6-Night Western Caribbean Cruise
Round-trip Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
August 03 - 09, 2025
Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas
14.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ 14 ACPE Credits 14.0 Contact Hours
Course Fees
$995 for Physicians, Attorneys, Psychologists, Doctors of Pharmacy, & Dentists $795 for Physician Assistants $595 for Nurses, Residents, Students & Others
Identify common types of headaches and their distinguishing features.
Describe evidence-based treatment options for different headache disorders.
Recognize when to refer patients with headaches for specialist evaluation.
Endocrinology: Thyroid
Explain the pathophysiology of common thyroid disorders.
Discuss diagnostic approaches for hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism.
Outline current treatment guidelines for thyroid dysfunction.
Neurology: Cognitive Impairment
Differentiate between reversible and irreversible causes of cognitive impairment.
Describe screening tools used for early detection of cognitive decline.
Summarize current management strategies for cognitive disorders.
Endocrinology: Diabetes Updates
Review recent advancements in diabetes management and treatment options.
Explain the role of continuous glucose monitoring and new pharmacological therapies.
Discuss strategies for personalized diabetes care and risk reduction.
Cardiovascular: Risk Management
Identify key risk factors for cardiovascular disease and their impact.
Explain preventive strategies, including lifestyle and pharmacologic interventions.
Review recent guidelines for cardiovascular risk assessment and management.
Adult Immunization & Primary Screening
List recommended vaccines for adults based on age and risk factors.
Explain the importance of early screening for common chronic diseases.
Describe strategies to improve vaccination and screening adherence in adults.
Internal Medicine - Top Articles
Summarize key findings from recent influential articles in internal medicine.
Discuss how recent research impacts clinical decision-making.
Apply evidence-based insights to improve patient care.
Health Promotion: Encouraging a Healthy Body, Mind, and Spirit
Assess the patient's current state of physical, psychological, and spiritual health.
Treatment of Migraine, Tension-Type, and Cluster Headaches
Effectively treat patients with migraine headache using non-pharmacologic means, abortive medications, and preventive medications.
Consider that tension-type and cluster headaches are discrete sub- types of headache, each of which requires a specific diagnostic approach
Diagnosing and Managing Depression: Overcoming the Blues
Sustain initial treatment for depression for six months after remission of symptoms to lower risk of relapse
Recognize that depression is a common, but often misdiagnosed illness, which can be treated effectively by primary care physicians using medical therapy, psychotherapy, and adjunctive treatment
Utilize the following adjunctive treatments where appropriate:
Patient education (“bibliotherapy”)
Diet (limit sugar, simple CHOs, caffeine)
Exercise (150 min/week)
Behavioral activation (pleasant activities)
Light (10,000 lux for 30 min daily)
Support (“iatrotherapy”)
Spirituality
Get Me Out of Here!: Panic Disorder and Agoraphobia in Primary Care
Elicit and assess symptoms of panic disorder and agoraphobia
Apply appropriate lifestyle modification and stress management skills, including muscle relaxation, breathing control, thought-stopping, and cognitive restructuring
Somatoform Disorders: Illness as a Way of Life
Recognize the key symptoms, signs, and clinical presentation of somatizing patients.
Communication: Becoming a Healer
Consider the clinician's role from the personal and psychosocial aspects of care their clinicians
The Faith Factor: Practicing Spiritually- Sensitive Care
Elicit a spiritual history in an ethically-appropriate manner. Spiritually-sensitive care enhances the clinician-patient relationship and may positively influence health care outcomes.
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
Dale A. Matthews, MD, FACP
Dale A. Matthews, MD, FACP
Associate Professor of Medicine (retired)
Georgetown University School of Medicine
Executive Healthcare Services (retired)
Dale A. Matthews, MD, FACP has served on the faculties of Yale University, the University of Connecticut, and Georgetown University and has lectured at over 30 medical schools. He gives lectures on primary care general internal medicine, the doctor-patient relationship, and the psychological and spiritual dimensions of medicine, including the role of religion, faith, and prayer in clinical care. He is the author of The Faith Factor: Proof of the Healing Power of Prayer (Viking, 1998), a four-volume research work (The Faith Factor: An Annotated Bibliography of Clinical Research on Spiritual Subjects), three documentaries, and over 65 peer-reviewed scientific articles, book chapters, and other publications.
Dr. Matthews is a graduate of Princeton (AB, cum laude, Romance Languages, 1976) and Duke University School of Medicine (1980). His internship and residency in internal medicine took place at the University of Connecticut (1980-3) and he completed the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Clinical Scholar Program and Fellowship in Clinical Epidemiology at Yale (1983-5). In 1989, he was named the George Morris Piersol Teaching and Research Scholar of the American College of Physicians. He has received many awards for his compassionate patient care, including Washingtonian Magazine Top Doctor recognition. He has appeared on numerous television shows, including the Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live, and Good Morning America.
He lives in McLean, Virginia with his wife, Demetra, a certified public accountant. He has two adult children and three grandchildren. He enjoys family and church activities, Bible study and teaching, golf, baseball, piano, singing, songwriting, ballroom dancing, travel, and photography.
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 Aug 03
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
-
4:00 pm
Mon Aug 04
Nassau, Bahamas
8:00 am
5:00 pm
Tue Aug 05
*At Sea - Cruising
-
-
Wed Aug 06
Falmouth, Jamaica
7:00 am
3:30 pm
Thu Aug 07
Labadee, Haiti
9:00 am
5:00 pm
Fri Aug 08
*At Sea - Cruising
-
-
Sat Aug 09
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida
6:00 am
-
*Tentative course schedule, actual class times may differ.
Ports of Call
Ft. Lauderdale, Florida - There is an abundance of things to see and do in the Ft. Lauderdale area: visit the newly redesigned Ft. Lauderdale Beach and cafes, stroll the historic Riverwalk, shop the luxurious stores on Las Olas Boulevard, or adventure to the Everglades for an intriguing air boat excursion.
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.
At Sea - Cruising - Cruising
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.
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.
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.