Las Vegas speaker / rapper “Dr. Z-Dogg” to headline conference for Valley physicians, health professionals

Special Event to be held on South Padre Island April 28-29

He’s a doctor, a motivational speaker, a singer / rapper, and he’s funny. He’s “Z-Dogg, MD”, also known as Dr. Zubin Damania — and he is coming to the Valley all the way from Las Vegas — to headline a 25^th anniversary conference for Valley physicians, pharmacists, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, medical students and other health professionals on Friday, April 28 and Saturday, April 29 at the Isla Grande Resort on South Padre Island.

On his website, www.ZDoggMD.com, Dr. Damania is described as “an international icon and man of mild-to-moderate mystery … apart from writing and producing award-winning medical parody videos that educate and entertain, he’s a highly sought-after healthcare speaker and thought leader.”

“Z-Dogg, MD actually sings and raps during his presentations,” said Dr. Robert Sepulveda, Internal Medicine Physician in Weslaco and Chairman of the 25th Annual Rio Grande Valley Medical Education Conference & Exposition, which is being presented to the Valley by Knapp Medical Center.

Aside from being entertained, Valley physicians attending Z-Dogg’s talk will earn 1.5 hours of continuing medical education credits in ethics. Doctors and other health professionals who attend the whole conference will receive a total of 14.5 hours of continuing medical education credits (including 2.5 hours in ethics).

In addition to Z-Dogg, other speakers at the conference on Saturday, April 29 — which will run from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (with registration and breakfast from 7 to 8 a.m.) — will include:

• Daniel Farray, M.D., Oncologist in Weslaco, speaking on “Transfusion Therapy”

• Luis Gaitan, M.D., Neurologist in Brownsville, speaking on “To Treat or Not to Treat”
• Carlos Morales, M.D., Cardiologist in McAllen, speaking on “Aortic Stenosis Diagnosis and Management, including Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement”

• Rafael Rodriguez, M.D., Internal Medicine Physician of Mesquite (near Dallas), speaking on “Pain, Opioids and The Brain” (ethics presentation)
• Javier Diaz, M.D., Pulmonologist in Detroit, Michigan, speaking on “Lung Cancer: The Primary Care Approach” and on“Bronchoscopy Overview: Primary Care Perspective”

On Friday, April 28, the conference will open with registration and a continental breakfast from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., with the following speakers presenting from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.:

• Patricia Sulak, M.D., Obstetrician-Gynecologist in Temple, Texas, speaking on “Stifle Stress / Sever Suffering: Get the STRESS OUT” and “Make Movement Mandatory: It’s About Survival”

• Ameer Hassan, M.D., Endovascular Neurologist in Harlingen, speaking on “Advancement & Trends of Acute Ischemic Stroke Treatment”
• Juan Ortiz, M.D., Pulmonologist in Weslaco, speaking on “Pediatric Sleep Disorders”
• Michael Evans, M.D., Cardiologist in Harlingen, speaking on “Management of Stable Coronary Artery Disease”
• Suraj Kamat, M.D., Cardiologist in Alice, speaking on “The Realm of Peripheral Vascular Disease – Amputation Prevention”

• Mazin Foteh, M.D., General & Vascular Surgeon in Austin, speaking on “Wound Management Strategies in the Setting of Early Revascularization”

For more information on the conference, including fees, and / or to register, please call Mitty Reyna of the Knapp Education Department at 956-969-5455 or e-mail MReyna2@PrimeHealthCare.com, or visit www.KnappMed.org/CME-Conference.aspx. For information on discount hotel reservations at South Padre Island during the weekend of the conference, please call the Isla Grand Beach Resort by April 15 at 800-292-7704 (www.IslaGrand.com).