The Third Annual Polo and Health Symposium sponsored by the Rotary Club of Emory Clifton was held virtually on Saturday, September 26 with over 250 participants from Georgia, several other states and countries attending the event. The theme for this year’s symposium was “Overcoming the Challenges of COVID-19 to Achieve a Global Health Legacy” and focused on the challenges that Covid-19 presents to disease eradication efforts, specifically the Global Polio Eradication Initiative. The program was co-sponsored by the Roswell Rotary Club, Rotary Club of North Atlanta, Morehouse School of Medicine, the Medical Association of Georgia, The United Advance Practice Registered Nurses (UAPRN) and Shriners Children’s Hospitals. Continuing Medical Education and Continuing Nursing Education credit were offered to health professional attending sessions.

A number of nationally and internationally known presenters spoke at this at this year’s conference including:

• Patrice Harris, M.D. , the Immediate Past President of the American Medical Association who talked on how Covid-19 has impacted health care and possible future trends in “Current and Future Directions of Health Care”
• John Vertefeuille, Ph.D. of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention presented on the impact of Covid-19 on the global polio effort in “Impact of COVID-19 on Global Polio Eradication: Current Status and Future Global Directions”
• Carol Pandak, Ed.D. of Rotary International presented how Rotary has adjusted to continue its global work on polio eradication in “Impact of COVID-19 on Global Polio Eradication: Implications for Rotary International”
• Steve Cochi, MD MPH of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention spoke on how the polio program has helped many countries prepare for Covid-19 in “The Legacy of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative: Pathway for Progress Against COVID-19”
• Brittaney J. Bethea, MPH, CCPH of Morehouse School of Medicine briefed participants on outreach efforts to high risk persons most affected by Covid-19 in “National COVID-19 Resiliency Network: Communication, Technology and Community Engagement Strategies to Mitigate the Impact on Vulnerable”
• Scott Kozin, MD the Chief of Staff at Shriners Hospital for Children in Philadelphia presented an update on his research on Acute Flaccid Myelitis (AMF) during “Progress During a Pandemic: An Update on the “New Polio”
• Carlos del Rio, MD Distinguished Professor of Medicine at Emory University School of Medicine provided participants with his present and future insights on the Covid-19 outbreak during “COVID-19: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow”
• Laurence Sperling, M.D. Katz Professor in Preventive Cardiology Emory University spoke on future complications from Covid-19 infections in the “Post COVIDfuture of Cardiovascular Prevention
• Ashley Blackmon MS. FNP provided participants with the latest on the care and treatment of Covid-19 in Care of Covid-19 Patient in a Primary Care Setting
• Lisa Wright Eichelberger, PhD RN Dean and Professor Clayton State University presented “Becoming a Voice for Change: Serving on a Policy Making Board” 

As part of the community outreach, the presentations have been placed on the symposium website (www.emorycliftonrotary.com) for additional viewing. As was the case with last year’s program, Rotarians, health professionals and other civic members, can view these presentations at their club meetings or individually.