Greetings friends - We are excited to invite you to attend our 4th Annual Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN) Convocation!  The Convocation will be held Saturday, October 13, 2012 at the Horizon Hill Conference Center near the Medical Center in San Antonio.  We have applied for up to 8 medical and dental continuing education hours for this conference.  This Convocation is our premier event for showcasing research conducted in community settings, interpreting research findings into clinical practice and community life, and generating new research ideas to benefit the people of South Texas.  Attendees will intermingle with local practitioners, community members, medical educators, and university investigators to create a learning community with a common goal – to improve the health of our communities.  The theme for the 2012 Convocation is “Innovations & Technology for Improving Health.” We plan to showcase information about technology that can improve clinical practice, patients’ health, and people’s lives.  Highlights at the 2012 Convocation will include:  Expert Panel: “Technology, Innovations & Apps, Oh My!” Our experts will describe innovations that are useful for clinical practice and individuals’ health.  Experts include name, affiliation; name affiliation; name affiliation; name affiliation. Rapid Fire Resear Greetings friends - We are excited to invite you to attend our 4th Annual Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN) Convocation!  The Convocation will be held Saturday, October 13, 2012 at the Horizon Hill Conference Center near the Medical Center in San Antonio.  We have applied for up to 8 medical and dental continuing education hours for this conference.  This Convocation is our premier event for showcasing research conducted in community settings, interpreting research findings into clinical practice and community life, and generating new research ideas to benefit the people of South Texas.  Attendees will intermingle with local practitioners, community members, medical educators, and university investigators to create a learning community with a common goal – to improve the health of our communities.  The theme for the 2012 Convocation is “Innovations & Technology for Improving Health.” We plan to showcase information about technology that can improve clinical practice, patients’ health, and people’s lives.  Highlights at the 2012 Convocation will include:  Expert Panel: “Technology, Innovations & Apps, Oh My!” Our experts will describe innovations that are useful for clinical practice and individuals’ health.  Experts include name, affiliation; name affiliation; name affiliation; name affiliation. Rapid Fire Research Updates from six practice-based research networks and the Translational Advisory Boards, addressing genomic research in psychiatry clinics, electronic reminders for managing chronic kidney disease, barriers to treatment in VA mental health settings; people’s practical opportunities for healthy behaviors; communication technology use among primary care patients; and news about the National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.  Consistent with our conference theme of ‘Innovation and Technology,” we will feature a Twitter Q&A as part of the Rapid Fire Updates. Poster and Resource Fair, featuring the latest research findings from PBRNs and friends of PBRNs, as well as exhibits with helpful community resources for busy community clinicians. Individual Network Meetings, with time set aside for each PBRN to do their business:  make administrative decisions; review current study findings; plan dissemination and application of results; and prioritize future research. Scavenger Hunt, to promote communication, collaboration, curiosity, creative thinking, and courageous new research ideas.   Intermingle!  Inspire!  Ignite!  Door prizes will be awarded!  We encourage you to join our learning community at the PBRN Convocation in October.  Together, we can create innovative strategies to improve health in South Texas communities.  For questions about the 2012 Convocation, please contact Veronica Villela Perez 210-562-5651 or Melody Moris 210-562-5652 or e-mail pbrn@uthscsa.edu. Sandra K. Burge, Ph.D. Professor and Director, Practice-Based Research Network Resource Center University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio