February 2015
In This Issue
FEATURE STORY

NHSC Loan Repayment Program Accepting Applications

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is now accepting applications for its Loan Repayment Program which helps primary care providers pay off student loans while serving in communities with limited access to health care. The NHSC loan repayment and scholarship programs have enabled thousands of health care professionals to pursue their dreams of serving in primary care while eliminating most, if not all, of their qualifying educational debt. If you, or someone you know, could benefit from this important program, Apply Today!

2015 Annual Conference
Registration Now Open!
ACU's Annual Conference and Workforce Forum will be held June 1-3 at the Westin Alexandria just outside Washington DC. The 2015 Conference will bring together clinical leaders and top government officials from around the country to focus on improving access to care for the underserved. We have now opened registration and we have some terrific speakers lined-up. We will be slotting workshops soon, so check back often for updates!
register now

Exhibit at the Conference

We are also booking our exhibit hall for those interested in exhibiting at our conference. Click here to reserve your exhibit space today!

 

Policy & Advocacy

President Reconfirms Strong Support for NHSC in FY16 Budget

The President's Budget proposed $810 million in funding for FY16 for the National Health Service Corps. This level of funding would expand the program to include 15,000 primary care providers - the current field strength is roughly 8,500 providers. We greatly appreciate the President's strong show of support for the Corps, especially this year as the current funding expires. You can read more about the President's proposal and ACU's statement here. 

Clinical News & Resources

Treating Chronic Pain While Managing Risk - LIVE VIRTUAL LEARNING SERIES

Free! Online Continuing Medical Education

This live virtual learning series is a comprehensive continuing medical education program designed to help clinicians safely and confidently manage patients with chronic pain while mitigating risk. The virtual series consists of four 1-hour live interactive video presentations led by renowned pain specialists from the University of Washington Medical Center. Part one on Wednesday, February 25, 2015 at 9:00 AM PT and part two on Wednesday, April 1, 2015.  Register Today - It's free to join.
 

The National LGBT Health Education Center: Mental Health Care and Assessment of Transgender Adults

Behavioral health providers are seeing more transgender patients seeking referrals to surgeons, and are seeking guidance on the standard practice with each patient. Dr. Dan Karasic of the University of California San Francisco will lead a webinar, describing the role of the behavioral health care provider during a person's transition and how to assess and advise patients. February 17, 2015 2:00-3:00pm ET. Register today.

 

U.S. GAO Report: HHS Leadership Needed To Coordinate Federal Efforts Related To Serious Mental Illness

A recent GAO report identified 112 federal programs that generally supported individuals with serious mental illness in fiscal year 2013. The programs were spread across eight federal agencies. Interagency coordination for programs supporting individuals with serious mental illness is lacking. Of the 30 programs specifically targeting individuals with serious mental illness, 9 programs had a completed program evaluation, 4 programs had an evaluation underway, and 17 programs had no evaluation completed and none planned.

 

Cigarette Smoking Is Even More Deadly Than You Think, Study Says

The U.S. surgeon general says about 480,000 Americans die each year as a result of smoking. But a new analysis suggests the true figure may be closer to 575,000. The 21 causes of death that have been officially blamed on smoking accounted for 83% of the actual deaths among smokers who were tracked in a study published in Thursday's edition of the New England Journal of Medicine. Additional diseases -- including breast cancer, prostate cancer, hypertensive heart disease and renal failure -- were responsible for most of the rest of the observed deaths.

 

Burnout and Happiness in Physicians: 2013 vs 2015

In the Medscape Physician Lifestyle Report, 46% of all physicians responded that they had burnout, which is a substantial increase since the Medscape 2013 Lifestyle Report, in which burnout was reported in slightly under 40% of respondents. The accompanying graph also shows that certain primary care providers had higher than average burnout as well.

 

HPV Vaccine Doesn't Make Teen Girls Engage In Risky Sexual Behavior 

Girls who got vaccinated against HPV were more likely than their unvaccinated peers to become infected with a sexually transmitted disease, but the vaccine was not to blame for their risky sexual behavior, according to a new study of more than 200,000 American teens. By comparing the changes in infection rates for both groups of girls, the researchers were able to isolate the effect of the vaccine - and they found that it was nonexistent.
 
Member Updates

CLINICIAN CONNECTION PROGRAM

We have begun a new effort to connect our student members with current ACU members in the field. We have a large number of student members across the country who we'd like to connect with passionate and committed clinicians in the field such as yourself! As you know, having a knowledgeable friend in the field to help guide the future clinician is invaluable as they seek to address the challenges that may divert them in their service.

 

If you are interested in connecting with a current ACU student member who is interesting in learning more about serving in a shortage area, please sign up here. We will be working to match people with clinicians in their field of expertise and/or geography.

Careers

ACU CAREER CENTER

Apply for 10,991 Jobs from 886 Employers hiring today in the ACU Career Center, including these:

There are many opportunities for primary care physicians in New Hampshire, Montana, Wisconsin and more. Search the ACU Career Center today.

Conferences & Webinars
UPCOMING CONFERENCES AND WEBINARS
ACU supports the health care workforce by providing opportunities for continued professional development and interaction with other health professionals committed to the underserved.

 

For Scholarships and fellowships - click here

For Archived programs - click here

 

 

Securing Coverage for In-Home Asthma Care Services

Sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

Wednesday, February 18th, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. (EST) - webinar and Q&A

For more information and to register

 

The Rapidly Changing Face of Substance Use - A Defining Moment for Employers

Sponsored by the National Safety Council

Thursday, February 19th, 2:00 p.m. (EST) - webinar

For more information and to register

 

What's Happening in Health Care: Ways the Health Care Sector is Promoting Walking and Other Lifestyle Choices

Sponsored by America Walks

Friday, February 20th, 1:00 p.m. (EST) - webinar

For more details and to register

 

Integrating Community Health Worker Models into Evolving State Health Care Systems

Sponsored by State Refor(u)m

Monday, February 23rd, 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. (EST)

To register

 

Population Health Management: Improving Health Where We Live, Work, and Play

Sponsored by the National Diabetes Education Program

Tuesday, February 24th, Noon - 1:00 p.m. (EST) - webinar

 

How School-Based Health Care Contributes to Student Success, and What a Successful Partnership Between the Health and Education Sectors Looks Like

Sponsored by the School-Based Health Alliance

Wednesday, February 25th, 9:30 a.m.

2168 Rayburn House Office Building Room 2168

To register

 

4th Annual Building a Healthier Future Summit

Sponsored by Partnership for a Healthier America
February 25th - 27th
Washington Hilton

 

Preventive Medicine 2015

Sponsored by the American College of Preventive Medicine

February 25th - 28th 

Atlanta, GA

Register here

 

Food Matters for Families! Strategies to Foster Eating for Health And Cancer Prevention

Sponsored by the American Institute for Cancer Research

Thursday, February 26th, 1:00 p.m. (EST) - webinar

To register 

 

Health Equity and Well-Being from the Start: Building Support for an Equal Opportunity Childhood

Sponsored by the Association of State and Territorial Health Officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Thursday, February 26th, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. (EST) - webinar

To register 

 

Reaching the Whole Child: New Opportunities for Integrating Health and Education in the New WSCC Model

Sponsored by the National Association of Chronic Disease Directors

February 26th, 3:00 - 4:00 p.m. (EST) - webinar

To register

 

Building the Next Generation of Healthy Communities

Sponsored by the Association for Community Health Improvement

March 4th - 6th

Hilton Anatole, Dallas, TX

For more information 
Association of Clinicians for the Underserved | ckennedy@clinicians.org |  http://www.clinicians.org
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Suite 600
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