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MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY: Monday, January 19th, 2026 (closed all day)

In honor of America's quest to extend civil rights to all,
our offices will be closed. We will reopen on Tuesday, January 20th at 8:30 am.

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University at Sea®
A Division of Continuing Education, Inc.
5700 4th St. N.
St Petersburg, Florida 33703
Cruise Conference Planning For Your Association

Topics in Internal Medicine, Diabetes, and Neurology

7-Night Western Caribbean & CocoCay Cruise
Round-trip Miami, Florida
March 03 - 10, 2024
Royal Caribbean's <em>Oasis of the Seas</em>
Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas
16.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
16 ACPE Credits
16.0 (part II) MOC points in medical knowledge in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program
4.0 Hours of Pharmacology for Nurse Practitioners
16.0 Contact Hours
Course Fees
$995 for Physicians, Attorneys, Psychologists, Doctors of Pharmacy, & Dentists
$795 for Physician Assistants
$595 for Nurses, Residents, Students & Others

Target Audience
Physicians, Physician Assistants, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists
Program Purpose / Objectives
  1. How to navigate through various Hypertension Guidelines?
    • Appraise various guidelines and compare the evidence to apply in own clinical practice
  2. How to Improve BP Control in Your Practice?
    • Apply information learned through case examples to evaluate and treat hypertensive patients to achieve better control rates
  3. 2024 Diabetes Update
    • Integrate guideline-based medical options in your practice for the management of patients with diabetes.
  4. New Medications Update.
    • Assess the newly FDA approved medications and warnings to achieve better patient outcomes.
  5. Maximizing Outcomes by Utilizing effective Communication Skills
    • Demonstrate new communication tools used when interviewing patients
  6. How to cope with difficult patients in a busy practice?
    • Manage conversations when they become difficult
    • Demonstrate use of a communication tool to mitigate anger in oneself and others.
  7. Well-Being, Renewal, Balancing Work and Life (reducing burnout and enhancing joy)
    • Define Burnout
    • Apply techniques to manage burnout in oneself and others
  8. Use of bioinformatics to improve health outcomes
    • Explore the use of bioinformatics to improve health outcomes.
    • Discover the value of Artificial Intelligence (AI) for population health.
    • Explain Big data and how to utilize to enhance health outcomes.
  9. The Neurological Exam
    • Cite the key elements of the neurological examination
  10. When to Worry About a Headache
    • List the symptoms and signs which indicate a life-threatening headache
  11. Peripheral Neuropathy
    • Name the major patterns of peripheral neuropathy and how to categorize them clinically
  12. Treatment of Neuropathic Pain
    • Describe an algorithm to help individuals with chronic neuropathic pain management
  13. Back and Lower Limb Pain
    • Name the factors which point to neurologic vs. musculoskeletal and sclerotomal low back and lower limb pain
  14. Autonomic Disorders
    • Describe how problems with the autonomic nervous system present and can be classified
  15. Disorders of Muscle
    • Recite the major categories of muscle disease and how these might present in general medical practice
  16. What Good is EMG to the Generalist?
    • Review the pros and cons of electrodiagnostic testing for patients suspected of having neurologic disease.
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

Shakaib "Shak" Rehman, MD, SCH, FACP, FAACH

Shakaib
Associate Chief of Staff for Education
Phoenix VA Healthcare System
Chair & Professor, Department of Biomedical Informatics
Professor of Internal Medicine
University of Arizona College of Medicine–Phoenix
Phoenix, AZ Dr. Rehman is the Associate Chief of Staff for Education & Founding Director of Academic Primary Care Clinic at the Phoenix VA Healthcare Systems, where he is also the Chair of Continuing Professional Education (CPE), High Reliability Organization (HRO) and Schmitz Practitioner Awards Committees. He has founded the Biomedical Informatics Fellowship & currently serving as the Chair/Professor of Department of Biomedical Informatics (BMI), Professor of Internal Medicine & Professor of Humanism at the University of Arizona College of Medicine-Phoenix (UACOM-P). He also Chairs the UACOM-P Graduate Medical Education Committee.

He has served as the President of the Society of General Internal Medicine (SGIM)-Mountain Region; Vice- President of the Academy on Communications in Healthcare (ACH); Conference Chair, International Conference on Communication in Healthcare (ICCH); Chair of Practice & Policy committee of European & International Association on Communication in Healthcare (EACH), Chair of American College of Physicians (ACP) Arizona Chapter’s Health and Public Policy committee (HPPC); founding member of ACP Council of Young Physicians (CYP); & Chair of ACP-SC Chapter CYP & HPPC and Chair of CME committee of Arizona Medical Association (ArMA).

Dr. Rehman is a national expert in “Healthcare Communication” and “Hypertension”. He has been invited to teach courses/workshops around the country as well as in many countries outside the USA. He was invited to give the Commencement Address on the Graduation Ceremony of Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) MD class of 2013.

He has been awarded the Master of the American College of Physicians (MACP) (highest award), Fellow of Academy on Communication in Healthcare (FACH), Fellow of International Association on Communication in Healthcare (FIACH), American Medical Informatics Association (FAMIA), award-winning member of the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society and the Gold Humanism Honor Society. American Society of Hypertension designated him a Clinical Specialist in Hypertension. He is a certified Mentor for the Department of Veterans Affairs.

He has received numerous awards including American Medical Women Association (AMWA) Exceptional Mentor Award, Medical University of South Carolina Best Mentor & Teacher Award, Best Doctors in America ® Award, David E. Rogers Teaching Award from Society of General Internal Medicine twice, Department of Veterans Affair Excellence in Medical Education Award, American College of Physicians (ACP) Young Physician Award, ACP James A. McFarland Award in Excellence in Teaching and Humanism, ACP Laureate Award, ACP Arizona Chapter Leader of the Year Award and Outstanding International Medical Graduate (IMG) award. He has been awarded the Best Faculty Award and inducted in the Alpha Omega Alpha (AOA) Medical Honor Society & Gold Humanism Honor Society. He has received the Phoenix VA Healthcare Systems Gerald Schmitz Award.

Dr. Rehman has participated in many landmark research trials as the VA Principal Investigator; examples include ACCORD, SPRINT, ACCOMPLISH, ONTARGET, PROMINENT etc. He has published hundreds of articles and book chapters. He is reviewer for many scientific journals such as Annals of Internal Medicine, Journal of General Internal Medicine, and American Journal of Hypertension etc. He is the Associate Editor of Medical Encounter and was the editor of Journal Scan.

Benn E. Smith, MD, FAAN, FANA

Benn E. Smith, MD, FAAN, FANA
Mayo Clinic Emeritus Staff
Director, American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN)
Former Director
EMG Laboratory, Sensory Laboratory, and Neuromuscular Fellowship Program at Mayo Clinic Arizona
Scottsdale, AZ Benn E. Smith, MD, FAAN, FANA, is a member of the Mayo Clinic Emeritus Staff and serves on the Board of Directors for the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN).

Dr. Smith served on the Mayo Clinic Arizona (MCA) Neurology Faculty for over three decades, having joined in 1990 following the completion of his fellowship training in EMG and Peripheral Nerve at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. During his tenure in the Neuromuscular Division, he held several leadership positions, including Director of the EMG Laboratory, Director of the Sensory Laboratory, and Director of the Neuromuscular Fellowship Program.

In 2025, Dr. Smith transitioned to Emeritus Staff at Mayo Clinic. He continues to practice part-time, performing electromyography (EMG) consultations in the Arizona community.

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 Mar 03 Miami, Florida
- 4:30 pm
Mon Mar 04 Nassau, Bahamas
8:00 am 5:00 pm
Tue Mar 05 Coco Cay, Bahamas
7:00 am 5:00 pm
Wed Mar 06 *At Sea - Cruising
- -
Thu Mar 07 Labadee, Haiti
7:00 am 4:00 pm
Fri Mar 08 Falmouth, Jamaica
9:30 am 4:00 pm
Sat Mar 09 *At Sea - Cruising
- -
Sun Mar 10 Miami, Florida
6:00 am -
*Tentative course schedule, actual class times may differ.

Ports of Call

Miami, Florida - As far as vacation destinations go, Miami tops most sun-seekers’ lists. With its gorgeous beaches, vibrant neighborhoods and melting pot of cultures, the Magic City is the perfect place to spend a few days before your Caribbean island hop. Ahead of your cruise from Miami, jump-start your morning in true Miami style with a Cuban cafecito from a ventanita — a streetside shop window. Then climb the historic lighthouse at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on quiet Key Biscayne before lounging on the island’s secluded sandy shores. If you’re looking for a bit more action, head to South Beach — home to world-class restaurants, nightlife, shopping and lively beaches, all set against snap-worthy Art Deco buildings. Art lovers who visit Miami can head to Wynwood and explore the neighborhood’s colorful street murals and local galleries. Or take a trip back in time at the Renaissance-style Vizcaya estate, which offers a glimpse into Miami’s dazzling past.

Nassau, Bahamas - Caribbean charm shines in the Bahamian capital, where you’re never more than a few steps away from rhythmic percussions, appetizing flavors, white-sand beaches, and some of the clearest waters in the world. This picture-perfect paradise was once a pirate’s haven— and you can explore its colorful past of buccaneers, blockade-runners and bootleggers along historical streets and at the three colonial fortresses that line the shores. If you’re looking for a more hands-on maritime adventure, look no further. Cruisers to Nassau can swim with stingrays, dive with dolphins, or spot colorful coral on a glass-bottom boat.

Coco Cay, Bahamas - Located in the middle of the Caribbean's bright blue water lies the secluded island of CocoCay. With its white-sand beaches and spectacular surroundings, CocoCay is a wonderland of adventure. Reserved exclusively for Royal Caribbean guests, this tropical paradise has recently been updated with new aquatic facilities, nature trails and a ton of great places to just sit back, relax and enjoy a tropical drink.

CocoCay Map

Perfect Day at CocoCay

At Sea - Cruising - Cruising

Labadee, Haiti - Beachside meets mountainside on the shores of Labadee — a Royal Caribbean private destination on Haiti’s northern coast. Here you’ll find pristine sands, coral reefs and jungle-covered hilltops nestling lagoon-like bays. There’s no shortage of places to relax and recharge across five stretches of beach. Or dial up the thrills on an active adventure like a half-mile-long zip line ride over the ocean. And fascinating culture, history and the natural beauty of Haiti’s spectacular coasts wait to be discovered around every corner. Escape to the Western Caribbean for a wilder way to experience paradise.

Falmouth, Jamaica - Step off the ship and step back in time. You might not think so at first glance but little Falmouth was an economic and shipping powerhouse and center for dramatic social change during the English Colonial Period. Founded and named Martha Brae Point in 1769 by local English planter, Thomas Reid, Falmouth became the transshipment hub for the sugar plantations covering the hills of the North Coast of Jamaica. Edward Barrett, a wealthy English planter, strongly influenced the early development of Falmouth. From the wharfs of Falmouth, sugar, molasses, rum and coffee were sent to England while ships carrying African slaves and all the necessities of 18th century colonial life dropped anchor in the bustling port town. You'll return with sun kissed skin, timeless memories as well as interesting historical tidbits to share with friends, like this one: Falmouth received piped water before New York City.

Miami, Florida - As far as vacation destinations go, Miami tops most sun-seekers’ lists. With its gorgeous beaches, vibrant neighborhoods and melting pot of cultures, the Magic City is the perfect place to spend a few days before your Caribbean island hop. Ahead of your cruise from Miami, jump-start your morning in true Miami style with a Cuban cafecito from a ventanita — a streetside shop window. Then climb the historic lighthouse at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park on quiet Key Biscayne before lounging on the island’s secluded sandy shores. If you’re looking for a bit more action, head to South Beach — home to world-class restaurants, nightlife, shopping and lively beaches, all set against snap-worthy Art Deco buildings. Art lovers who visit Miami can head to Wynwood and explore the neighborhood’s colorful street murals and local galleries. Or take a trip back in time at the Renaissance-style Vizcaya estate, which offers a glimpse into Miami’s dazzling past.

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.
©2019 - University at Sea®