BEMIDJI, Minn. (March 3, 2011) — Dr. William Dicks, pain management specialist at Sanford Clinic in Bemidji, will discuss pain management for middle aged and elderly people as part of Bemidji State University’s Adventures in Lifelong Learning lecture series.
The lecture will be held Tuesday, March 8, from 10-11:30 a.m. at Optivation’s off-campus facility at 3801 Bemidji Ave. N. in Bemidji.
As pain manangement at any age is difficult, the best treatment is prevention. Dicks will discuss a variety of reasons older people develop pain-related problems. Most of these are preventable, and Dicks will also discuss preventative measures that can be taken to help mitigate future pain-related diagnoses. Dicks will also discuss avenues available to treat chronic pain, hopefully with minimal use of narcotics which can be very harmful in elderly people.
Dicks graduated from the University of Minnesota Medical School has has expertise in biomedical ethics, pain control, exercise and sport physiology, and chemical dependency.
Adventures in Lifelong Learning was formerly known as the Academy of Lifelong Learning. The organization’s board of directors voted unanimously over the summer to transition the branding of the organization away from a formal classroom experience to reflect a less intimidating adult learning style.
Adventures in Lifelong Learning is organized exclusively to provide opportunities for continuing education in the Bemidji area. The program intends to help participants improve critical thinking skills and to appreciate the diversity of human experience through varied and lively discussions.
Spring 2011 Adventures in Lifelong Learning schedule:
March 8: “Pain Management for Middle Age / ‘Old’ People,” Dr. Williams Dicks, Sanford Health Center.
March 15: “Gender, Bullying and Harrassment in School,” Pauline Winge, social worker, Bemidji Middle School.
March 22: “Intergenerational and Lifelong Learning, and What BSU/NTC is Doing to Promote It,” Dr. Richard Hanson, president, Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College.
March 29: “Poor Farm,” Cecilia McKeig, Beltrami County Historical Society.
April 5: “Honey Bees: ‘Honey! Bees in the Garden’,” John Arneson and Les Hiltz, beekeepers.
April 12: “BiCAP Programming,” a panel presentation led by Deb Allison, BiCAP executive director.
April 19, “Camp Rabideau – Future and Present,” Dan Evans, director, U.S. Forest Service.
For more information, contact Optivation at (218) 755-4900 or optivation@bemidjistate.edu.
About Optivation
Optivation is an off-campus venture operated jointly by Bemidji State University and Northwest Technical College designed to increase collaboration between the University, the college, and the business and technology sectors of the northwest Minnesota region. Staffed by veteran business and entrepreneurial professionals, Optivation delivers targeted training and education systems to help organizations succeed in a changing world. Through its affiliations with the University and the technical college, Optivation is able to tap into an unparalleled network of people and technology across the state of Minnesota.
For more information, visit Optivation at http://www.optivation.org.