Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Upcoming Behcet's Conferences (2010)

Going to Behcet's conferences is a great way to meet other patients, to get some much-needed support, and to learn from doctors who actually know what they're doing.

There are two Behcet's conferences coming up in 2010: One will be in the U.S., and the other will be in London. I'm offering some info about them now, so you can start saving up for one of the trips if you think you might want to go. Basic expenses usually include a registration fee for the conference (typically around $350+ dollars, which gets you into all the presentations and some meals over several days), extra money for airfare, and nightly lodging at the hotel. I'm hoping to go to the U.S. conference, but with the economy the way it is these days, I have to start setting some money aside every week to make it possible.

1) The American Behcet's Disease Association Medical Conference: April 23-25, 2010 in Orlando, FL
The ABDA is in the process of planning the conference , contacting speakers, and choosing the hotel. They're also working on getting approval to offer CME credits for healthcare people who attend. According to Sandy McElgunn, the ABDA president, some of the information may be finalized at their next Board meeting in April. Once I have more information, I'll post it here.

2) The 14th International Conference on Behcet's Disease (for doctors and other medical professionals), and the 6th Patients' Convention on Behcet's: July 8-10, 2010 in London.

Here is the announcement that I received about the two conferences from the International Society for BD. (The medical conference and the patients' conference are usually held in separate areas of the same hotel, so that some of the doctors are able to do presentations for each one.)

"On behalf of the United Kingdom Behcet's Disease Forum and the United Kingdom Behcet's Syndrome Society, we have great pleasure in announcing the 14th International Conference on Behcet's Disease, to be held in London from 8th-10th July 2010 under the auspices of the International Society for Behcet's Disease.

The venue of the Conference will be the Queen Mary University Conference Centre at Mile End, London E1. The venue is within five minutes’ walk from the Mile End Underground Station, and a short taxi ride from hotels situated at St. Catherine’s dock near Tower Bridge.

The Conference Steering Committee is planning to provide an excellent scientific programme, aiming at bringing new developments in basic and clinical science to bear on the specific issues of Behcet’s Disease (BD). Topics to be covered will include Immunology of BD, Vasculitis in BD, Genetic Basis of BD, Regional Inflammation, and Paediatric BD. The programme will also include debates on topics of current interest or controversy.

Besides these main activities, you will be able to enjoy the rich cultural life and tourist attractions of London and the rest of the UK. July is at the peak of the English summer, offering very pleasant weather with a temperature range of 14-24 C.

Professor Dorian Haskard
United Kingdom Behcet’s Disease Forum
Honorary President of the 14th International Conference

Dr. Graham Wallace
United Kingdom Behcet’s Disease Forum
Honorary General Secretary of the 14th International Conference

Dr. Colin Barnes
United Kingdom Behcet’s Disease Forum
International Affairs Secretary of the 14th International Conference "