Category: Uncategorized

The Asia Pacific Health CIO Report

Dr. Jonathan “Jon” Komar received his MD from the University of Washington in 2003. He has worked as a physician consultant since founding OptiMed Solutions in Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2018. Dr. Jon Komar also serves as an active member of the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS).

The HIMSS has released the 2021 Asia-Pacific Health CIO Report, a collection of findings from the society’s APAC Health CIO Summit. The conference, held in July, was the region’s first-ever gathering of health industry chief information officers.

The summit largely focused on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted methods of healthcare delivery, particularly regarding the use of digital technologies throughout the Asia-Pacific region. Many conversations revolved around the sharp rise in cybercrime and how medical professionals need to invest in stronger, more advanced cybersecurity measures.

Connected health was another area of focus during the summit. An umbrella term for digital, mobile, and otherwise wireless healthcare models, connected health has helped minimize the spread of COVID while allowing medical facilities to maximize the effective use of on-site resources.

Additional topics included the increased use of artificial intelligence and automation and the importance of digital literacy. The Asia-Pacific Health CIO Report can be read in full at himss.org.

The Enduring Satirical Whimsy of Weird Al Yankovic

Jonathan Komar, MD, practices at AZ Spine Disc and Sport in Phoenix, Arizona. Outside of his work in rehabilitation medicine, Jonathan Komar, MD, is a music fan and an avid collector. His favorite artists include Weird Al Yankovic, who he was fortunate enough to meet in 1995.

Weird Al Yankovic has been a uniquely popular presence in pop music since 1979. Over nearly four decades, he has sold more than 12 million albums. His best-selling parody hits include White & Nerdy, Eat It, and Like a Surgeon, which respectively satirized the popular tunes Ridin’ Dirty, Beat It, and Like a Virgin.

Few contemporary artists have maintained such a presence in pop culture over such a lengthy career. His most recent album, Mandatory Fun, debuted at the top of the Billboard charts in 2014, the first comedy album to do so in more than 50 years.

His constant success has kept the public both amused and a little bewildered for years. His traditional polka medleys and off-beat parodies hardly seem mainstream, but they have continued to sell well among consumers of all ages and across generations.

Weird Al’s most recent release marked the end of his contract with RCA. Now free from a record deal, the parody king intends to focus on releasing singles. At the age of 57, he has no plans to stop lampooning pop songs anytime soon.

Spine Intervention Society to Hold 25th Annual Meeting in July 2017

Spine Intervention Society (SIS)
Image: spineintervention.org

 

 

Jonathan Komar, MD, formerly served as a partner at Southwest Spine and Sports in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he treated a broad range of musculoskeletal and spine injuries through advanced nonsurgical approaches. Jonathan Komar, MD, maintains membership in the Spine Intervention Society (SIS), which will host its 25th Annual Meeting in San Francisco in July.

Building upon a long history in the Bay Area, the SIS Annual Meeting invites professionals to immerse themselves in current research and the latest evidence-based findings in spine medicine. The meeting will feature presentations and initiatives from several SIS divisions, including Health Policy, Research, Education, and Standards. Divisions will lead discussions on how their initiatives will affect the future of spine intervention and patients with spinal conditions and disorders.

Registration fees vary according to membership with SIS and role in the health field. Residents, fellows, and military members can attend for a discounted fee, and a special volunteer registration is available for individuals who wish to lend their services at the event. Early bird registration is also available until April 26.

The 25th SIS Annual Meeting will take place at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis July 19 through July 22, 2017.