Still time to make plans to attend 2010 Vasculitis Patient Symposium

http://www.vasculitisfoundation.org/2010vasculitis-symposium

First Time in Western USA, Leading Vasculitis Experts and Patients to Assemble for Vasculitis Foundation Symposium   All Star Vasculitis Symposium, in Long Beach, California   July 30 - August 1, 2010   Register Today!    Excellent Opportunity to Learn About the Latest Research Findings and Treatment Recommendations for Over 15 Forms of Vasculitis   I attended vasculitis symposiums in Cleveland and Baltimore. I found them both to be very organized, educational, and informative. Seeing so many volunteers and doctors give so much of their time, made it very gratifying for me. I understood that a lot of people care and I am not alone in my vasculitis journey. -- Mercy LaVilla, diagnosed with PAN in 1999, remission in 2005

Wealth of Knowledge in One Place   The All Star Vasculitis Symposium will be held July 30 - August 1, 2010 at the beautiful Westin Long Beach Hotel in Long Beach, California. This is the first Vasculitis Foundation symposium held in the western USA.    Five Reasons to Attend   1. Benefit from the knowledge and experiences of attendees at the world's largest meeting of vasculitis patients, family members and medical experts 2. Expand your disease knowledge by learning about treatment advances, research, quality-of-life issues, and integrative medicine    3. Connect with other vasculitis patients and families for fun and fellowship 4. More than 35 sessions covering all 15 forms of vasculitis, presented by world-renowned experts 5. Network opportunities bring hope, encouragement, and empowerment Still Not Convinced?  See the list below of presentations and speakers scheduled to date.   General Sessions  Vasculitis 101 - Overview of Vasculitis and the Individual Diseases Introduction:  Vasculitis, a family of diseases, how do they relate to each other? Peter A. Merkel, MD, MPH, Director, Vasculitis Center, Boston University School of Medicine Churg Strauss Syndrome, Microscopic Polyangiitis, Wegener's granulomatosis Luis Felipe Flores-Suárez, MD, Head, Primary Systemic Vasculitides Clinic Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias Giant cell (Temporal) Arteritis, Polymyalgia Rheumatica, Takayasu's Arteritis, Central nervous System Vasculitis Cornelia Weyand, MD, PhD, Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University Cryoglobulinemia, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, Polyarteritis nodosa, Secondary VasculitidesPhilip Seo, MD, Co-Director, The Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center Ask the Experts Q&A Panel Drs. Merkel, Flores-Suárez, Weyand and Seo   Vasculitis and Our Pediatric Patients and Their Parents  Join parents and young patients as our pediatric vasculitis experts discuss the management and most current treatment options for younger patients. Attendees will be able to ask questions, meet other parents/patients, share experiences, concerns, and what works for them. Andreas Reiff, MD, Head, Division of Rheumatology, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles David Balfe, MD, Medical Director, Pulmonary Stepdown Unit, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center  New and Emerging Therapies in Vasculitis Welcome and Introductions Peter A. Merkel, MD, MPH, Director, Vasculitis Center, Boston University School of Medicine Understanding Immunology for the Patient with Vasculitis Paul A. Monach, MD, PhD, Vasculitis Center, Boston University School of Medicine What's Happening Now in Vasculitis Clinical Research:  The Vasculitis Research Clinical Research Consortium (VCRC), the European Vasculitis Study Group (EUVAS) and other Vasculitis Research Programs Peter A. Merkel, MD, MPH, Director, Vasculitis Center, Boston University School of Medicine  Recently Completed Clinical Trials in Vasculitis and Implications for all Patients:  Rituximab (RAVE Trial results) Ulrich Specks, MD, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Mayo Clinic   Other Therapeutic Advances Carol A. Langford, MD, MHS, Director, Cleveland Clinic Center for Vasculitis Care and Research   Ask the Experts Q & A Panel Drs. Langford, Merkel, Monach and Specks Small Vessel Vasculitis For attendees interested in Wegener's granulomatosis, microscopic polyangiitis, Churg Strauss syndrome, relapsing polychondritis, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, polyarteritis nodosa, cryoglobulinemia, vasculitis associated with connective tissue diseases), central nervous vasculitis, Behcet's disease, and other small vessel diseases. Standard of Care Therapy for Small Vessel Vasculitides Paul A. Monach, MD, PhD, Vasculitis Center, Boston University School of Medicine  Dealing with the Chronic Medical Effects of Small Vessel Vasculitides Philip Seo, MD, Co-Director, The Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center  Ask the Experts Q & A Panel Drs. Seo and Monach Large Vessel Vasculitis For attendees interested in Takayasu's arteritis and Giant cell arteritis (Temporal arteritis) Standard of Care Therapy for Large Vessel Vasculitides Cornelia Weyand, MD, PhD, Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University  Dealing with the Chronic Medical Effects of Large Vessel Vasculitides Curry Koening, MD, MS, Division of Rheumatology, University of Utah Ask the Experts Q & A Panel Drs. Weyand and Koening Breakout Sessions Ear/Nose/Throat in Vasculitis  Robert S. Lebovics, MD, F.A.C.S., Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, New York City, New York Matthew L. Finerman, MD, Otosurgical Group, Medical Clinic, UCLA   Family, Friends and Caregivers Support Meeting (please, no patients) Donna Benton and Claudia Ellano-Ota, LCSW Orange Caregiver Resource Center, California, St. Jude Brain Injury Network Gastrointestinal Issues in Vasculitis Kenneth Warrington, MD, Division of Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota  Kidneys in Vasculitis Patrick Nachman, MD, University of North Carolina Kidney Center, Chapel Hill, North Carolina Ramnath Dukkipati, MD, Medical Director, Interventional Nephrology, Harbor-UCLA  Pharmacology Christine Vu, Pharm.D, Department of Pharmacy Services, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center  Assembling Your Medical Records/Seeking a Second Opinion Megan E. Clowse, MD, MPH, Rheumatology and Immunology, Duke University Carol Langford, MD, MHS, Director, Cleveland Clinic Center for Vasculitis Care and Research Lung Issues for the Vasculitis Patient (asthma, chronic breathlessness, respiratory infections) Ulrich Specks, MD, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Mayo Clinic Vasculitis Spanish Language Session Luis Felipe Flores-Suárez, MD, Head, Primary Systemic Vasculitides Clinic, Instituto Nacional de Enfermedades Respiratorias  Building a Team:  Patient and Physician Communication Sharon Chung, MD, Division of Rheumatology, University of California - San Francisco Grace Eisen, RN, Lake City, Michigan, VF Board of Directors Eyes in Vasculitis (inflammatory eye disease, low vision, cataracts, glaucoma, eye health)James A. Garrity, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic  Lung Issues for the Vasculitis Patient (asthma, chronic breathlessness, respiratory infections) Ulrich Specks, MD, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Mayo Clinic  Stress Management: Coping Skills and Strategies Lisa Graziano, MA, Executive Director, Prader-Willi California Foundation Understanding Lab Tests for Patients with Vasculitis Patrick Nachman, MD, UNC Kidney Center, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill  Reproductive Health Issues for Women and Men with Vasculitis: Fertility and Pregnancy Megan Clowse, MD, MPH, Rheumatology and Immunology, Duke University Getting Involved in Vasculitis Patient Advocacy Jane Dion, Founder and President, Churg Strauss Syndrome Association Cassie Keane, President, Vasculitis Foundation Board of Directors Cindy Webber, Co-Chair, Education and Awareness Council   Peripheral Neuropathy Associated with VasculitisAnnabel Wang, MD, Neurology, Neuromuscular Disorders, University of California - Irvine  Vasculitis Medication Review (dosing/toxicities)Kenneth Warrington, MD, Division of Rheumatology, Mayo Clinic Vasculitis: Possible mechanisms. Role of autoimmunityNabih I. Abdou, MD, PhD, FACP, Center for Rheumatic Disease and Allergy Disability and Workplace Issues for Vasculitis PatientsTaMiko Crockett, Public Affairs Specialist, Tri Counties Area, Social Security Administration Essie Landry, Public Affairs Specialist, Tri Counties Area, Social Security Administration   Group Discussions With Faculty  Behcet's Disease, Henoch-Schönlein purpura, Kawasaki Disease  Curry Koening, MD, MS, Division of Rheumatology, University of Utah Philip Seo,MD, Co-Director, The Johns Hopkins Vasculitis Center   Churg Strauss syndrome Carol Langford, MD, MHS, Director, Cleveland Clinic Center for Vasculitis Care and Research Ulrich Specks, MD, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care, Mayo Clinic     Giant cell arteritis (Temporal arteritis)/Takayasu's Arteritis Peter A. Merkel, MD, MPH, Director, Vasculitis Center, Boston University School of Medicine Cornelia Weyand, MD, Ph.D, Immunology and Rheumatology, Stanford University  Microscopic polyangiitis Sharon Chung, MD, Division of Rheumatology, University of California - San Francisco Megan E. Clowse, MD, MPH, Rheumatology and Immunology, Duke University Patrick Nachman, MD, UNC Kidney Center, University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill  Pediatrics Andreas Reiff, MD, Head, Division of Rheumatology, Childrens Hospital Los Angeles David Balfe, MD, Medical Director, Pulmonary Stepdown Unit, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center  Polyarteritis nodosa/Cryoglobulinemia Eric Hoy, Ph.D, MS, Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center Ramnath Dukkipati, MD, Medical Director, Interventional Nephrology, Harbor-UCLA  Wegener's granulomatosis Nabih I. Abdou, MD, PhD, FACP, Center for Rheumatic Disease and AllergyJames A. Garrity, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, Mayo Clinic Robert S. Lebovics, MD, Otolaryngology/Head & Neck Surgery, St. Roosevelt Hospital Paul A. Monach, MD, PhD, Vasculitis Center, Boston University School of Medicine      And That's Not All! Keynote Address: Vasculitis - Where We've Been, Where We're Headed Gary S. Hoffman, MD, MS, Director of Senior Staff Matters, Professional Staff Affairs Office, Cleveland Clinic    Disease-Specific Round Table Discussion Sessions  Moderators: VF Education and Awareness Council    Young Adults Icebreaker (ages 16-25, patients only)  Moderator:  Kim Golbuff, MBA Motivational Presentation: Don't Stop Short of YOUR Miracle Julie Garton-Good, DREI, C-CREC, Port Saint Lucie, Florida   Disease Group Dinners To be announced      Have Some Fun!    All Star Recognition, Celebration Banquet and Hollywood Walk of Fame! Tonight we're putting on sequins, tiaras, glitter and glitz and celebrating! Join us on the VF red carpet for an evening of food, fun and entertainment. Participate in the costume contest and win a prize. Experience the paparazzi and adoring fans. Come as your favorite movie or TV star or TV doctor!  (Participation is completely voluntary! Come to have fun.)   Long Beach and Southern California Attractions Over 100 area restaurants. Attractions include the Aquarium of the Pacific, the Queen Mary, Disneyland, Knotts Berry Farm, and Los Angeles. Plan some vacation fun while you are here.     Learn More and Register    Please go to http://www.vasculitisfoundation.org/2010vasculitis-symposium for detailed information and to register. Seating is limited, please register as soon as possible. Registration fee includes Saturday and Sunday continental breakfast and lunch, Friday night dessert reception, Saturday night banquet, and daily refreshment breaks.