2008 AATH Conference Schedule

(as of July 11, 2007 - subject to change)

Thursday, January 31

12:30 PM AATH Members Board Ship

4:00-4:30 PM Life Boat Drill / Group Picture / “Elation” Leaves San Diego Harbor

4:30-7:00 PM Conference Registration & Session Sign-up

7:00-8:00 PM Private AATH Welcome Reception & Networking

8:00 PM Dinner & Ship’s Entertainment AATH Networking

Friday, February 1

7:15-7:45 AM Morning Laughter Club

8:00-8:15 AM AATH Conference Kick-off

8:15-8:30 AM CTCA Welcome & Special Presentation

8:30-9:00 AM It All Starts With a Smile! – Cliff Kuhn, MD
This 30-minute session will help you learn how to make a more accurate diagnosis of your own stress and will give you a foolproof strategy for balancing the multiple demands of work and life. Get the conference off to a great start as you instantly become able to absorb and retain valuable information more efficiently!

9:00-10:00 AM Keynote – Patty Wooten, RN, BSN, PHN

The Art and Science of Humor in Healthcare: Evidence-Based Practices for Better Health and Well Being
Humor and laughter are therapeutic for the body, mind, and spirit. However, creating a successful interaction is an art. Knowing when, how, and what kind of humor to use will increase our chance for success. The scientific research measuring the therapeutic benefit of humor is growing in both quality and quantity. Patty will explore, explain and expound on the most recent scientific studies and how this evidence can guide your practice as we integrate therapeutic humor principles into the healthcare setting.

10:15-11:15 AM Keynote – Ed Dunkleblau PhD

Humor Stress and Learning: an Emotionally Intelligent Approach
Teaching and training can be enhanced by incorporating humor and play into the curriculum and training method. This enjoyable training session will provide research based, immediately applicable strategies and techniques for utilizing humor and play into the teaching process. Teachers in all educational and business venues stand to benefit by learning these methods of improving attention, retention and performance.

11:30-12:45 PM Lunch & Membership Meeting
(Presentation of the 2008 Doug Fletcher Lifetime Achievement Award to Rod Martin)

AATH Discussion Sessions:
At “Session Sign-Up” on Thursday afternoon, conference participants will choose either:

1. Three different one-hour sessions, OR…
2. “Creativity by Design” at 1:30 PM and one other session at 4:00 PM.

Every effort will be made to accommodate your session requests.

1:30-3:00 PM “Creativity by Design” Carnival Corporate University
Presenters: Juan Carlos Trueba, Vice President, Carnival Corporate Training, and Eileen Tighe, Manager, Carnival Corporate Training

1:30-2:30 PM
- Applications of Humor in Health Care and in Health Professions
- "Education" Panel Discussion: Humor in Teaching (for Teachers)
- "Humor Business" Panel Discussion: Becoming a Humor Provider

2:45-3:45 PM
- Hospital Clowning / Caring Clowns
- “Education” Panel Discussion: Humor as a Teaching Tool (for Your Students)
- “Business” Panel Discussion: Workplace Applications of Humor

4:00-5:00 PM
- Applications of Humor with Seniors & Aging
- “Education” Panel Discussion: “Blackboard Humor, From K to College!”
- Panel Discussion: Humor in Spirituality and Faith-Based Communities

8:00 PM Formal Dinner & Ship's Entertainment,  AATH Networking

Saturday, February 2

7:15-7:45 AM Morning Laughter Club

8:00-4:00 PM Shore Trip to Cabo San Lucas

4:30-5:30 PM Post Shore Trip Humor Debriefing

8:00 PM Dinner & Ships Entertainment AATH Networking

Sunday, February 3

7:15-7:45 AM Morning Laughter Club

8:00-8:15 AM Morning Announcements & “Live” Auction

8:30-8:45 AM Therapeutic Humor: “What We Know… and What We Don’t!”

8:45-9:00 AM AATH Humor Memorial Presentation

9:15-9:45 AM Building on a Smile Foundation – Cliff Kuhn, MD
Get the day off to a great start with this practical, three-step formula for generating more positive energy… anytime and anywhere. Experience how the discipline of smiling can create an instantaneous atmosphere of lightness. Take away at least two effective techniques for getting more fun into and out of every moment.

10:00-11:00 AM Keynote - Kathy Passanisi PT, CSP, CPAE

Lightening Life’s Load with Laughter: Using Humor Therapeutically at Every Age and Stage of the Life Journey

Are you off course again? Are you drowning is a sea of irritations and complications that change with every age and stage of the life journey? A sense of humor is invaluable in promoting flexibility, resilience, and coping skills. Hall of Fame Speaker and 2003 AATH Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Kathy Passanisi will help you develop a humorous perspective and a Laughter Lifeboat support system to keep you afloat in troubled waters.

11:00-12:00 PM Keynote - Karyn Buxman RN, MSN, CSP, CPAE & Greg Godek

Love, Ha! When Love and Laughs Collide

What happens when a best selling expert on love and relationships marries and internationally recognized expert on humor? What crazy experiences have formed their wacky view of the world? What lessons have they learned along the way? Why won’t he ask for directions? Does she really need another pair of shoes? Their experiences are the stuff from which sitcoms are made – and yet you’ll recognize yourself in their lives. You’ll learn about love, and you’ll laugh until you cry, as you hear the inside story of America’s most romantic (and funny!) couple.

12:30-2:00 PM Lunch on Your Own

2:15-3:15 PM AATH Super Pre-Game Reception followed by your choice of watching the game, or…

3:30-5:00 PM Honoring C.W. Metcalf

An innovator and pioneer in the field of therapeutic humor, 2006 AATH Lifetime Achievement Winner C.W. Metcalf passed away in June, 2007. His famous words, “Take your work seriously but yourself lightly,” have been quoted the world over. C.W. helped people of all ages cope with trauma, stress and “terminal professionalism.” Join us for a discussion of C.W.’s life and work. His book, “Lighten Up,” is essential to any complete humor collection. Participants in this session are encouraged to read his book and bring it with them to this informal program facilitated by AATH Board member, Don Baird.

7:00-7:45 PM Closing Session Surprise & Conference Wrap-Up

8:00 PM Dinner & Ship’s Entertainment AATH Networking

Monday, February 4

8:00 AM “Elation” Arrives in San Diego Harbor