.

Palma De Mallorca, Spain - The Spanish island of Mallorca offers towering mountains and dramatic cliffs rising over clear, blue water — but its jewel is Palma de Mallorca, the island's capital and largest city, where you'll find quaint historic streets, Gothic castles and gastronomic delights. Cruise to Palma de Mallorca and check out one-of-a-kind Palma Cathedral: The 14th-century Gothic spires of exterior contrast the modernist interior designed by in the early 1900s by Gaudi. See the circular courtyard and Arab-inspired arches of Castell de Bellver, and take in the fresh scent of the miles of pine forest that surround it. Or rent bikes and pedal east to Palma Beach, where you can soak in the sun on the white sands and clear waves.

Provence (Marseille), France - Marseille offers an unexpected view of a mosaic of buildings and National Heritage Sites from the terraces of Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica that towers above and watches over the city.

Alongside the port the towers of Saint Victor Abbey house crypts that already existed when Christianity was introduced into Provence. The columns of the Palais de la Bourse, the noble facades of the Prefecture and the fountains of the Palais Longchamp are part of the triumphant architecture from the 19th Century that is scattered throughout the city and that gave Marseille renewed splendour.

In the old quarter the houses are built on the sunny slopes ; the clock in the Accoules Bell tower, which was the old Sauveterre tower, still marks the hours of life around the Town Hall, while beyond the dome of the Vieille Charite hospice, Pierre Puget's masterpiece, stands out against the sky. The small streets of the Panier quarter lie a little further on.

La Spezia, Italy - La Spezia, Italy is a lovely Ligurian town not far from some of Italy’s most attractive sites, including Florence, Pisa, Cinque Terra and even Genoa. It is an ideal port of call for an overnight stay, depsite not being well-known outside Italy. Historically, La Spezia was a prominent trade center during the Roman Empire. Today it remains not only one of Italy’s busiest port towns, but also home to the country’s largest naval base. As a cruise port, La Spezia is convenient, centrally located and a little underrated. This is the region reputed to make the world's best olive oil; be sure to try a local focaccia to see for yourself.

The Cinque Terre are merely a short train trip from Stazione La Spezia Centrale (no roads), making it easy to explore the port of call and surrounding areas in a day or half-day excursion. Florence, home of the Renaissance, is just two hours away;start your day on the coast of the Ligurian Sea and end the day looking up in awe at the Gothic-style Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Genoa is also well within reach, a little closer than Florence really, and is a quite beautiful city.

Civitavecchia (Rome), Italy - Extraordinary architecture, millennia of turbulent history, magnificent basilicas concealing unimaginable riches, and ornate fountains splashing at the heart of sun-drenched piazzas are just some of the many reasons to visit Rome. Art greets you on every corner, from elaborate statues to delicate frescoes. Stroll the ancient center and history comes to life as you explore the Colosseum, the Pantheon and the Roman Forum. Enjoy Italian café culture in Trastevere, where you can wander the narrow streets and soak up a sense of la dolce vita, or throw a coin into the baroque Trevi Fountain to guarantee your return to this vibrant, intoxicating city.

Naples, Italy - Capital of Southern Italy and the largest city in Campania, Naples is the third most populated city in Italy (after Rome and Milan) with over a million inhabitants. It's the most important industrial center and trading port for the South. Naples itself can provide a day's fun and entertainment, if its somewhat rundown appearance doesn't dissuade you. Or, join a tour of incredible Pompeii, frozen in time since A.D. 79 when Mt. Vesuvius brought an end to that then-thriving city. Or, take a quick ferry across the bay to the flowery Isle of Capri. Or, (yes, there's more) visit fabulous Sorrento, vacation spot for the well to do.

At Sea - Cruising - Cruising

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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