A successful conference geared towards furthering the education of doctors in the community is returning to Pitt Meadows.
The second annual Continuing Medical Education event will feature seven speakers and is free for family physicians to attend.
This year the event will centre around Chronic Disease Day.
“It’s a really good venue because it’s a non-biased venue for the pharmaceutical industry to interact with doctors without causing any “troubles”,” said Sayed Atthari, director of the Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation.
“We are trying to connect three communities. The communities of doctors with the community of pharmaceutical companies and the foundation to make it a really three way win situation,” said the pharmacist at Medlandia Compounding Pharmacy in Maple Ridge .
Atthari explained that doctors in Maple Ridge, Pitt Meadows and the surrounding region are far from the core downtown Vancouver area where these conferences are normally held so it is difficult for them to attend a quality CME.
“We think that our population will be best served, and I am talking the patients, is to have doctors (with a) good education so they get updated on everything,” continued Atthari who added that it is a win for the pharmaceutical industry as well because their representatives have a place to mingle with doctors and talk about their product.
Pharmaceutical companies will have sponsored booths at the event and money from the booths will go to the Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation to purchase much needed equipment for the hospital.
Last year $30,000 was raised.
Topics were picked by the Chronic Disease Day management committee. Atthari along with fellow foundation director Dr. Cilliers Marais and development officer Kristina Murray asked doctors throughout both communities what topics they felt they required more education on and what speakers they would like to hear from.
This year speakers will include Dr. Edward Auersperg on Clostridium Difficile: Challenges and Solutions, Dr. May Ong on Mechanism Based Diagnosis and Management of Chronic Pain, Dr. Matthew Chow on Advanced Pharmacology for Children and Teens with Common Mental Health Problems, Dr. Monica Li on Dermatology in Family Practice: Tips, Pearls and Insights, Dr. Shaun Tregoning on Osteoporosis in Family Practice: What Do I Need To Know?, Dr. Jordanna Kapeluto on The Underlying Causes of Obesity and All The Management Options and one other speaker to be determined on Billing Codes for Family Physicians.
Atthari is hoping the number of attendees at this years event will double. There were 87 doctors who attended last year.
“We will have established a very credible record of unbiased continuing medical education and pharmaceutical companies will be even more eager to participate and therefore raise more money for the foundation,” he said, adding that they have already had doctors register from as far away as Vancouver Island and Kelowna because of the quality of information that is being offered.
Atthari says he is really proud of this event because he wants to give back to the community.
“As somebody who lives here, my son was born in the hospital and as a volunteer that as a long time ago came to Canada and I was in need of so many Canadians, right now is our time, is my time to give it back to the community,” he said.
“I am happy that this is happening in this professional way that is affecting positively a wide range of people, patients,” noted Atthari adding that a better educated doctor means a better diagnosis and better health for the community.
Chronic Disease Day 2018 takes place from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 7 at Meadow Gardens, 19675 Meadow Gardens Way in Pitt Meadows.
The event is free for physicians to attend and attendees can earn six Main Pro Credits.
All delegates must register for the event at rmhfoundation.com/cme.
Donations to the Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation are welcome.
For more information about the Ridge Meadows Hospital Foundation go to rmhfoundation.com.