SKMC organizes the first annual obesity symposia on 31 October 2009

The number of expected attendees is 150 targeting bariatric surgeons, general surgeons, bariatric physicians, general practitioners, pediatricians, endocrinologists, gastroenterologists, psychologists, and dietitians. SKMC is owned and operated by SEHA, the Abu Dhabi Health Services Company, which is responsible for the curative activities of all the public hospitals and clinics in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi.

The symposium, accredited for 6.5 hours of Continuous Medical Education (CME), is chaired by Dr. Abdelrahman Nimeri, Minimally Invasive & Bariatric Surgery Consultant. It comprises of 12 different presentations and one panel discussion. The scientific presentations will cover all essential topics in the field of obesity management.

It will discuss the magnitude of the obesity problem, the pathophysiological basis of obesity, and metabolic syndrome.

By the end of the symposium, attendees will be able to assess clinically individuals with overweight/obesity problems and consider the appropriate investigations; manage patients with overweight/obesity using the appropriate pharmacological solutions; and understand the non-pharmacological methods with special focus on the place of bariatric surgery in the management of obesity and metabolic syndrome.

The symposium's faculty include SKMC, national and international experts and it will host a world -renowned guest speaker from Cleveland Clinic, Dr. Philip SCHAUER, Professor of Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Chief of Minimally Invasive General Surgery and Director of the Cleveland Clinic Bariatric and Metabolic Institute (BMI).

Dr. Atul Mehta, Chief Medical Officer at SKMC said:

"I believe this symposium will be well received by the audience. This unique and important symposium illustrates SKMC's commitment to state-of-the-art treatment and promotion of CME."

Dr. Mehta further stated, "We are proud to host Dr. Schauer in this symposium as well as to SKMC. He will be joining our team for five days to perform 6-7 bariatric surgeries during the first week of November. We will also be organizing a public lecture by Dr. Schauer and Dr. Nimeri on Tuesday evening, 3 November 2009 in the hospital, under the name of "Walking away from Obesity". It will be open for the public and our patients."

Dr. Abdelrahman Nimeri, Chairperson of the symposium stated, "Bariatric surgery is not just weight loss surgery, or cosmetic surgery. It can save lives, and help patients with the metabolic syndrome."

"It is important for those who are good candidates for a bariatric surgery as advised by their own physician to know that gastric banding is not the safe reversible, easy way out of obesity. The choice of surgery needs to be individualized. Bariatric surgery is a compromise, it is not without complications, and needs life long follow up after surgery for optimal and successful outcomes," Dr. Nimeri added.

Dr. Salem Beshyah, Consultant Endocrinologist at SKMC, co-organizer and one of the speakers in this symposium stated, "We believe by training, other healthcare providers who are in a key position to deal with diabetic patients will help in decreasing the burden of obesity problems as the prevalence of diabetes in obese individuals is higher than individuals with a normal BMI".