“Reports & Events” is a monthly tip sheet for the news media that highlights selected meetings of interest and reports from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine.

Selected Events in April 2020

All facilities of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine are closed.  All gatherings have been converted to virtual meetings.  Click on each event title below to access meeting details, an agenda, and registration information, or contact the Office of News and Public Information (e-mail news@nas.edu). Reporters should register for all meetings.  More events can be found at https://www.nationalacademies.org/events.

Obesity Solutions: Integrating Systems and Sectors

April 6

This webinar will explore systems approaches to addressing obesity in America. Invited presenters will provide a background on systems theories and methodologies, discuss the history of systems science, and examine how it can be used to mitigate health inequities.

Integrating the Science of Aging and Environmental Health Research

April 9 and 10

This workshop will explore emerging research at the intersection of aging, longevity, environmental exposures, and human health. Workshop speakers will consider how environmental exposures influence aging, and how aging influences health outcomes that are a result of environmental factors.

Care Interventions for Individuals with Dementia and Their Caregivers

April 15

At this workshop, experts will review the current state of evidence and discuss which care interventions for individuals with dementia and their caregivers may be considered ready for broad dissemination and implementation. The presentations and discussions will help inform an Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) systematic review of such interventions.

Children’s Mental Health and the Life Course Model

April 16

This workshop series explores how mental health disorders develop over the life span, particularly during prenatal, early, middle, and later childhood development. For this fifth webinar in the series, experts from the American Board of Pediatrics and Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center will focus on primary care approaches to the prevention of mental health disorders.

Exploring the Feasibility of In-Flight Wheelchair Restraint Systems

April 20 and 21

How feasible is it for people to remain in their wheelchair during a flight? Experts will evaluate the design, engineering, and safety requirements for equipping aircraft with wheelchair restraint or “tiedown” systems. They will also discuss the ways in which individuals with significant disabilities using wheelchairs can be accommodated with those systems. This workshop is part of a joint consensus study of the Health and Medicine Division and Transportation Research Board.

Preparing Health Professions Faculty for the Future

April 23 and 24

Schools of health professions (medical, dental, and nursing schools, etc.) must constantly adapt teaching strategies in today’s changing health care system. This workshop will explore how schools are preparing learners to work across health professions and sectors. Speakers will also discuss faculty’s role in mentoring and providing constructive feedback to learners, and mitigating stress and burnout.

Implications of Discarded Weight-Based Drugs

April 29

Many prescription medications are dispensed in single-use vials, prescribed based on a patient’s weight. However, sometimes the amount of drug exceeds the dosage that the patient needs, leading to unused medication, safety risks, and potentially billions of dollars wasted. This workshop, which is part of a consensus study, will explore the financial, quality, and safety concerns associated with discarded weight-based drugs.

Reports Scheduled for Release in April

Release dates for the following consensus reports and proceedings from the Academies depend on successful completion of the review process and publishing schedules. Reporters who would like to be notified when a report is due for release should contact the Office of News and Public Information (e-mail news@nas.edu) and ask to be placed on the contact list.

Department of Energy’s Plans to Disposition Surplus Plutonium Material by Disposal as Waste in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

Evaluates the general viability of the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration’s conceptual plans for disposing of 34 metric tons of surplus plutonium in the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant, a deep geologic repository near Carlsbad, New Mexico.

Selected Health Conditions and Likelihood of Improvement with Treatment

Identifies long-lasting medical conditions — including mental disorders, cancers, and musculoskeletal disorders — that are likely to improve with treatment. This report will inform the Social Security Administration’s periodic reviews process, which is used to determine whether a beneficiary’s disablement still qualifies them to receive disability benefits.

ALSO OF INTEREST

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

Explore the National Academies’ latest news and resources related to COVID-19, as well as consensus studies and workshop proceedings on the subject of pandemic infectious disease. 

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