2023 ICGMV Conference
The Integrated Center for Group Medical Visits is excited for their third annual, virtual conference dedicated to group medical visits!
The 2023 conference will highlight evidence-based presentations as well as experiential workshops led by leaders and innovators in the field.
Sessions will center around tending to whole person care through group medical visits. In addition to the main conference sessions, the conference will include a virtual exhibit hall, poster presentations, as well as wellness and mentorship spaces.
KEYNOTE: Aha’s and Uh-Oh’s: Group Medical Visits for CPain
Jon Porter, MD
Joshua Plavin, MD, MPH, MBA
Joshua Plavin, MD, MPH, MBA
Dr. Jon Porter is founding Medical Director of the Comprehensive Pain Program at the University of Vermont Medical Center and Director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health at the University of Vermont. He received his MD from the University of Washington and completed his residency and chief residency at Thomas Jefferson University
Dr. Jon Porter is founding Medical Director of the Comprehensive Pain Program at the University of Vermont Medical Center and Director of the Osher Center for Integrative Health at the University of Vermont. He received his MD from the University of Washington and completed his residency and chief residency at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia.
He is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine, where he also holds an appointment in the Department of Psychiatry. His professional interests include demonstrating the value of integrative, transdisciplinary teams in achieving the best outcomes for patients, the creation and maintenance of a healthy and vibrant workplace for clinicians and staff in health care settings, and the roles of mindfulness, spirituality, and self-compassion in health.
Joshua Plavin, MD, MPH, MBA
Joshua Plavin, MD, MPH, MBA
Joshua Plavin, MD, MPH, MBA
Dr. Joshua Plavin received his MD and MPH degrees from New York Medical College and his MBA from Brandeis University. He is Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, having completed his clinical training at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and the University of Michigan Health System. He currently serves as the Associate Medical
Dr. Joshua Plavin received his MD and MPH degrees from New York Medical College and his MBA from Brandeis University. He is Board Certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, having completed his clinical training at St. Joseph Mercy Hospital and the University of Michigan Health System. He currently serves as the Associate Medical Director at the Comprehensive Pain Program and is an Assistant Professor of Family Medicine & Psychiatry at the University of Vermont Larner College of Medicine.
Prior to this he worked at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Vermont as the VP and Chief Medical Officer and has worked clinically in Vermont for over 20 years. He is also a Clinical Assistant Professor of Pediatrics at the Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth. His focus is on improving clinical outcomes and value in the health care system through applying new knowledge at the intersection of medical and management science.
Laurel Audy, RN
Joshua Plavin, MD, MPH, MBA
Laurel Audy, RN
Laurel is a Vermonter and her passion is caring for people. During her time as a hospice and palliative care nurse, she developed an interest in integrative practices - reiki in particular. In her current role at CPP, she continues to provide care as an RN and a reiki practitioner, as well as has the privilege of co-facilitating PATH grou
Laurel is a Vermonter and her passion is caring for people. During her time as a hospice and palliative care nurse, she developed an interest in integrative practices - reiki in particular. In her current role at CPP, she continues to provide care as an RN and a reiki practitioner, as well as has the privilege of co-facilitating PATH groups, working in program development, and serving as the Program Coordinator.
Keynote: The Power of Group Visits
Beth Frates, MD FACLM DipABLM
Beth Frates, MD is a trained physiatrist and a health and wellness coach, with expertise in Lifestyle Medicine. She is an award-winning teacher at Harvard Medical School, where she is an assistant clinical professor. Dr. Frates is one of the first Fellows of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine and pioneer in lifestyle medicine. She developed and taught a college Lifestyle Medicine curriculum at the Harvard Extension School in 2014 and it is still one of the most well-received courses offered at the school. She was voted president of the American College of Lifestyle Medicine in August 2020. Dr. Frates serves as President from 2022-2024.
She authored a Lifestyle Medicine syllabus, which can be downloaded through the ACLM website, to serve as a template for other instructors and professors. In addition, Dr. Frates co-authored The Lifestyle Medicine Handbook: An Introduction to the Power of Healthy Habits, which was ranked in the top 20 by Book Authority for medical books released in 2018. To accompany the syllabus and handbook, she also co-created Lifestyle Medicine 101, a full college curriculum with 12 weeks of PowerPoints and a teacher’s manual, which is free and accessible through the ACLM website. In addition, Dr. Frates co-authored The Teen Lifestyle Medicine Handbook, published in October 2020 which when paired with the Teen Curriculum consisting of a Teacher’s Manual and 12 PowerPoint decks can be used to teach and empower middle-school and high school students to adopt and sustain healthy habits.
As Director of Wellness Programming at the Stroke Institute for Research and Recovery at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, a Harvard Medical School affiliate, Dr. Frates has created and implemented a 12-Step wellness program, PAVING the Path to Wellness™ for patients and providers. Most recently, she co-authored the book PAVING the Path to Wellness Workbook: A Guide to Thriving with a Healthy Body, Peaceful Mind and Joyful Heart. As of the fall of 2020, Dr. Frates serves as the Director of Lifestyle Medicine and Wellness for the Department of Surgery at Mass General Hospital. In addition, Dr. Frates
has her own Lifestyle Medicine consulting/coaching practice where she sees patients 1:1 and in groups.