ALABAMA A&M and AUBURN UNIVERSITIES

PHYSICIANS ALABAMA OPPORTUNITY FAIR SET FOR JANUARY 15

AUBURN, OCT. 15---Small Alabama communities with populations of 15,000 or less have an excellent opportunity to recruit primary care physicians Jan.15, at the Physicians Alabama Opportunity Fair (PAOF). This year's fair will be held at the Grand Hotel in Point Clear.

PAOF is a joint effort by 13 groups designed to assist small communities and physicians who are looking for partners recruit primary care physicians. Since 1990, PAOF has recruited more than a dozen physicians to small towns in the state.

The fair is conducted in an exhibit hall format. Community representatives visit with medical students, residents and practicing physicians who are considering small town practice opportunities. Typically 40 communities and 100 students and physicians take part in the fair each year.

"PAOF is an inexpensive way to bring small towns and physicians together to explore opportunities for both, says PAOF Chair Jan Roberts-Jolly. "Traditionally it can cost many thousands of dollars for a community or small town doctor to recruit another physician. PAOF only costs a few hundred dollars."

The cost for communities or small town physicians to participate in PAOF is $400. There is no charge to attend for medical students and residents or practicing physicians who seek opportunities. PAOF will provide one night's lodging at the hotel, plus travel mileage, to medical students and residents who wish to take part.

The agencies coordinating PAOF each year are the Alabama Academy of Family Physicians, Alabama Cooperative Extension System, Alabama Department of Public Health, Alabama Family Practice Rural Health Board, Alabama Hospital Association,

Alabama Primary Health Care Association and Alabama Public Health Association. Other agencies include CHEP/TAHEC, Inc., the Medical Association of the State of Alabama, the University of Alabama School of Medicine, the University of South Alabama College of Medicine, Southwest Alabama Area Health Education Center and the Southeast Alabama Health Education Center.

A five-minute video presentation explaining how the fair works is available. To receive a free copy, or for more information on how to take part in the 2000 PAOF, contact Jan Roberts-Jolly at 1-888-611-7778.

SOURCE: DR. BARBARA STRUEMPLER, Extension nutritionist, Alabama Cooperative Extension System (334) 844-2217.