Philadelphia.  The city of brotherly love.  Birthplace of the United States of America.

Come join us for the 17th International Balint Congress as we join to explore the heart of patient-centered care through discussions about and using the group methods begun by Michael and Enid Balint.  Experience four days of stimulating and thoughtful interaction with colleagues from around the world, as we share experiences of Balint work, training and healing.

EDUCATIONAL OBJECTIVES

Attendees at the conference will be able to:

• Describe the use of the Balint method as a technique for increasing patient centeredness in today’s complex and rapidly changing health care environment
• Explain how the Balint method is applied in multiple international settings and different health care delivery systems
• Apply the Balint method in the education of healing professionals
• Discuss implementation of the Balint method in diverse cultural contexts

This Live activity, 17th International Balint Congress, with a beginning date of September 7, 2011, has been reviewed and is acceptable for up to 13.50 Prescribed and 4.25 Elective credit(s) by the American Academy of Family Physicians. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

We extend our gratitude to the following for their generous contributions:

Presenting sponsors ($3000 and above):

Lehigh Valley Hospital Family Medicine Residency 

Supporting sponsors ($1000 to $2999)

The Guthrie Clinic

The Guthrie Clinic is pleased to donate $1000 to the International Balint Federation Congress in honor of Dr, Franklyn Dornfest. This donation is in recognition of  Dr Dornfest's contribution to the Balint movement both nationally, as the first president of the American Balint Society,  and internationally as president of the International Balint Federation. Dr. Dornfest held two Leadership Training Intensives, a retreat to establish leadership crendentialing in the United States, and held the presidency of the IBF while at the Guthrie Clinic.  

See the button at the bottom of the page to make your own donation.

Our Plenary will be:

Welcome the Dragon: Opening the Heart of Balint

WILLIAM L. MILLER, M.D., M.A.

LEONARD PARKER POOL CHAIR of FAMILY MEDICINE, LEHIGH VALLEY HEALTH NETWORK PROFESSOR OF FAMILY  MEDICINE, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH FLORIDA COLLEGE OF MEDICINE

Will celebrates wonder, justice, and adventure.  Along the way, Dr. Miller received a master’s degree in medical anthropology from Wake Forest University and his medical degree from the University of North Carolina School of Medicine.  He served as co-chief resident for the Family Medicine Residency at Harrisburg Hospital and helped to establish the first group family medicine practice in Bethlehem before joining the family medicine faculty at the University of Connecticut.  There he served as Director of Pre-doctoral Education, Residency Director, and Director of Fellowship Programs.  He returned home to the Lehigh Valley in 1994 as the founding Program Director of the Lehigh Valley Family Medicine Residency Program and became Chair of the department at Lehigh Valley Health Network in 1999.  Dr. Miller’s team has developed a clinical department and residency program based on relationship-centered care.  His research interests include practice organization and improvement and complexity theory, the ecology of chronic illness care, the family medicine socialization process, healing relationships, and the use of mixed methods, qualitative, and participatory methodologies.  He was the original Consulting Editor for the Annals of Family Medicine and was evaluator for the American Academy of Family Physicians’ Future of Family Medicine National Demonstration Project.  He currently advises the national family medicine residency redesign initiative.  When not partnering with others in learning, administering, creating, doctoring, or family-shaping, he’s most likely to be found playing in snow, woods, swamps, lakes, or streams or eating local whole food and drinking fine wine with friends and family and sharing stories about storms and animal encounters. 

Our Call for Papers is now Closed.

Hotel rooms may be booked now at the Sheraton Society Hill using the conference rate of $159 per night (plus tax).  Please use the hotel registration link below or phone the hotel directly (215) 238-6000) to reserve at this rate, and mention the International Balint Congress.

Book your hotel reservations via this link:

 http://www.starwoodmeeting.com/Book/internationalbalintcongress

Make your plans now to be with us, and check back often for more information!

Post-Congress Trip Information and registration is now available!

Click on this link for detailed schedule and registration:

http://2011postcongresstrip.eventbrite.com

Tentative Schedule of Events:

WEDNESDAY, September 7

Time Activity Location

From 2:00 pm Registration Hotel Registration area

3:30 – 5:30 pm Walking excursion[s] Near hotel

6:30 – 9:30 pm Welcome reception Hotel

THURSDAY, September 8

Time Activity Location

7:00 – 8:30 am Breakfast buffet Hotel

9:00 – 10:30 am Opening Plenary

1. Welcome & acknowledgements 

2. Lecture by Dr. Will Miller Plenary room

10:30 – 11:00 am Coffee & Tea break Hotel

11:00 am – 12:30 pm Fishbowl Plenary room 

12:30 – 2:00 pm Lunch buffet Hotel

2:00 – 3:30 pm Balint group #1 Small rooms

4:00 – 6:00 pm Guided Excursion Historical Philadelphia

7:00 - ?? “Dine-Around” Local restaurants

FRIDAY, September 9

Time Activity Location

7:00 – 8:30 am Breakfast buffet Hotel

8:30 – 10:00 am Scientific Papers #1 Plenary room

10:00 – 10:30 am Coffee & Tea Break Hotel

10:30 am – 12:00 pm Balint group #2 Small rooms

12:00 – 1:30 pm Lunch buffet Hotel

1:30 – 3:00 pm Scientific Papers #2 Plenary room

3:00 – 3:30 pm Coffee & Tea Break Hotel

3:30 – 5:00 pm IBF Board meeting

3:30 - 5:00 pm Guided Excursion  [Optional Mural Tour @ $10] Hotel

SATURDAY September 10

Time Activity Location

7:00 – 8:30 am Breakfast buffet Hotel

8:30 – 10:00 am Scientific Papers #3 Plenary room

10:00 – 10:30 am Coffee & Tea break Hotel

10:30 am – 12:00 pm Ascona prizes & presentations Plenary room

12:00 – 1:30 pm Lunch buffet Hotel

1:30 – 3:00 pm Balint Group #3 Small rooms

3:00 – 4:00 pm Poster Presentations with Coffee & Tea break Hotel

4:00 – 6:30 pm IBF General Assembly Plenary room

7:30 – 11:00 Farewell Party Hotel

SUNDAY, September 11

Time Activity Location

7:00 – 8:30 am Breakfast buffet Hotel

8:30 – 10:00 am Moderated Panel Discussion Plenary room

10:00 – 10:30 am Coffee & Tea break Hotel

10:30 am – 12:00 pm Balint group #4 Small rooms

12:00 – 12:45 pm Closing ceremony and evaluations Plenary room

Jointly organized by the American Balint Society and the International Balint Federation.

Donate to help support costs not covered by registration: