Society of Behavioral Medicine
34th Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions
March 20-23, 2013
Hilton Union Square
San Francisco, CA
SBM 2013 Rapid Communication Abstract
Submission Opens November 8!
Click here for submission instructions
Abstracts will be considered for review for the SBM 2013 Annual Meeting during the Rapid Communication abstract submission process, which allows authors a chance to present late-breaking findings, data and other information in the field of behavioral medicine. Rapid Communication abstract submission opens Thursday, November 8, 2012, and closes Thursday, January 3, 2013.
Submit a Rapid Communication abstract for a poster presentation at the upcoming Annual Meeting on the abstract submission page. Read additional Rapid Communication abstract submission information and guidelines on the detailed Call for Abstracts webpage.
Embodying the meeting theme, “Technology: The Excitement and the Evidence,” the conference program will explore the many ways that technological innovations are expanding the reach and impact of behavioral medicine. Abstract submissions addressing thematic areas of the conference are encouraged but submissions coinciding with other behavioral medicine topics are also welcome.
The Society of Behavioral Medicine’s Annual Meeting and Scientific Sessions represent an unparalleled opportunity to share behavioral medicine research. At SBM conferences researchers, clinicians, policy makers, epidemiologists, health communicators and others from such disciplines as psychology, public health, medicine, and nursing convene to learn about advances and emerging trends impacting the field and the health of the nation. SBM 2013, March 20-23, in San Francisco will be no exception.
Alan Christensen, PhD, to Deliver Presidential Keynote

Alan J. Christensen, PhD
SBM President Alan J. Christensen, PhD, a clinical health psychologist with a 22-year history of studying patient adherence and self management in chronic illness, will deliver the Presidential Keynote Address at the 2013 SBM Annual Meeting.
Dr. Christensen, whose work has been funded by the National Institutes of Health and the Department of Veteran’s Affairs HSR&D program, has conducted both observational research and behavioral intervention trials involving a variety of clinical populations including renal disease, cancer, and diabetes. An underlying feature of his research is a focus on the interactive relations among individuals and the social, environmental, and clinical contexts within which they manage their own health and participate in their own healthcare delivery.
Dr. Christensen is past Chair of the Department of Psychology at the University of Iowa and holds joint faculty appointments in Psychology and in Internal Medicine. In addition to his current SBM post, he previously served on the SBM Board of Directors as Chair of the Publications and Communications Council, and served for five years as Editor-in-Chief of the Annals of Behavioral Medicine.
Dr. Christensen received his undergraduate and graduate training at the University of Utah and served his internship at the Portland VA Medical Center/Oregon Health Science University in Portland, OR.
Richard Surwit, PhD, to Deliver Distinguished Scientist Master Lecture
Richard S. Surwit, PhD
Richard S. Surwit, PhD, a leading authority on the role of stress and the autonomic nervous system in the etiology and treatment of obesity and Type 2 diabetes, will deliver the Distinguished Scientist Master Lecture at the 2013 Annual Meeting.
Dr. Surwit is professor and former Vice Chair for Research and Chief of the Division of Medical Psychology, the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Sciences at Duke University School of Medicine. For more than 30 years, he has studied the role that stress, personality and emotions play in blood sugar control, as well as the basic biological mechanisms of obesity and Type 2 diabetes.
Dr. Surwit’s research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health for more than 35 years. He has published more than 130 peer-reviewed articles, authored four books, and written numerous scientific book chapters in the field of diabetes, obesity and stress. He has appeared on numerous national television shows such as Good Morning America, CBS Evening News, Fox News and CNN.
Dr. Surwit is past-president of the SBM. He is the recipient of a Research Scientist Award from the National Institute of Mental Health, the Outstanding Contributions to Psychology Award from Division 38 of the American Psychological Association (APA) and the Distinguished Scientist Award from SBM. He is a Fellow of the APA, SBM and the Academy for Behavioral Medicine Research. Dr. Surwit is a diplomate of the American Board of Professional Psychology and a Fellow of the Academy of Clinical Psychology.
Watch for future messages profiling more AM speakers and sessions.
While in San Francisco, Step Outdoors and Enjoy The Presidio!

SFCVB photo
by Phil Coblentz
Soldiers from Spain and Mexico used The Presidio at different points in time before it became a US Army base in 1845. At that point, the grounds started transforming from largely undeveloped dunes and scrub into a fully-functioning military post that eventually had nearly 900 structures. The base was closed in the 1990s and today is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area, operated by the US National Park Service.
On its prime waterfront location, the nearly 1,500-acre parcel of land is now a wealth of delights. It features many things including a golf course, a national cemetery, a former airfield (Crissy Field) and The Walt Disney Family Museum. Crissy Field is a stunning place in which to walk or bike and has some of the most iconic views of San Francisco Bay, the Golden Gate Bridge and the Marin Headlands.
Ranger and docent-led walks are available on the property and there are 11 miles of hiking trails and 14 miles of biking routes to explore. Plan your visit to coincide with brunch, lunch or dinner at The Presidio Social Club.
SBM 2013 in San Francisco
"Technology: The Excitement and the Evidence"
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