Posts Tagged ‘conference’

GLMA’s 30th annual meeting witnesses Lebanon-MASH’s first

Posted: October 29, 2012 in Health, Human Rights
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This September I attended GLMA‘s 30th Annual Conference in San Francisco, California. It was as expected rich, eye-opening, insightful, motivational and educational. This year’s conference, hosted in the city “where it all began”, was the largest to-date with nearly 450 attendees and over 60 educational sessions distributed over 5 days and offering up to 19 CME (continuing medical education) credits.

As usual I was Tweeting and Facebooking live. Check my official Page‘s timeline for details (just scroll down to September 2012) or view photos from the event here.

During the conference, GLMA announced their new tag line. The Gay & Lesbian Medical Association will now be known as GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBT Equality, or simply “GLMA”. ”The shift recognizes that all health professionals and our supporters have a role in improving the health and well-being of LGBT people and that GLMA is an organization that welcomes and serves everyone who shares in that belief” stated the post-conference newsletter.

This year six countries were represented including Canada and Lebanon. One Lebanese medical student was flown from Lebanon to attend this conference sponsored by a generous donation from two Lebanese physicians. This student along with 7 Lebanese physicians, including myself, convened on the side of GLMA to launch the Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health: Leb-MASH. I would like to thank GLMA president Dr. Desiray Bailey and executive director Dr. Hector Vargas for meeting with founding members to discuss potential  collaboration between GLMA and Leb-MASH. I will share more details about this ground-breaking organization once structuring matures and its work commences.

The Annual Conference in Numbers*• 445 Attendees
• 139 Speakers
• 46 Concurrent Workshops
• 23 Oral Research Presentations
• 18 Poster Research Presentations
• 9 Plenary Presentations
• 19 Credit Hours
• 19 Exhibitors
• 10 Formal Networking Events
• 36 States represented
• 6 Countries represented
• $13,000 raised for the Lesbian Health Fund*Source: GLMA Newsletter		  

“These are not just numbers though. They represent increased knowledge of LGBT health and better care for LGBT individuals. Participating in the 30th Annual Conference provided you with the latest in LGBT health information and the tools you need to make a difference in the lives of the LGBT individuals and families for whom you care” stated the post-conference newsletter. You can view the full program from the conference here.

As usual, the conference ends with GLMA’s signature event, the Gala Banquet & Achievement Awards Recognition. This year the gala was hosted at the Green Room in the San Francisco War Memorial. GLMA recognized and honoured six individuals and organizations for their outstanding contributions to the LGBT community and their exemplary commitment to improving the quality of health services for LGBT people. You can view a list of this year’s recipients and see photos from the evening by clicking here.

Next GLMA meeting is scheduled for September 18-21, 2013 in Denver, CO, USA. It will again host the second annual meeting for the Lebanese Medical Association for Sexual Health. If you or someone you know are interested in advancing the health of sexual minorities in Lebanon, or the sexual health of all Lebanese, I urge you to join GLMA’s 31st annual meeting and attend Leb-MASH’s second annual meeting. Be part of the change, get the tools to enable you to make a difference in the lives and health of many.

Laparoscopy for Gynecologists: LIGO course review

Posted: September 18, 2012 in Gynecology, Health, Uncategorized
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I just returned from the LIGO (Laparoscopic Institute of Gnecologic Oncology) Matsers’ Course in Total Laparoscopic Hysterectomy & Advanced Laparoscopic Procedures in Atlanta, Georgia, USA.

In a nutshell, this conference is a must-attend for any gynecologist who would like to develop or advance their surgical skills in laparoscopic hysterectomies.

I highly recommend it.

I attended LIGO conference in San Francisco last year. This year I got invited to join LIGO team as faculty to help teach laparoscopic suturing on pelvic trainers.

I was happy to accept the offer as I knew the value of such an educational course and its impact on womyn’s health by training more gynecologists to become comfortable and competent in minimally invasive surgery.

I wanted to support it.

The conference spans two days (Friday & Saturday) and offers laparoscopic surgical training that is condensed, comprehensive, high-yield and hands-on using state-of-the-art techniques and equipment. I find this very convenient as one would only need to take Friday off to attend. The condensed material is made easier to absorb by a constantly changing educational format. LIGO has a good balance between lectures, video demonstrations, “lunch with an expert” and hands-on training.

The Holiotomy™ Challenge:

The “Holiotomy™” is a two inch segment of Penrose drain with six dots on each side of the tubing with a one inch hole in the middle. Surgeons are challenged to place three figure of “N”s through each of the dots and to tie each of these with four square knots to close the hole. We call this a “holiotomy™”, in jest, but the process of suturing the “holiotomy™” enhances eye-hand coordination and haptic perception and simulates the essential procedures every laparoscopic surgeon needs: closure of cystotomy or enterotomy or closure of the vagina after total laparoscopic hysterectomy.

Surgeons are asked to perform three “holiotomies™” (6 figure of “N”‘s with 24 knots on two “holiotomies&™” and one “run the cuff” advanced on the third “holiotomy™”) as evidence of their developing laparoscopic skills. This challenge is made easy by the three lectures on suture techniques, the two precepted suture sessions and the 40 pelvic trainers available to you during unrestricted breaks.

Continuing Medical Education Credit (CME) is provided through joint sponsorship with The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG). ACOG designates

LIGO for a maximum of 17 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. LIGO offers concentrated learning experience with a high faculty to attendee ratio, individually precepted simulator training and optional cadaver lab (spring course only). It is rated 4.92 (of 5.0) by over 1,250 surgeons trained since it started in 2006 according to their official website.

I have never been in a conference that feeds you that well. Food is served almost constantly throughout the day and is generally healthy (with some unhealthy but refreshing snacks from ice cream, popcorn to freshly made pretzels and the now famous LIGOtini).

A special martini that carried the name and colors of the course. It has Vodka, Orange juice, and Sambuca.

This year, the conference attracted 118 attendees from 7 countries (Canada, Colombia, Bermuda, Turkey, Kuwait, UAE & USA) and 33 American states. In addition to surgeons there were surgical assistants and residents.

Having this number of attendees allows for ample one-on-one time with a faculty member at a pelvic trainer. This hands-on experience makes this course stands out among other similar courses offered across North America.

Follow LIGO on Twitter @LapInstGynOnc
Like LIGO’s Facebook page
The course is given twice a year. To register, go to
http://ligocourses.com

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The course offers a discount if you get referred to it. So consider I referred you, use referral code: SF2013 when you register and get 100 USD off.

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Disclaimer: I do not receive any financial support from the conference, its faculty or display companies in it. I have no conflict of interest or other financial disclosures to be reported. I have volunteered my time with LIGO as a faculty

Bigger surgeries. Smaller incisions!

Posted: October 26, 2010 in Health
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Assisting in a DaVinci Robotic hysterectomy in 2008 at University Hospitals Case Medical Center demonstrating a minimally invasive approach to surgery.

I just came back from Harvard’s Minimally Invasive Gynecologic Surgery conference held in Boston Oct. 15 to 18 under the supervision of Dr. Jon I. Einarsson. I have met Dr. Einarsson in 2003 In Houston, Texas during a minimally invasive surgery rotation with Dr. Robert Zurawin at Baylor. I was happily surprised to see Dr. Zurawin at the same meeting.

We are witnessing fast-paced advancements in technology that allows us to provide patients with the same benefits of surgery at lower risks, and faster recovery. These advancements are changing the field the way we know it and breaking traditional notions about surgery.

Surgery has traditionally been associated with a large scar, pain and lower mobility after surgery, a long recovery period and a longer time off work. This is changing.

Removal of the uterus (hysterectomy) is the second most common surgery in USA (The most common is Cesarean delivery). Hysterectomy should be done through the vagina whenever possible. In most cases, this is not possible due to the size or position of the uterus or due to lack of adequate training of the surgeon (at least in USA). Traditionally, the alternative was an abdominal hysterectomy (Through a large incision on the abdomen). In Canada they call it “Le grande opération”, French for “the big surgery”.

Peggy Turbett - (The Plain Dealer, 2008) Doctors at University Hospitals Case Medical Center perform a hysterectomy using a robotic device called the da Vinci Surgical System. While Dr. Vivian von Gruenigen works the robot's "arms" from a control booth (shown on the left), Dr. Hasan Abdessamad, right, assists with surgical instruments.

There is nothing big about a hysterectomy anymore when we can do it laparoscopically (through three small incisions). I send my patients home the next day and back to work a week later. They barely use any pain medicine at home.

In the Harvard conference there was much more muscle-flexing. Minimally Invasive Surgeons are now doing almost anything laparoscopically, even pelvic exenteration (or pelvic evisceration = a radical cancer surgery that removes all organs from a woman’s pelvic cavity). Robotic gynecologic surgery has picked up in USA and is starting to pick up in the more socialist Canada. It did not arrive to Lebanon as far as I know and according to DaVinci Surgery website.

I met the Da Vinci Robot in Houston in 2003 and was privileged to be trained on using it in Cleveland at University Hospitals – Case Medical Center.

With robotic surgery, the surgeon does not have to be scrubbed or even in the same room as the patient. Robotic surgery will allow surgeons to perform surgery remotely on people in war fields, in distant or under-served areas, or even in a space shuttle.

The DaVinci is not the only robotic system. The new generation of robots are lighter and smaller, making their use easier. They also have tactile feedback, so they feel just like the new generation video games.

Appreciating the Da Vinci robotic arms

It is only the begining.

Trying out the Da Vinci Console before we bought it - Cleveland 2008