The primary goal of these conferences is to update health care professionals on immunization issues that affect people of all ages - from infants to the elderly and everyone in-between. The conferences are intended for nurses, nurse practitioners, medical assistants, public health staff, physicians, physician assistants, medical and nursing students, and anyone interested in learning more about current immunization practice in Michigan.

The MDCH Regional Immunization Conferences will be held on the following dates: Oct. 7 (Troy); Oct. 8 (Detroit); Oct. 13 (Gaylord); Oct. 15 (Marquette); Oct. 21 (Grand Rapids); Nov. 4 (E. Lansing); Nov. 17 (Kalamazoo); and Nov. 19 (Ypsilanti). This year, we have added Grand Rapids as a new location!

We have an exciting lineup of keynote speakers; their names and a brief bio are included below.

The online registration process will be similar to last year's process. The registration process will begin in mid-August. As we get closer to August, updated information will be posted at www.michigan.gov/immunize under "Provider Information."

Conference details will also be sent to our immunization listserv. If you receive emails from the Division of Immunization on a regular basis (usually several times a month), you can be rest assured that you are on our listserv. If you don't receive these emails on a regular basis, send an email message to MBenhamza@msms.org.  Enter the word SUBSCRIBE in the SUBJECT field. You will be added to the list, and you will begin receiving immunization information from the Division of Immunization on a regular basis. 

Conference details will be disseminated by email only. Information about the online registration process will be distributed in the beginning of August. Once you receive the registration information in August, we encourage you to register early since space is limited. (However, please note that conference registrations will not be accepted before August 17.)

Keynote Speakers

William Atkinson, MD, MPH, is scheduled to speak at the conferences in Gaylord, Marquette, Kalamazoo and Ypsilanti (Oct. 13 & 15, and Nov. 17 & 19). He will give the Vaccine Update presentation and will participate in the Troubleshooting Panel session. Dr. Atkinson is a medical epidemiologist with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He is the principle writer and presenter for numerous webcasts and satellite broadcasts on vaccine-preventable diseases, as well as the author or co-author of many publications on vaccine-preventable diseases. Dr. Atkinson is also the author of the Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases textbook (the "Pink Book"), which is now in its 11th edition.

Sharon Humiston, MD, MPH, FAAP is scheduled to speak at the conference in Grand Rapids (Oct. 21). She will give the Vaccine Update presentation and will participate in the Troubleshooting Panel session. Dr. Humiston is an associate professor of Emergency Medicine and Pediatrics at the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry. She works with a Rochester team to increase immunization rates for infants and adolescents in the inner city and is leading a pilot study to give influenza vaccines to elementary school students during the school day. She collaborates with CDC's National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases (NCIRD) to provide immunization education to nurse practitioners and physician assistants. Dr. Humiston also serves as a member of the National Vaccine Advisory Committee and the Autism Science Foundation scientific board.

Andrew Kroger, MD, MPH, is scheduled to speak at the Troy and Detroit conferences on October 7 & 8. He will give the Vaccine Update presentation and will participate in the Troubleshooting Panel session. Dr. Kroger graduated from Yale University in 1998 with a joint MD/MPH, concentrating in International Health. He trained in Pediatrics for two years at Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital in Cleveland before transferring to Emory University where he specialized in Public Health and Preventive Medicine. Since 2003 he has worked at CDC in the National Center for Immunizations and Respiratory Diseases. As one of the traveling trainers in the Education, Information and Partnership Branch, Dr. Kroger presents on topics that include immunization updates and pandemic influenza preparedness. He is also involved with some of the new distance learning activities of the branch, including the Current Issues in Immunization Series delivered through NetConferencing, and is the lead author of the newest edition of CDC's General Recommendations on Immunization.

Donna Weaver, RN, MN, is scheduled to speak at the East Lansing conference on Nov. 4. She will give the Vaccine Update presentation and will participate in the Troubleshooting Panel session. Ms. Weaver is the Nurse Educator for the National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases at CDC. As an immunization nurse educator, Donna travels nationally providing immunization training and information to the public and to healthcare professionals. Ms. Weaver also provides clinical consultation to immunization providers and assists in the development of immunization continuing education products offered by CDC, including the yearly CDC course: Epidemiology and Prevention of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases.

We have attached a  2009 Fall Regional Immunization Conferences Keynote Speakers flyer  for those who would like to post it in your workplace.