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AREA IX ACTIVITIES
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Spring 2002 AAAP News Column by Alvaro Zomosa Matthews, MD
I have been an International Member of AAAP since 1997 and have attended all of the Academy’s Annual Meetings since then as well as the 2000 Review Course in Addiction Psychiatry. During these meetings, I have met people with different ideas and ways of treating individuals suffering with substance addiction. Not only has this been very stimulating to me, but also it has helped to improve my clinical practice. I have noticed over the years that few International Members return to attend these same events and have been concerned about the low level of active participation by my fellow International Members. However, the 2001 Annual Meeting I felt was a departure point. For the first time there was more involvement by International Members, particularly with the workshop on international practices and perspectives. It was very exciting to have the opportunity to express and share our ideas, experiences, difficulties and customs regarding the similarities and differences between our countries. Accordingly, I am looking forward to this year’s AAAP Annual Meeting in Las Vegas and encourage all the International Members to attend it as well as actively participate. I would ask the Board of Directors to do all it can to facilitate this further so that we may all benefit from this collaboration and advance the practice of addiction psychiatry. If you would like to present at next year’s International Member’s workshop or have suggestions to help the further involvement of the International membership, please contact Dr. David Crockford, Area IX Director, at david.crockford@calgaryhealthregion.ca.
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