Noted gerontologist Thomas T. Perls, M.D., M.P.H., associate professor of medicine and geriatrics at Boston University, will be the morning keynote speaker for an aging continuing education conference scheduled in August in San Antonio.

Dr. Perls is founder and director of the New England Centenarian Study, the largest study of centenarians in the world. One of his interests is learning how centenarians avoid developing Alzheimer’s disease and other brain disorders.

The conference, “Geriatric Primary Care: Current Perspectives and New Horizons,” will take place from 7 a.m. (when registration begins) to 4:45 p.m. Friday, Aug. 24, at the La Quinta Conference Center, 4431 Horizon Hill Blvd.

Discounted fee for those who register early
Advance registration is requested. The fee is $75 for Health Science Center employees, $50 for students, and $50 for military and VA employees. The fee for community professionals is $140 through August 10, after which it increases to $175.

Other topics on the agenda
Other topics will include the risk of ageism in screening programs, the new field of geriatric oncology, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), lipids and NAFLD in aging, ethical issues in end-of-life care, and cutting-edge management of frailty in geriatric patients.

Registration information
For a registration form, an agenda of speakers and times, and a complete conference brochure in PDF, go to www.sagrecc.org.

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Conference sponsors
The South Texas Veterans Health Care System, the VISN 17 VA Heart of Texas Health Care Network and the South Texas Geriatric Education Center at The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio are conference sponsors. Organizing centers include the Geriatric Research, Educational and Clinical Center (GRECC) at the Audie Murphy Division, South Texas Veterans Health Care System.

This is the 28th year that the partners have organized an annual conference on aging. Anyone with questions may call Kathleen Kirk at (210) 567-7410.

Continuing education information
A certification of continuing education (CE) will be awarded to participants who attend the entire conference. A certificate of attendance will be awarded to those not seeking CE units. More detailed information follows:

Medical ― The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Employee Education System designates this educational activity for a maximum of 7.0 American Medical Association (AMA) Physician’s Recognition Award (PRA) Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in this activity.

Nursing ― The VA Employee Education System will provide nursing CE for a maximum of 7.0 contact hours as determined by the standards of the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation.

Social work ― Social workers can earn up to 0.7 CE units for the 7.0 contact hours.

Counseling ― Licensed professional counselors can earn up to 0.7 CE units.

Licensed nursing facility administration ― This program has been submitted, but not yet approved, for 0.7 CE units.