By Kate Jacobson | September 30, 2019
AACVPR would like to thank everyone who attended the 34th Annual Meeting in Portland, Ore., this year.
From amazing keynotes and educational sessions to networking opportunities we look forward to all year, the event was a success. Some highlights include keynote speaker Catherine Sanderson, who touched on the "Science of Happiness." The professor and author provided audience members with practical (and relatively easy!) ways to increase their own psychological well-being. We also heard from keynote Jan McInnis, who showed participants how to embrace their funny bone and use humor to bridge communication gaps.
There were also four days of educational opportunities, including a symposium on home-based rehab. A variety of topics that touch almost all areas in the field were covered. A popular session was the Health Policy & Reimbursement Update. One attendee called the session "a must attend." Another great session was the "Hot Topics in Addiction and Cardiovascular Disease: Marijuana, E-Cigarettes and Alcohol. Hayden Riley, RCEP, TTS; Sherrie Khadanga, MD; and Diann Gaalema, PhD, broke down how engaging in these behaviors can affect those in cardiac rehabilitation.
Also at the meeting, Ana Mola, PhD, RN, ANP-C, MAACVPR, took the reigns as AACVPR president. Several AACVPR members and leaders in the field were also honored. Gerene S. Bauldoff, PhD, RN, MAACVPR, was honored with the L. Kent Smith Award of Excellence; Mary A. Whooley, MD, FACP, FAHA, FACC, was honored with the Michael L. Pollock Established Investigator Award and Martjin A. Spruit, PhD, PT, was honored with the Thomas L. Petty Distinguished Pulmonary Scholar Award.
AACVPR also welcomed five new board members: Ash Walker, DHSc., MA, ACSM-RCEP, FAACVPR, was named treasurer. Bauldoff; Theresa Beckie, PhD; and Aimee Kizziar, MHAL, BA, RRT-NPS, RCP; were named as directors. Jonathan Whiteson, MD, was named a director at large.
Along with the great educational opportunities, attendees had the chance to sit back and relax. There was a donut wall, live music and the always popular Closing Celebration at Punch Bowl Social in Portland. Another fun new feature this year was the introduction of refillable water bottles. AACVPR attendees were able to provide more than 1,600 cups of clean water to the world through the Fill it Forward campaign!
If you were unable to attend this year's meeting but would like to view some of the recorded sessions, please click here. Those who were able to attend but might want additional handouts from presenters can go here. You can also learn how to claim your CEUs from the conference here.
We hope to see you next year in West Palm Beach for the 35th Annual Meeting, held from Sept. 30, 2020 to Oct. 3, 2020.