AMDA Members Take the Lead on COVID and More with New Virtual Symposium
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“We are all leaders, whether we realize it or not. I’m excited to advance this role for all of us moving forward,” says Diane Sanders-Cepeda, DO, CMD, talking about the Society’s inaugural Leadership, Ethics & PALTC Virtual Symposium being held November 20-21. “AMDA is the premier organization to provide leadership to post-acute and long-term care practitioners, and this program will take these efforts to the next level.”
Registration is now open. The early bird rate of $225 for members is available through September 24. The program will feature interdisciplinary panels addressing top issues, including
- Leadership & Advocacy in the Era of COVID
- Addressing Racial Inequality and Health Care Disparities
- Beyond the Walls of the SNF – Leadership & Ethical Considerations Across the PALTC Continuum
- Truth Telling Equity & Professionalism: Lessons in Ethics and Leadership from the COVID Frontlines
- Telehealth Emergence in PALTC, COVID, and Beyond
- Future of PALTC – Where Do We Go from Here? An Interdisciplinary Discussion
Dr. Sanders-Cepeda, who chairs the committee organizing the conference, first saw the need for this program back in March. “Our state chapter [Florida] had a Zoom call to provide a COVID update. We had over 100 people join. I realized that we had to think about things differently and that we need a place at the table in decision-making about the pandemic and the health care system in general,” she explains. “We are able to care for people in the most vulnerable condition. Our facilities are their homes. We have to take a stand and say, ‘This is what we need to care for our residents and keep them safe.’”
This program will build on the leadership and advocacy skills and abilities AMDA members have already demonstrated. “We weren’t prepared to be leaders during a pandemic, but we stepped up and continue to rise to the occasion. This is the cornerstone of good leadership—demonstrating flexibility and adaptability and getting out ahead of the issues as much as possible,” Dr. Sanders-Cepeda says. “As PALTC clinicians, our leadership strengths are in addressing residents’ needs and mandates to deliver care. We’re very good at making policies and procedures that impact our patients and others. We excel at driving education for our teams. We are experts at working outside of the box to develop clinical solutions.”
One challenge for many practitioners, Dr. Sanders-Cepeda suggests, is learning to navigate the health care system at large and “how to be a leader even if you’re not the one in charge.” She notes that “the true power seat at the table is in the middle because you can see the whole landscape.” Other challenges, she offers, involve learning to work with stakeholders at all levels—from national to state and community—and finding tangible solutions for inequality. “This symposium will help people be more confident putting themselves out there, leading the discussions, and working as problem-solvers and innovators,” Dr. Sanders-Cepeda says.
In addition to the formal presentations, the program will feature virtual roundtables. “It’s essential to give people a chance to connect and share ideas, questions, concerns, solutions, and support,” says Dr. Sanders-Cepeda. Besides, she adds, “We’re AMDA. We love to talk. An important part of our conferences has always been to network, meet, and catch-up with our colleagues. We wanted to give people an opportunity to continue these connections, even if it has to be virtual for the time being.”
“AMDA has been my father and my state chapter is like a mother. This is where I learned how to be a leader. And what I have learned applies to so many disciplines,” Dr. Sanders-Cepeda notes. “We need to take what we learn at this virtual symposium back to our organizations. As leaders; we need to encourage and inspire others to lead as well.”
Click here for more information about the program or to register.