In February 2010, a World Scleroderma Congress will be held in Florence. This will be a dual event, consisting of a 3-day congress for doctors, and a one-day event for patients at which rheumatologists will address issues of interest to people who have scleroderma. All lectures and events will be in English, but FESCA is investigating the possibility of translation.
The congress will be a worthwhile trip for couples, families, or groups of friends. Not only will the speakers be world-class, but Florence is a wonderful destination that is fun to visit –and magical for Valentine’s Day weekend.
The patient congress will be held on Friday February 12th from 10 am until 2 pm. Before and after, visitors will be able to sightsee, enjoy the city’s views and restaurants, and go to the museums and churches. A tour of the city will be arranged for those who want.
Those who register for the congress will have to pay only €25.00 as a subsidized attendance fee, and hotel accommodation can be booked at preferential rates. Flights can be booked into Florence airport, and cheap flights are available on RyanAir into Pisa, from where there is a direct bus to Florence. Accommodation is booked through the local travel agency AIM.
The occasion is being planned as a networking event for Scleroderma patients as much as an information-gathering event. We do not anticipate large numbers, and the congress will not be stressful or over-long. Please contact your national organisation to learn more.
Dates of medical congress: February 11, 2010 - February 13, 2010
Date of patient congress: Friday February 12, 2010
Location: Florence, Italy
OPENING CEREMONIES
Thursday 11 February
| 12.00 – 18.00 | Registration | |
| 13.30 – 18.00 | Congress for the doctors. This begins with a lecture by Professor Dame Carol Black on « Scleroderma : History and Prospects ». All registered patients are welcome to attend. | |
| 18.00 – 19.00 | Official Congress Inauguration at the Palazzo Vecchio. Opening Ceremonies will feature talks by President of EULAR Dr. P. Emery, President of FESCA Ann Tyrrell Kennedy, and FESCA patient representative Annelise Roennow on « What it Means to have Scleroderma ». | |
| 19.00 – 20.00 | Welcome Cocktails in Palazzo Vecchio. All registered patients are welcome. | |
| 20.00 | Adjourn |
PATIENT PROGRAM
Friday 12 February
| 09.00 | FESCA team arrives at desks, to guide patients to talks. Once registered, patients may move between rooms A&B at will. Patients may attend medical sessions. |
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| 09.00 - 10.00 | REGISTRATION OF PATIENTS. BADGES GIVEN | |
| 10.00 | CONFERENCE BEGINS WITH WELCOME IN ROOMA FOR BOTH GROUPS |
Room A—CHAIR : Dr. Daniel Furst
| 10.00 – 10.10 | Dr. Daniel Furst | Welcome | |
| 10.10 – 10.15 | Ann Tyrrell Kennedy | Introduction & Housekeeping | |
| Start of lectures: | |||
| 10.20 – 11.00 | Dr. FredWigley | Raynaud’s Disease + Q&A | |
| 11.00 – 11.45 | Dr. J. Van Laar | Treatments for SSc + Q&A | |
| 11.45 – 12.15 | COFFEE AND STRETCHING BREAK | ||
| 12.15 – 13.00 | Dr. J. Seibold | Cardiovascular issues in SSc + Q& | |
| 13.00– 14.00 | LUNCH BREAK | ||
Room B—CHAIR : Ann Tyrrell Kennedy
| 10.00 – 10.15 | Welcome in Room A | ||
| 10.20 – 11.00 | Dr. Chris Denton Renal | Complication in SSc + Q&A | |
| 11.00 – 11.45 | Dr. Yannick Allanore | Musculoskeletal Issues + Q&A | |
| 11.45 – 12.15 | COFFEE AND STRETCHING BREAK | ||
| 12.15 – 13.00 | Dr. R. Silver | The Lungs in SSc + Q&A | |
| 13.00– 14.00 | LUNCH BREAK | ||
Room A—JOINT SESSIONS
| 14.00 – 14.45 | Dr. L. Czirjak | Gastro-intestinal tract + Q&A | |
| 14.45 – 15.05 | Beata Garay-Toth, FESCA VP | Living with Scleroderma | |
| 15.05 – 15.25 | Ms. Elaine Furst, R.N., M.A. | Coping with Chronic Disease | |
| 15.25 – 16.00 | PANEL DISCUSSION TO ANSWER PATIENT QUESTIONS (hand in written questions) Dr. Denton Dr. Van Laar Dr. Wigley Elaine Furst, R.N., M.A. Beata Garay-Toth NOTE : Q&A refers to Question and Answer. Only written questions will be admitted. Paper will be provided and written questions collected by volunteers. No roving microphones. |
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| 19.30 | Dinner for Patients attending congress. Places must be reserved in advance. (reservations to lucien [dot] paciotti [at] netplus [dot] ch). |
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Saturday 13 February
For FESCA representatives:
| 10.00 – 12.00 | 2010 FESCA Annual Assembly (FESCA representatives only) | |
| 12.00 – 13.00 | Lunch (served in FESCA meeting room) | |
| 13.00 – 15.00 | Continuation of Annual Assembly (FESCA representatives only) | |
| For all patient organisation leaders from all countries attending congress: | ||
| 15.00 – 16.00 | Presentation by Scleroderma Society of Canada, with data from a recent patient survey. Speaker: Maureen Sauvé. Open discussion regarding collaboration by groups around the world. | |
| For patient delegates: | ||
| 11.00-13.00 | Sightseeing walking tour of old Florence | |
| GALA DINNER | ||
| 20.00 | Official Dinner for all attending the World Congress medical and patient programs. Cost of attending dinner € 50,-. All patients, patient organisation members, and medical professionals may attend. Reservations must be made at time of registration with AIM agency. | |
You can download Patient Program in PDF format.
You can download Final Medical and Patient Program in PDF format.
REGISTRATION:
Contact: Chantal Lemieux
Phone: 39-0-552-881 Fax: 39-0-552-480-246 or email: sclerosis2010 [at] aimgroup [dot] it
BOOKING FOR ACCOMODATIONS:
It can be done through the agency AIM whose link is to be found on the World Congress website, too.
The links are:
- http://www.medical.theconferencewebsite.com/conference-info/1-Systemic-Sclerosis-World-Congress-2010
- http://www.aim-internationalgroup.com/2010/sclerosiscongress/