The 2005 Scientific Assembly drew more than 15,000 participants to San Francisco between September 28 and October 2. Physicians, other health care professionals, exhibitors, and guests had many activities to choose from, including Academy business and committee sessions, continuing medical education, and the expansive display of exhibits from leading medical companies.

Publications Booth

I was pleased to represent the AFP staff in the publications booth, along with Liz Smith, one of our manuscript editors. We met many readers and authors and were interested to hear their comments and suggestions about American Family Physician. Many potential authors discussed topic ideas and picked up a copy of the AFP Authors Guide. This guide also is available on the Web site at https://www.aafp.org/afp.

Some comments included surprise that there are 24 issues per year (“No wonder my pile keeps growing”) and questions such as “Can I search the Web site for departments (e.g., Newsletter) only?” and “There’s an online version? That’ll save a lot of shelf space!” We also heard suggestions for improving the search functions of the Web site and new ideas such as downloadable tools for your personal digital assistant (PDA).

Have you completed a survey?

About 300 of the booth visitors took a few minutes to complete our short editorial survey. The survey distributed in San Francisco is the same survey that appeared in the October 1 issue of AFP. We have not tabulated the results yet, so if you have not sent your survey in, please do so today. You also can complete the survey online at https://www.aafp.org/surv6/afp5.htm. I will inform you of the survey results in a future issue of AFP.

Remember—we always appreciate feedback from AFP readers. You can mail the comment card that’s included in each issue, or send an e-mail to afpedit@aafp.org anytime.

2006 ACF: Caring for Children and Adolescents

Next year’s Annual Clinical Focus (ACF) was introduced at the Assembly. This initiative will address primary prevention and treatment strategies in a variety of clinical areas plus psychosocial behaviors and the promotion of healthy, positive behaviors in children and adolescents. For 2006, ACF is teaming up with other Academy programs (e.g., Americans in Motion, Tar Wars) that influence the child and adolescent populations. For more information on the 2006 ACF, visit the Web site at https://www.aafp.org/x25179.xml.

AFP will publish several review articles related to child and adolescent health during the next year to meet the clinical objectives of the ACF. Future planned articles include prescribing medications for children; sports injuries in adolescents and children; treating rickets and musculoskeletal pain; and counseling children and adolescents. If you have suggestions for AFP articles on topics related to the 2006 ACF, please contact Jay Siwek, M.D., editor (telephone:202–687–1631;e-mail: afp@family.georgetown.edu).

Did we miss you this year?

If you were unable to attend the Scientific Assembly this year, we hope to meet you at next year’s Assembly, September 27 through October 1, in Washington, D.C.