I recently attended the 27th Annual International Clinical Symposium sponsored by the American Academy of Craniofacial Pain (AACP). The meeting was held in Fort Worth, TX on July 27-28 201. The theme for the conference was “Perspectives of Related Professions”.
The AACP was founded in 1985. Membership in this international organization consists of dentists, oral surgeons, physicians, psychologists, chiropractic practitioners, physical therapists, and other related health care practitioners.
The purpose of the AACP is to foster education among the medical and dental professions and to promote the understanding of multidisciplinary treatment of people suffering from craniofacial pain and temporomandibular joint disorders.
The AACP conducts a clinical symposium once a year, in different cities across the United States. Speakers and topics differ at each conference. As it seems with all conferences some of the information was new and very relevant, some was interesting and some was of virtually no value. But knowledge gained was worth the trip.
One of the best aspects of these conferences for me is the opportunity to spend time with old friends and colleagues. It probably will not surprise anyone that some of the best new information comes from the small group interaction in the evening after the scientific programs have ended.
I arrived at Dallas-Fort Worth airport the day before the scientific session and was graciously hosted by my good friend Dr. Rex Eatmon. Dr. Eatmon, an oral surgeon from Dallas, was waiting for me at the baggage claim and we immediately set off to the Fort Worth Stockyards for a late lunch at his favorite Mexican restaurant, Joe T Garcias, Joe T’s as it is locally known has been in continuous operation for decades. We ordered two dinners and a pitcher of ice cold margaritas. The food is served family style and there is plenty of it. I’m not quite sure how we managed to eat enough to feed an entire family but I suspect the very refreshing margaritas had a certain influence on our appetites. If you are ever in Fort Worth do not miss Joe T’s. The Stockyard neighborhood is actually quite interesting. There are numerous shops featuring western wear, art and western furniture, as well as, a great variety of restaurants. It is a very nice area with friendly people and lots of families with small children (not a host of inebriated people as for example Bourbon Street, N. O.) At midday every day there is also a genuine recreation of an olde time cattle drive through the streets to the Stockyard pens. Something you and your children may never see anywhere else.
In summary, the AACP conference was great and Fort Worth was fun. I recommend these both for future professional development or a holiday.
