Physicians from seven states to meet in Champaign

URBANA, IL – Carle Clinic Occupational Medicine physicians Philbert Chen, MD, and Thomas Sutter, DO, MPH, will serve as chairpersons for the Central States Occupational and Environmental Medicine Association (CSOEMA) Annual Fall Seminar at the Hilton Garden Inn, Champaign, September 18-19. CSOEMA has more than 600 occupational medicine physician members throughout Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

“This seminar provides occupational medicine physicians an opportunity to network and earn credits toward continuing education,” Dr. Sutter said. “It has been more than 20 years since this conference was hosted locally, and it is an honor to showcase Carle Clinic’s medical expertise.”  

The two-day conference will address worker’s compensation care, including benefits of leading-edge cervical spine surgeries, evaluating work-related eye trauma and return-to-work and stay-at-work goals. The seminar will also focus on how workplace wellness programs affect employee health and businesses’ bottom line. 

“Businesses with on-site health and wellness programs experience positive impacts to revenues and expenses,” Dr. Chen said. “Employers can see significant savings in healthcare expenses and increased staff productivity.”

The following Carle Clinic providers and staff will lead educational sessions at the seminar:

Robert Hurford, Jr, MD, PhD, Spine Surgery
Clifford Johnson, MD, Hand Surgery
Chirag Patel, MD, Vitreo-Retinal Surgery 
Pamela Warren, PhD, Psychology  
Jerrad Zimmerman, MD , Sports Medicine 
Michael Maeder, BS, MOT, OT/L, CHT, Therapy Services
Barb Wleklinski, MS, CPDM, Work Injury Network

Expert speakers from other organizations include:
Brad Cooper, CEO, US Corporate Wellness
Gail Amundson, MD, CEO, Quality Quest
Mike Taylor, MD, Medical Dir., Health Promotion, Caterpillar
Sarah Zallek, MD, Medical Dir., Illinois, Neurological Institute Sleep Center
Ray Werntz JD, Senior Consultant, HPN Worldwide
Brian Ogan MD, Medical Director, Illinois Spine and Pain Center

The seminar is sponsored by the University of Iowa College of Public Health, Heartland Center for Occupational Health and Safety and the University of Iowa Carver College of Medicine in association with the University of Iowa College of Nursing.

CSOEMA is the largest organization sponsored by the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM). ACOEM is the nation's largest medical society dedicated to promoting the health of workers through preventive medicine, clinical care, research and education.

Click here to learn more about CSOEMA and the Annual Fall Seminar.