Agenda October 2024

Understand what a direct pay practice is, learn what the best practices for this type of practice are and transcend the fear of moving from insurance-based to direct pay practice. Attendees will be asked to envision the ideal Age Management Practice they wish to develop.

Understand the range of services than can be offered from an Age Management Practice and understand how you can develop a menu of services that will fit you and your practice.

Diagnosing the Age Management Patient is critical to formulation of a personalized patient treatment plan. This lecture will provide attendees with options regarding diagnostic tools and procedures.

We have a captive audience with the patients we see every day. They trust our judgments and that is why they seek us out for their medical care. The trust can be translated into other products and services that we provide in our clinical practice – everything from cosmetic products and procedures to carrying a line of high quality nutraceuticals. The educational process to “sell” these products and services does take some upfront time. Once the patient/consumer becomes part of the process to utilize these products and services it can become a critical recurrent part of your revenue stream. The questions is, what products and services should you offer and how do you decide what these products and services should be? During this presentation I will help you outline how to start with the basics and in time build/create that revenue stream even when you are not physically seeing the patient.

Creating programs that will incorporate your defined services, creating a real change in the health of patients and retaining patients are critical to the success of your practice.

Building Your Practice with DEXA: Key Metrics, Improved Patient Outcomes, New Clients & Competitive Advantages

Presented by Tony Orlando

Non-CME Symposium Sponsored by DEXA Plus

Open to all attendees and includes a complimentary lunch

Financial Literacy for Physicians, Staff, and the Age Management Practice
John Rush, FACEP, MBA, MHA
Owner, AKPC Clinics

Dr. Rush has years of experience as an Age Management Physician, Practice Owner and CEO, he will bring his experience and perspective to the course to discuss critical financial topics that are a must know for Age Management Physicians such as Transaction Management, Investment Accounts, Debt, Investments for Staff and Physicians, Mortgages, Life Insurance, College Savings Accounts and Social Security.

A culture of excellence starts with the right team and brand. How your patients perceive your practice is essential to developing trust, thus increasing referrals and patient retention. Learn how to engage your team in creatively promoting, not selling, your services to current patients and prospects. What employee skills will be essential? 

How to secure new patients and retain current patients through appropriate branding and marketing programs is essential to success.

The Liability Entanglements of Running Your Own Practice: Don’t Let Your Corporate Veil Be Pierced
Art McOmber
Fortune Law Firm, Las Vegas, NV

Business owner doctors erroneously believe that setting up their practice as a corporation or LLC creates a shield of liability between their business assets and their personal assets. But setting up the entity is just one small step in creating protections that business entities afford. These protections, to be effective, also require adequate capitalization of the entity, observation of corporate formalities, and a strict division between what is the business and what is the individual. Learn what it takes to run a medical practice in a way that will afford all of the protections that the law provides.

Learn what to avoid to eliminate or reduce the inevitable problems and those pearls from experienced Practice Management Professionals that can help you succeed.

Francesca Guglin
CEO, Hyperfit MD Age Management Center

There is a paradigm shift occurring in aesthetic medicine. Some celebrities have publicly announced that they have had their hyaluronic acid fillers dissolved and consumers are now opting for a more natural approach. Using PRP to rejuvenate skin is not new but new protocols have been developed and Dr. Polit will explain the techniques that we are now using to deliver what we call “regenerative aesthetics.” PRF gel is used to time release growth factors for lasting rejuvenation. PRP Plasma Gel is a way we can create large volumes of natural filler with the added benefit of growth factors from a double spun PRP. A demonstration of a PRP facial and the gel warmer will accompany the talk.  A demonstration of a PRP facial and the gel warmer will accompany the talk.

Many Aesthetics providers are reluctant to add PDO threads to their practice fearing that it is too complicated. This is good news for those willing to learn some basic techniques to get started and offer something that the competition does not have. Dr. Song will explain the theory behind the absorbable threads and discuss the different types of threads that you can use in your practice. A live demonstration of smooth thread placement and a video demonstration of barbed thread placement will accompany the talk.

There are many different approaches to treating hair loss, from PRP injections to hair transplants. The problem most practitioners face is that the results are unpredictable and inconsistent. Learn how you can incorporate a consistent and profitable hair treatment program into your practice. A live demonstration of Microneedling growth factors into the scalp will accompany the talk.

Advanced Aesthetic Technologies

Presented by Tony Howard

Non-CME Symposium Sponsored by Refine USA

Open to all attendees and includes a complimentary lunch

There are many advantages to combining treatments the skill is to know what goes with what and why is that a benefit to the patient. There are also many fit falls if you combine the wrong things as that may put you at risk with your insurance company. We will advise you on your menu selections, provide supporting data as to benefit and provide demonstrations utilizing different modalities.

With his deep scientific knowledge, Dr. Song will explain how this technology can be used legally in topical skin care to achieve regenerative results that were not previously possible with over-the-counter skin care products. A live demonstration of Microneedling with regenerative skin care products. Demonstrations will be conducted on the face and neck.

Dr. Song will speak about how you can use a patient’s own fat as a filler for long lasting natural facial rejuvenation and volumization. With an FDA cleared fat transfer kit, you can perform this procedure in the office without an autoclave or an operating room. A video demonstration will accompany the talk.

A survey of the growing applications of Microneedling and PRP and how this started as a beauty treatment but has turned into a life-changing therapy.

Bring your questions. Our faculty will talk about what has worked and what has not worked over the years, along with a discussion of their favorite technologies and products. Tips from this talk will help you avoid common mistakes that could cost you valuable time and money.

Dr. Dinetz has prepared this initial lecture to point out the strong connections between Functional Medicine (FM) and Age Management Medicine. He will Diagram visuals comparing of Age Management Medicine to Functional Medicine (FM) including overlap to make this extremely clear while pointing out the areas such as Age Management’s focus on exercise physiology assessment and treatment are critical to longevity and FM alike, as is Nutrition. Both specialties aim to optimize health and wellness while extending lifespan. Together they comprise a most comprehensive protocol.

Both specialties seek the source, or cause, of medical conditions and Functional Medicine in particular incorporates a comprehensive Questionnaire. The probing questions are important in the physicians attempt to get to the bottom of a patient issue. This lecture will review Questionnaires for Functional Medicine including occult infections, genetic issues and environmental factors.

Assessing the Functional Medicine / Age Management Patient: Step 2 Diagnostic Testing a systems Biology Approach
Elliot Dinetz, M.D., ABFM, FAAMM
Founder, Timeless Health, Miami, FL
Member, AMMG Conference Planning Committee

Dushyant Viswanathan, M.D., ABIM, ABoIM, AACE
Chief Medical Officer, The Columbia Center for Integrative Medicine (CCIM)

This lecture, the next step in trying to determine causation for medical issues will explore patient assessment protocols looking at levels of Organic Acid, Heavy Metals, Environmental Issues, Blood, Saliva, Urine Metabolites and Stool Testing.

This session will describe fitness assessments that can lead to personalized exercise prescriptions which can focus on specific patients’ needs, will also present information on how exercise impacts the gut microbiome.

Gastrointestinal Microbiome Assessment, Evaluation and Personalized Treatment
Dushyant Viswanathan, M.D., ABIM, ABoIM, AACE
Chief Medical Officer, The Columbia Center for Integrative Medicine (CCIM)

This lecture will cover how gut microbiome can promote health or illness including the interconnectedness of Gut Immune and rise of such issues, Pathophysiology of Gut Immune Hormone here. Data will show what the Functional Testing will tell us that is relevant to treatment plans,  sample treatment plan and case report.

Elevating Clinical Outcomes with Quality Compounding: Unique Peptide Therapies Comprehensive Clinic Support

Presented by Dianne Morrell

Open to all attendees and includes a complimentary lunch

Non-CME symposium sponsored by Shields Compounding Pharmacy

Development of a Personalized Nutrition Plan for an Optimum Nutrient Status
Elliot Dinetz, M.D., ABFM, FAAMM
Founder, Timeless Health, Miami, FL
Member, AMMG Conference Planning Committee

This lecture will cover Histamine Sensitivity, Food Allergy/Sensitivities, Gluten Intolerance and Dairy i.e. elimination diets and science.  And we will discuss the use of Clinical Genomics in treatment of obscure symptoms.

Dushyant Viswanathan, M.D., ABIM, ABoIM, AACE
Chief Medical Officer, The Columbia Center for Integrative Medicine (CCIM)

What does Inflammation looks like symptomologically in the patients experience? Articulate the science behind: how Microbes drive Inflammation in the human body, due to the complex relationship between the immune system and the microbes. We’ll discuss Functional Testing Results, treatment opportunities and sample treatment plans.

We’ll discuss Gut Cortisol/Inflammation/Hormone Imbalance. The use of Custom BHRT for Chronic Fatigue, Custom BHRT for Menopausal Vasomotor symptoms and Custom BHRT for menopausal concerns in absence of vasomotor symptoms.

Inflammation impairs the Hpi Axis because Cortisol is the major immune regulation hormone in the body. Other hormones beneficial for health – Testosterone, Vitamin D and Pregnenalone will decrease as a consequence of inflammation, therefore an unhealthy balance between Cortisol and Melatonin, Estrogen and Progesterone, Calcium and Magnesium can all promote insomnia. Discussion of Functional Testing- sample results, a sample treatment plan and case presentation to follow.

AMMG Welcome Reception

Open to all conference attendees, spouses and guests

Held in Conference Networking and Exhibits Center

This session will address the basics of what a peptide is, what receptor does it interact with, how do peptides work, how many peptides do we have and which hormones are peptides. Some peptides are hormones and also neurotransmitters.   In addition, how a peptide is synthesized in a lab will be reviewed. The benefits of peptides and where most of the peptides that can be obtained will be covered. (Although as of May 21, 2023 using peptides in California is prohibited, so we don’t know how one in California can obtain them.)

The history of the discovery of BPC157 will be covered and the only clinical human published study will be reviewed. The benefits and the dosing of different routes of delivery will be discussed.

Growth hormone is an essential hormone in lowering body fat, improving on lipids, keeping muscles healthy and improving on bone density. Adult growth hormone deficiency symptoms will be reviewed and the association of higher mortality with growth hormone deficiency. Unfortunately, the treatment with recombinant human growth hormone is not covered under most insurance plans and also it is cost prohibitive for most people. There is an alternative to the expensive recombinant human growth hormone mostly commonly used for boosting IGF-1 and has the advantage of inducing all five of the hGH isoforms rather just the one that is found in the synthetic form. Tesamorelin, Sermorelin and others are peptides will be reviewed.

The peptides from the Thymus gland that are immune stimulating will be covered. The studies and the dosing protocols for both these peptides If Thymus alpha 1 (TA1) and Thymulin is available in April 2024 then these peptides will be reviewed.  If these peptides are not available then other novel peptides will be discussed to improve one’s immune system.

Memory loss is a huge concern. Improving cognition is difficult but if peptides are used early with hormonal balance, improving the microbiome, and removing toxins in the body this functional medicine approach can help.  Depending on what peptides are available in April 2024 we will discuss those peptides.

Peptides can reduce inflammation and help with post-surgical pain, trauma and also with neuropathic pain. The different peptides that help with pain will be covered including the dosing protocols.

Elevating Clinical Outcomes with Quality Compounding: Unique Peptide Therapies Comprehensive Clinic Support

Presented by Dianne Morrell

Open to all attendees and includes a complimentary lunch

Non-CME symposium sponsored by Shields Compounding Pharmacy

There are peptides that can turn off the fibroblast cells to help produce collagen and to improve the dermis of the skin. Improving the thickness of the dermis can reduce wrinkles and also to help the skin to look younger. These peptides are very popular in any wellness practice. The top cosmeceutical peptides will be reviewed.

There are peptides that can help with cancer management. These peptides either improve the immune system or with turning on the cancer suppression genes or turning off the cancer promoting genes. Met-enkephalin and other peptides will be discussed during this session.

Autoimmune diseases are on the rise and are devastating. Balancing the immune system is one of the keys in improving autoimmune diseases. The dosing of the peptides of OGF, VIP and other peptides will be reviewed.

The pineal gland is found in vertebrates, mammals, amphibians, and in humans. Melatonin and Epitalon are both derived from the pineal gland. One of the benefits of Epitalon is that in has been shown to improve longevity in both in animals and in humans. The human clinical trials from Russia that have shown to reduce mortality and also cancer will be reviewed and the dosing protocols will also be covered.

Held in Conference Networking and Exhibits Center

This presentation will review the most common conditions associated with aging in women—cardiometabolic disease, cognitive decline, bone and muscle loss, and immunosenescence. Since these conditions all follow a trajectory, thorough assessment for each condition will enable clinicians to determine where their female patients fall on the spectrum in order to develop individualized treatment plans.

BMI is a strong predictor of mortality. Weight loss for patients with overweight or obesity decreases mortality and morbidity, especially due to cardiometabolic disease and many forms of cancer. In addition, weight loss reduces the likelihood of pain and disability and improves quality of life. Therefore, weight loss is a medical intervention that improves health span and lifespan. This lecture will cover the factors that contribute to obesity and evidence-based treatment options to achieve and maintain ideal body composition.

This presentation will provide well-referenced, clinically relevant information on women’s sex hormones, thyroid, and adrenal hormones. Mechanisms of action, signs and symptoms of imbalance, and the relationship between hormones and diseases of aging will be reviewed.

This presentation will cover hormone testing options include serum, saliva, and urine with benefits and limitations for each. Timing of sample collection, baseline and follow-up lab work, hormone metabolism testing, & genetic SNPs that influence hormone activity will also be discussed.

Elevating Clinical Outcomes with Quality Compounding: Unique Peptide Therapies Comprehensive Clinic Support

Presented by Dianne Morrell

Open to all attendees and includes a complimentary lunch

Non-CME symposium sponsored by Shields Compounding Pharmacy

Fear and lack of education from health care providers, combined with media sensationalism, leave women confused about the benefits and risks of hormones supplementation. Some lectures or organizations providing BHRT training focus on specific modalities rather than reviewing all options and pros and cons of each. Although a thorough understanding of different modes of delivery may seem complicated, this presentation will enable participants to make evidence-based, individualized recommendations to patients focused on their goals. Emphasis will be placed on the more than 20 years of clinical experience of the presenter.

Fear and lack of education from health care providers combined with media sensationalism leave women confused about the benefits and risks of hormones supplementation. Some lectures or organizations providing BHRT training focus on specific modalities rather than reviewing all options and pros and cons of each. Although a thorough understanding of different modes of delivery may seem complicated, this presentation will enable participants to make evidence-based, individualized recommendations to patients focused on their goals. Emphasis will be placed on the more than 20 years of clinical experience of the presenter.

Understanding Informed Consent: Principles, Special Considerations, and Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)
Kimberly Suriano, M.D., FACOG, FAARM
Physician, The Oregon Clinic Obstetrics & Gynecology North, Portland, OR
Director, The Oregon Clinic Board

This presentation will focus on the principles of informed consent in the context of BHRT. The essential elements of informed consent including informing participants, describing therapies, and disclosing associated risks and benefits will be examined. Key topics will address the unique considerations for informed consent in BHRT, including special populations especially individuals aged 60-65 years and older, postmenopausal women who are more than 10 years past menopause, and individuals with a history of breast cancer. The lecture will review risks and benefits of BHRT, including potential side effects and long-term health implications. By the end, participants will gain the knowledge necessary to effectively develop and communicate informed consent tailored to diverse communities considering BHRT, while also understanding BHRT safety and risks.

One of the main short-cuts for clinical experience is learning from other providers about their experience, especially what works and mistakes to avoid. Case presentation is critical for all providers to build knowledge and mastery in assessing a woman’s health concerns as she ages and providing effective interventions including diet and lifestyle recommendations, supplements, and prescription medications including BHRT. Complex cases will be reviewed during this lecture with participant interaction encouraged.

AMMG Welcome Reception

Open to all conference attendees, spouses, and guests

Held in Conference Networking and Exhibits Center

Presentation Title TBA

Presented by TBA

Open to all attendees and includes a complimentary breakfast

Non-CME symposium sponsored by TBA

Presentation of the Alan P. Mintz, M.D. Award for Clinical Excellence in Age Management Medicine

Reversing Mild to Moderate Cognitive Decline
Edwin N. Lee, M.D.
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine, University of Central Florida College of Medicine
Member, AMMG Planning Committee

Mild to moderate dementia can be reversed.  This lecture will discuss 2 cases of dementia that were reversed.  On one case of dementia, it was reversed with using bioidentical hormones, vitamin D and a peptide.  The other case of dementia reversed with using therapeutic plasma exchange, stem cells, exosomes and peptides.

Mastering the Art of Tax Strategy and Asset Protection

Presented by Art McOmber

Open to all attendees and includes a complimentary lunch

Non-CME symposium sponsored by The Fortune Law Firm

Alzheimer’s disease is an age-related progressive neurodegenerative condition that is based upon complex and multivariable pro-inflammatory processes. The hyperphosphorylation of Tau Protein produces Tau fibrils causing disruption of the balance between inflammatory amyloid-beta and inert amyloid-alpha. The rising inflammation depletes the brain’s ability to make neurosteroids, neurotransmitters, and enzyme systems required for all things cerebral. Depletion of the frontal lobe’s concentration of pregnenolone, progesterone, and allopregnanolone cause the loss of executive functions in addition to damaging other areas such as the hippocampus leading to memory loss. Neurosteroids such as estradiol, pregnenolone, progesterone, allopregnanolone, DHEA, DHEA-s and testosterone/DHT are neuroprotective by virtue of their ability to reduce the neuroinflammation. This presentation will provide the science supporting how neuroinflammation can be combated by replenishment of many of the hormones that we fail/need to address in the course of Age Management Medicine.

Increasing age is the biggest risk factor for chronic disease and death, and therefore identifying ways to accurately predict biological age is imperative in understanding how interventions and therapeutics are affecting the aging process. In recent years, DNA methylation (DNAm) has shown remarkable associations to aging and longevity. However, these clocks have presented issues with clinical application. Mainly, the precision of these markers has been limited, some clocks don’t respond to validated biological interventions, and immune cell changes have been confounding factors.   Here we will present the first multi-omic biological age clock, named OMICmAge. To develop OMICmAge, we built a phenotypic clinical score, EMRAge, that was developed using 60+ years of Electronic Medical Record (EMR) data across 61 clinical biomarkers, and outperformed the current phenotypic score, PhenoAge. We then trained metabolomic, proteomic, and methylation data to EMRAge, which culminated in the development of the  new generation of OMICmAge. Compared to current methylation clocks such as GrimAge or DunedinPACE, OMICmAge exhibits the largest hazard ratios to disease, including disorders which previous clocks were not able to predict (e.g., depression). In addition, we will share results on the adaptability of this clock to lifestyle factors, diet, and supplements, making OMICmAge a potential biomarker in clinical application. We will discuss the clinical utility of this clock in revolutionizing patient care and longevity research.

Many interventions are currently available to extend human healthspan and potentially lifespan. However, medical providers often lack critical tools to deliver the best outcomes that their clients desire and deserve. Longevity biomarkers are among the most essential tools needed to advance age management medicine. This presentation will showcase a comprehensive and expanding panel of actionable longevity biomarkers. It will explain why and how these biomarkers can be used to identify risk factors for major age-related diseases at the earliest stages, tailor personalized and precise interventions, and monitor therapeutic outcomes for further optimization. The discussion will also cover the TAO (Test, Act, and Optimize) paradigm, which is crucial for successful age management medicine practices.

The Virtual MD: Leveraging AI to Accelerate Precision Medicine & Healthy Longevity
Florence Comite, M.D.
Founder, Comite Center for Precision Medicine & Healthy Longevity
Member, Planning Committee AMMG 

Advances in AI are poised to revolutionize Precision Medicine and usher in a new era of proactive virtual healthcare. AI-driven algorithms can effectively analyze an individual’s longitudinal nof1 data, providing physicians and clinicians with unparalleled and proactive insights into a patient’s health trajectory. This cutting-edge technology allows clinicians to optimize outcomes, stop disease progression, and reverse biological aging. In this lecture, physicians and clinicians will learn how to offer patients a previously unimaginable level of personalized, data-driven interventions that enable patients to extend their healthspan and enjoy healthier lives to 120 and beyond. I will demonstrate:
* how real-time insights from wearable sensors tracking sleep, nutrition, exercise, mood, sugar, hormones, VO2max, heart-rate variability, and epigenetic markers help to build vast datasets that allow for precise identification and prediction of disease patterns and individual profiles;
* how these datasets quickly grow into large language models that can drive hyper-personalized interventions, effectively reverse-engineering disease progression
* how precision insights and actionable interventions can be delivered to patients virtually anywhere through an intuitive app.

AMMG Exhibit Hall Happy Hour

Join us for complimentary Margaritas, Wine and Beer

Open to all conference attendees, spouses and guests

Held in Conference Networking and Exhibits Center

Optimizing Muscle Health: A Functional Wellness Strategy for Strength and Longevity

Presented by Gail King

Open to all attendees and includes a complimentary lunch

Non-CME symposium sponsored by BTL

Age Management Medicine clinics frequently integrate different medical devices to increase the offering of therapies relevant to the specialty. Some examples of these medical devices include Hyperbaric Oxygen Chambers, Photobiomodulation Beds, Plasmapheresis machines, Body Composition machines and others.  This lecture will detail all the different medical devices that are commonly used in Age Management Medicine as well as review the science behind their use. Finally, suggestions will be made for practitioners, both new and experienced in the field, who are looking to add some of these devices (and thus therapies) to their practice.

AMMG Member & Faculty Networking Dinner

6:30 pm: Cocktails & Hors D’Oeuvres
7:00 pm: Dinner

Open to AMMG Members & Faculty Only
(May Bring Your Spouse or Significant Other)

MUST RSVP to conference@agemed.org

There’s a new treatment paradigm sweeping over healthcare. It involves harnessing the power of the vagus nerve, stimulating it to dampen inflammation, mitigate pain, and build neuroplasticity. From vagus nerve “hacks” such as deep breathing and cold plunges to sophisticated electrical devices, both consumers and healthcare professionals are finding themselves discussing how to stimulate the vagus. This presentation will explore the myriad of interconnections of the vagus with the microbiome, hormones, mediators of pain, and neurotransmitters.

The introduction of pharmaceutical GLP-1 receptor agonists has been a game changer for the weight loss industry, having several times greater efficacy than previous generations of weight loss drugs, while achieving an acceptable side effect profile. GLP-1 therapeutics are based on modified long-acting versions of the endogenous gut peptide GLP-1 and aim to mimic GLP-1 activity but not its temporal profile in the body. Importantly, these pharmaceutical treatments contrast in several ways when compared to both endogenous GLP-1 responses as well as nutraceutical approaches that aim to enhance endogenous expression and release of intestinal GLP-1, suggesting different clinical consideration for both pharmaceutical and nutraceutical approaches. Additionally, recent data indicates increased sensitivity of females to both pharmaceutical and nutraceutical GLP-1 based interventions that may have implications for treatment protocols. This talk will cover the role of GLP-1 in the body, its discovery, and identification as a weight loss target. It will compare and contrast the development and usage of pharmaceutical and nutraceutical GLP-1 therapies and will discuss the reported increased sensitivity to GLP-1 based therapies in the female population.

Aging is a complex biological process characterized by the gradual decline of physiological functions and increased vulnerability to diseases. Research identifies the  roles of the mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) and autophagy in aging and longevity.

mTOR, a protein kinase, regulates cell growth, proliferation, and survival, while autophagy is a cellular process that removes damaged components and recycles nutrients. We explore the balance between mTOR signaling and autophagy, their combined impact on aging, and . their potential to promote healthy aging and extend lifespan. This lecture addresses various interventions that delay aging. We focus on diet, exercise, and stress management as foundational elements. Specific dietary patterns, such as caloric restriction and nutrient-sensing pathways, are examined for their roles in modulating mTOR and enhancing autophagy. The importance of stress management in mitigating the adverse effects of aging is highlighted. This lecture’s takeaway message is the potential of pharmacological agents and supplements to delay aging. We explore the promising effects of rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor, and other pharmaceuticals such as acarbose and metformin. We review supplements with mTOR-inhibiting and autophagy-activating properties and combination therapies. This hour-long presentation aims to provide insights into current and emerging strategies to promote healthy aging and extend lifespan.

Sound and light frequencies lay at the heart of bioenergetic medicine. New research is showing how to bring frequency medicine into clinical practice to enhance clinical regenerative therapeutics outcomes. From setting the stage, addressing the foundation through removal of obstacles, proper assessment and work up, and then developing the plan in a wholistic fashion. Come find out what therapeutics you may want to bring into your practice to better your outcomes and improve clinical results.