Virtual ADCES conference to highlight person-centered diabetes care, inclusive services
Organizers behind this year’s Association of Diabetes Care & Education Specialists Annual Conference promise a collaborative experience that will focus on holistic, person-centered care, the latest research advancements and new technology.
This year’s conference theme, “Changing Forward,” was designed to highlight patient care that moves away from what organizers call an institutional, task-oriented approach, instead allowing individualized interventions that reflect the diversity of people with diabetes.
“The ADCES annual conference focuses on the needs of the diabetes care and education specialist by offering a wide range of educational and networking opportunities to advance knowledge, skills and resources,” Barbara Kocurek, PharmD, BCPS, CDCES, FADCES, director of strategic initiatives at Baylor Scott & White Health and the ADCES Planning Committee chair, told Healio. “There is a richness and strong sense of collaboration at this interprofessional conference not always found at other meetings. Nurses, dietitians, pharmacists and other members of the care team are united in their passion and dedication to help individuals with or at risk for diabetes to live happier and healthier lives.”
This year’s virtual conference, scheduled for Thursday to Sunday, will offer 119 sessions —nearly double the number of last year’s meeting — along six education tracks, plus research sessions to help attendees customize their conference experience: Clinical and Self-Management Care Integration; Diabetes and the Cardiometabolic Continuum; Inclusive Person-Centered Care; Levering Technology Devices, Data and Patient-Generated Health Data; Psychosocial/Behavioral Health; and the Business Side of Diabetes.
Each day of the conference will focus on a different theme. Thursday focuses on overcoming Therapeutic Inertia, Friday focuses on Models of Care, Saturday features Innovation in Diabetes Technology and Therapeutics, and Sunday focuses on the ADCES 7 Self-Care Behaviors.
“We learned a lot from our experiences last year,” Kocurek said. “More than 5,000 people joined us virtually for ADCES20, so we are keeping what worked and improving on the challenges we experienced. The result will be a best-in-class virtual experience for all attendees focused on learning, collaborating and networking.”
Kocurek said attendees will be able to learn at their own pace, as all sessions will be available on-demand for 3 months after the conference concludes. ADCES 2021 will offer 65.5 CE/CME credits. Attendees can also chat live with speakers during the conference, network with colleagues from around the country, meet with exhibitors and view product demos, and enjoy an audio component with the poster sessions.
Kocurek highlighted key sessions for each day (all sessions are Central time):
- ADCES President Kellie Rodriguez, RN, MSN, MBA, CDCES, will highlight the value of diabetes care and education specialists and the role they play in advancing the vision of the specialty during the president’s address on Thursday at 9 a.m. Lee Prosenjak, an igniter from Simon Sinek, will then discuss how to gain a greater sense of purpose and fulfillment within your organization. “He champions the concept that leaders who know what they stand for — who have found their ‘why’ — are naturally more focused, passionate and inspiring to others,” Kocurek said.
- Joshua Joseph, MD, MPH, FAHA, will speak about how to advance equity in diabetes care and education through person-centered care team models on Friday at 9 a.m.
- William Cefalu, MD, director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases at the NIH, will explore precision medicine’s potential, how it positively impacts individualized care and other clinical considerations on Friday at 9 a.m.
- Jan Kavookjian, PhD, MBA, FAPhA, FADCES, the ADCES president-elect for 2022, will discuss how to create demand for your services on Sunday at 12:45 p.m.
ADCES will also offer several sessions presented in collaboration with other major organizations, including the American Diabetes Association, the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education, the CDC, the College Diabetes Network and the Helmsley Charitable Trust.
“There will be several virtual networking opportunities this year,” Kocurek said. “Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with a huge number of local and national peers that share their professional interests. State coordinating bodies will be hosting virtual networking events, and community of interest groups will be hosting roundtable discussions.”
Kocurek said she hopes the 2021 conference helps attendees to grow and improve.
“I encourage attendees to step outside their comfort zone by choosing a session topic they know nothing about, or reaching out to make a new connection or two,” Kocurek said.
Healio and Endocrine Today staff will provide coverage from ADCES21, with reports on the sessions, video interviews and more. For more information on the ADCES agenda and registration, visit https://www.ADCES21.org.
Collapse
Healio interview
Read more about