Leading authorities in endometriosis care and research will get together to discuss every aspect of the disease, from basic research to cutting-edge techniques, at the Endometriosis Foundation of America’s (EFA) 7th Annual Medical Conference, “Endometriosis Surgery 2016: Pursuing Precision with Passion,” April 17-19 in New York.
Conference participants will have the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge and information on the best practices worldwide for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis. Led by Scientific Program Chairs Dr. Tamer Seckin and Dr. Harry Reich, participants will learn about emerging technologies, scientific projects, and latest research that challenges the most established and outdated mindsets.
The annual three-day event will start with a Patient Awareness Day at Lenox Hill Hospital, which is open to the public. This full-day program will give patients, their families, educators, and healthcare providers an opportunity to discuss the challenges of this disease in an open-forum format. There will be patient- and physician-led panels covering topics from early diagnosis to sex and fertility interventions and pain management.
Also at the event, the second annual ENPOWR Award will be dedicated to The Brooklyn Latin School for its prioritization of their students’ health through its EFA teen educational program, The ENPOWR Project.
On April 18-19, the work of international clinicians and researchers will be showcased and debated at New York’s Union Club. Speakers include Pinar Kodaman, M.D., Ph.D., on intervention timings, and Hugh Taylor, M.D., who will discuss stem cells and endometriosis.
This year’s keynote speech will be given by Farr Nezhat, M.D., the 2016 Harry Reich Award recipient. Nezhat was recognized for his lifelong work dedicated to advance women’s health and research, seeking links between endometriosis and cancer. The award will be formally given at the 8th annual Blossom Ball on April 19 at Pier Sixty.
“By gathering the top physicians, researchers, and integrative service professionals, we are all able to learn from each other and improve patient experiences,” EFA co-founder Dr. Tamer Seckin said in a press release. “In addition to discussing cutting edge research, we will explore clinical procedures, including diagnostic techniques and surgical removal of the disease, which can help a woman live a normal and productive life free of pain and chronic disease. Everything from basic science to clinical management to the latest research will be discussed by top practitioners, scientists, and disease advocates from around the world.”
Endometriosis, a disease that affects nearly 176 million women around the world, is a condition in which the endometrium-like tissue (tissue that is similar to the lining inside the uterus) is found outside the uterus, thus causing inflammatory reactions that may result in scar tissue. Endometriosis symptoms include painful menstruation periods, painful ovulation, painful intercourse, abnormal bleeding, chronic pelvic pain, fatigue, and even infertility.
The condition can have a major impact on the patients’ physical and mental health. Diagnoses are often difficult due to lack of awareness and generalized “normalization” of symptoms.
Image Credits: http://www.endofound.org/