Thanks to a new scheduling approach, attendees at TexMed 2024 will experience a more cohesive conference, bringing together members from all different stages in the path of organized medicine.
With input from the Texas Medical Association’s speaker and vice speaker of the House of Delegates, TexMed’s opening session, formerly an afternoon event, will now take place at 8 am Friday, May 3, followed by the opening of the House of Delegates. TexMed attendees not involved in the house are free to explore the Expo Hall followed by concurrent CME sessions – but are invited to stay and watch exciting house business.
“We want members to get the most out of our meeting – not only the business conducted on the house floor, but also to give everyone the chance to hear our very popular and informative speakers,” TMA Vice Speaker John Flores, MD, an internist in Little Elm, told Texas Medicine Today.
With so many activities scheduled at TexMed, Dr. Flores acknowledges past events have sometimes felt like they contained multiple different meetings, rather than bringing physicians together under one experience.
“This change will hopefully make this a more cohesive meeting, starting with everyone getting together for the opening session,” he said. “All of our members should have the opportunity to hear our keynote addresses, conduct house business, and enjoy all the different aspects of TexMed.”
This year’s opening session will feature a presentation on artificial intelligence (AI) in health care by Harvey Castro, MD, a Flower Mound emergency physician and strategic advisor on health care for ChatGPT. Dr. Castro authored ChatGPT and Healthcare: The Key to the New Future of Medicine.
The presentation is a direct response to TMA member interest, as CME offerings on the use of AI in health care have consistently been popular.
For more education, TexMed attendees can attend any of the 30-plus hours of CME at the conference, including the returning poster session. More than 50 posters covering a wide range of topics were submitted and vetted through TMA’s Committee on Continuing Education; the selected entries will be presented the morning of Friday, May 3, from 7-8 am and remain posted throughout the event. The session counts for 1 hour of CME and attendees will be invited to vote for a “People's Choice” award.
TexMed continues its mission to bring physicians together by once again combining the event’s Welcome Reception and Presidents’ Reception on Friday evening. A change initially introduced last year, the combined event welcomes attendees and incoming TMA and TMA Alliance presidents. Guests are welcome at this celebration if they are registered for the conference.
TMA invites members to bring guests to TexMed at a discounted registration rate of $175.
TexMed will close Saturday, May 4, in the afternoon with a presentation from Will Flannery, MD – or, as he’s known to his more than two million followers on TikTok, Dr. Glaucomflecken. The Portland ophthalmologist’s popular comedy plays on satire and irony to explore the pressing issues of health care.
Also new this year, attendees will be able to check their bags in the Expo Hall before beginning Saturday’s conference activities. Items will be securely held until after the closing session at no cost.
Register by April 26.