CONTACT: Doug Hovelson612-722-5501[email protected]
Kathy Stone651-695-2763 [email protected] Cheryl Alementi651-695-2737[email protected]
MEDIA ALERT
Experts Explore Neurology and Terrorism
Focus on Biological Threats, Chemical Threats, Neuropsychiatric Effects of Terrorism and the Role of the American Academy of Neurology
WHAT: Neurology and Terrorism Plenary Session at the American Academy of Neurology 54th Annual Meeting
WHEN: Wednesday, April 17, 2002 9 -- 11:30 a.m.
WHERE: Colorado Convention Center, Denver
WHO: Five experts provide post 9/11 perspective on threatened or actual attacks of terrorism and the role of neurologists:
The War Against Terrorism: What to Expect, What You Can DoMajor General Perry M. Smith USA (ret.), PhD
Keynote speaker Smith evaluates our national leaders, our strategy and our performance to date. A retired general, Smith served for 30 years in the U.S. Air Force. He now serves as an analyst for NBC TV and CBS radio.
Neuropsychiatric Effects of TerrorismCarol S. North, MD, MPE
North presents Washington University research on the mental health effects of the Oklahoma City bombing effects and discusses why the psychiatric casualties following the 9/11 attacks may affect tens of thousands of directly exposed individuals.
Chemical Warfare Agents: What Neurologists Should KnowJonathan Newmark, MD
Newmark addresses the chemical threats to both troops and civilians. As the world's only neurologist assigned full-time to medical chemical defense, he coordinates the Army's research effort on neuroprotection in nerve agent poisoning.
Biological Warfare Agents: What Neurologists Should KnowLarry E. Davis, MD
Davis provides two examples of how bacteria found naturally in nature can be transformed into biological weapons that damage the nervous system - anthrax and clostridia botulinum.
The Role of the AAN in Fighting TerrorismSteven P. Ringel, MD
Ringel discusses the role of the AAN and neurologists, as well as other health professionals in building a system that can respond quickly, effectively and flexibly to combat bioterrorism. Ringel is past president of the AAN and a professor of neurology and co-director of the Department of Quality and Outcomes at the University of Colorado Hospital.
FOR MORE INFORMATION: Complete AAN annual meeting information, including schedules for presentations, plenary meetings and awards ceremony, may be found online at www.aan.com.
Additional AAN 54th Annual Meeting Information
ACCESS RESEARCH NEWS RELEASES AT: www.newswise.com/vpr/mtg2002.aan.html
PREVIEWING THE ABSTRACTS: Abstracts of scientific presentations to be made at the AAN annual meeting may be previewed online via the AAN website. To view the abstracts, go to www.aan.com; click through to the AAN Denver annual meeting homepage, then click on Abstracts Online (found on the right hand side of the annual meeting homepage). A very brief registration process is required to access the Abstracts Online database.
TO OBTAIN MEDIA CREDENTIALS TO COVER THE AAN MEETING: Media coverage of the AAN meeting is welcomed. Media registration and credentialing will be conducted on-site during the meeting. Please note that media credentials must be obtained to allow entry to the AAN annual meeting. On-site credentialing will also be available; for security reasons there may be a delay in obtaining credentials on-site. Contact Kathy Stone (email: [email protected], telephone: 651-695-2763) or Cheryl Alementi (email: [email protected], telephone: 651-695-2737) with questions.
Due to their scientific and technical nature, AAN annual meetings are not open to the general public.
ON-SITE MEDIA AVAILABILITIES: Many of the speakers making scientific presentations will be available for followup interviews at media conferences held in a meeting room near the AAN Press Room at the Colorado Convention Center. AAN public relations staff will also be present in the Media Room (Lobby C, Room 210, Colorado Convention Center) throughout the meeting. Staff will do all it can to accommodate individual media requests for interviews and additional information as needed.
The American Academy of Neurology, based in St. Paul, Minn., is an association of 18,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals. It is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research. The AAN publishes the twice-monthly journal Neurology, one of the leading publications for scientific and medical research and news in the neurology profession worldwide.
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