Sponsored for CME by the University of Arizona College of Medicine at the Arizona Health Sciences Center
MDA 2012 Clinical Conference South Point Hotel, Las Vegas, NV

Conference Information

Description of Activity
The over-arching goals of this conference are 1] to provide a review of selected aspects of diagnosis and medical management for the muscular dystrophies, inherited neuropathies, motor neuron disorders and immune-mediated neuromuscular disorders, and 2] to provide an update on the status of emerging therapies for genetically-caused muscle diseases, spinal muscular atrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and related disorders.   

Target Audience and Methodology
The target audiences for this conference are MDA clinic directors (primarily specialists in neurology and physical medicine & rehabilitation) along with cardiologists, pulmonologists and other physicians and allied health professionals who care for individuals with neuromuscular diseases.  Specialists in the field will present in lecture format.

Practice Gaps
The Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) is an umbrella organization that covers more than 40 neuromuscular diseases, all of them rare and some exceedingly so.  Physicians and allied health professionals who staff MDA clinics are challenged to keep current with medical management and clinical research advances for this group of diseases. In recent years, clinical care guidelines have been developed for some neuromuscular disorders, although the extent to which medical professionals adhere to such guidelines is not known.  For some disorders, care guidelines do not exist, and care providers rely on published literature and/or expert opinion for guidance on management.  In addition, advances in therapy development are occurring rapidly making it difficult for clinicians to remain current in this area. The 2012 MDA Clinical Conference aims to address these gaps by providing updates to physicians and allied health professionals on diagnosis, medical management and emerging therapies for neuromuscular diseases. 

Needs Assessment
Evaluation forms from MDA’s most recent Clinic Directors’ Conference, which was held in January 2009, along with opinions of experts, including members of MDA’s Clinical Advisory Committee and some MDA clinic directors, were used to identify practice gaps that could be addressed through the MDA Clinical Conference.  Four major topics were identified as gaps: 1] best practices in neuromuscular diseases; 2] medical care and psychosocial services for young adults transitioning from pediatric to adult care; 3] genetics and neuromuscular diseases; and, 4] the immune system and neuromuscular diseases. 

Educational Objectives

• Apply principles of genetics and molecular genetics to the diagnosis and potential treatment of neuromuscular diseases.
• Discuss the role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of neuromuscular diseases as well as implications for treatment.
• Apply best practices to the care of individuals with neuromuscular diseases.
• Discuss emerging therapeutic modalities for the treatment of neuromuscular diseases.

Complete Conference Agenda

ACCME/AMA PRA Accreditation
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the Essential Areas and Policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the Joint sponsorship of The University of Arizona College of Medicine at the Arizona Health Sciences Center and the Muscular Dystrophy Association.  The University of Arizona College of Medicine at the Arizona Health Sciences Center is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Arizona College of Medicine at the Arizona Health Sciences Center designates this live activity for a maximum of 17.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

American with Disabilities Act
Persons with a disability may request reasonable accommodations, such as sign language interpreter, by contacting the Muscular Dystrophy Association at (520) 529-2000 or by e-mail at jlaurel@mdausa.org.  Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation.

Cancellation and Refund Policy

Conference Overview

Poster Session

Conference participants are encouraged to submit abstracts for poster presentations at the MDA Clinical Conference. Prospective presenters may submit abstracts describing original research covering a range of topics in neuromuscular diseases (e.g. clinical best practices, clinical trials, validation of outcome measures, results of basic and translational research, etc.).  The word limit for the abstract (including title and authors) is 500 words. The dimensions for the posters session will be 3.5 feet by 4 feet. Abstracts are due by February 17, 2012 and should be submitted through the conference registration site at https://www.etouches.com/MDA_Clinical_Conference_2012.

If you have any problems with your abstract submission, please contact Regan Harrison at rharrison@mdausa.org or by phone (520) 615-6704.

Poster Awards

Posters presented by trainees (medical / graduate students, residents, clinical fellows, postdoctoral fellows) will be considered for one of five competitive “best poster” awards ($1000 each), which will be presented in the general session on Wednesday morning (winners need to be present to receive the award).  Posters will be judged on the originality and quality of the research, the clarity of the presentation, and the relevance to neuromuscular disease. The poster sessions are typically well attended and provide an opportunity for presenters to discuss their data with an informed and interested audience.

Complete Conference Agenda