Last week I had the pleasure and honor of attending my 14th Consortium of Multiple Sclerosis Centers annual meeting. This year's meeting took place May 28-31 and conveniently located in Denver. Therefore, The Heuga Center for Multiple Sclerosis was one of the host centers for this year's meeting.
The Heuga Center was featured prominently throughout the meeting through presentations and in the exhibit hall.
Wednesday featured a clinical course given by Pat Kennedy and me. The course featured health promotion programs, like The Heuga Center's CAN DO program, as one model for people with MS. In addition, primary care practices and recommendations were discussed to improve the quality of life and overall health of people living with MS.
Thursday included a presentation by Pat Kennedy on the areas of Adherence and Empowerment, a core value of The Heuga Center.
Friday was another busy also (at least for me). I had the opportunity to chair a symposium on Outcome Measures for Gait and Fatigue. Peggy Crawford, a Heuga Center psychologist, was a co-investigator in one of the platform presentations, while Dr. Randy Schapiro participated in an evening symposium entitled "Sweet Relief: Controlling the Injection Fear Factor".
Friday evening also featured the poster session in which there many representatives of The Heuga Center programs staff. Deborah Miller presented two posters, while Pat Kennedy, Randy Schapiro and Cinda Hugos were also part of studies presented in the poster session.
Michelle Keating, a nurse and past program participant, also presented a poster and received the Hope Award from the IOMSN for her poster "Quilting for Healing and Hope for Multiple Sclerosis". Congratulations Michelle.
The conference concluded on Saturday, when Pat Kennedy and Randy Schapiro provided presentations on "What is Comprehensive Care in MS?". The Heuga Center was included as part of the discussion as one model of today's comprehensive care for people living with MS.
It was another great meeting and I am already looking forward to next year in Atlanta.
Brian
