The OU College of Medicine will host a conference Tuesday through May 14 to teach physicians about new techniques and practices.

The conference, called the Annual Primary Care Update, is an annual conference aimed at local and regional physicians. This is the 13th year the OU College of Medicine will host the conference.

“It is 40 hours jam-packed with information on how to provide better care for patients,” said Myrna Page, Office of Continuing Medical Education associate director. “It will be a good thing for Oklahoma doctors.”

The main purpose is to provide up-to-date information about important topics, Page said.

“The purpose is to give physicians in Oklahoma and surrounding areas an update to identify new diagnostic techniques and the rationale for selection of those that are appropriate for the physician’s patients,” Page said. “It also assesses overlooked diagnoses and how to prevent them.”

Diseases that physicians commonly diagnose, such as cardiovascular disease and diabetes, are covered at each conference, Page said. Other diseases that do not have as much change in methodology and research are talked about every two to four years.

This year the conference has two keynote speakers who are both experts in their fields, Page said.

Dr. Bill McCarberg founded a pain management program in San Diego and currently teaches at the University of California at San Diego School of Medicine, according to his biography. Through his work with pain management, he has won many national awards and has written more than 80 articles and books.

For the conference, McCarberg will focus on pain tolerance, addiction and the difficult decisions primary-care physicians face when choosing ways to manage the pain, according to the conference brochure.

The other keynote speaker, Dr. Aimée Garcia, specializes in care for the elderly. She teaches geriatric medicine at Baylor College of Medicine and also is a member of several programs devoted to aging and wound management.

Her speech at the conference will discuss what physicians need to know about wound care, according to the conference program.

“The planning committee has seen both speakers at national conferences and wanted to invite them here,” Page said. “[Garcia] has spoken here in Oklahoma and was very well received.”

The conference is geared toward physicians and other health care professionals, such as physicians’ assistants and registered nurses, Page said. There also is a registration fee for the conference.

However, if medical students or others want to attend individual lectures, Page said the OU College of Medicine could possibly make accommodations.

For more information, call 405-271-2350.