KMS members are invited to join their physician colleagues at the upcoming KMS Annual Meeting to be held on Saturday, September 22, 2018. The meeting will be held at the KMS office (623 SW 10th Ave.) in Topeka from 9am-2:30pm. A key portion of the event is a facilitated, open discussion about important topics facing medicine in Kansas; this year, we’ll specifically focus on the challenges regarding opioid abuse and the physician’s role in that changing environment.
AMA President-elect to speak about opioids
Joining us will be Patrice A. Harris, MD, MA, the newly elected President-elect of the American Medical Association. Dr. Harris also chairs the AMA Task Force to Reduce Opioid Abuse with the goal to increase physicians’ registration and use of effective prescription drug-monitoring programs; enhance physician education on effective, evidence-based prescribing; reduce the stigma of chronic pain and substance-use disorder (SUD); and promote comprehensive assessment and treatment; expand access to naloxone in the community and through co-prescribing; and promote safe storage and disposal of opioids and all medications. Dr. Harris, a psychiatrist from Atlanta, has diverse experience as a private practicing physician, public health administrator, patient advocate and medical society lobbyist. She was elected to the AMA Board of Trustees in June 2011.
Keynote speaker: “Dreamland” author
The day will conclude with our Luncheon Keynote Speaker, Sam Quinones. Mr. Quinones is a journalist, storyteller, former L.A. Times reporter, and author of three acclaimed books including Dreamland: The True Tale of America’s Opiate Epidemic, the 2015 National Book Critics Circle Award Winner for general nonfiction. The book chronicles the opiate crisis of a town in Ohio, and how that town came together to address dependency and work toward economic and social revitalization. Mr. Quinones is busy on the speaking circuit, recently speaking to members of the medical societies in Colorado and Indiana.
If you have questions, contact Nancy Sullivan at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
