Advances in cardiology to be discussed at Practi-Med Dubai

The three-day program, which will take place December 5 - 7th at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel Conference Center, brings together leading clinicians from Harvard-affiliated institutions, as well as health care providers in the Middle East. The symposium will focus on advancements in cancer treatment besides discussing the latest research on a range of topics including cardiology.

Jassim Al Suwaidi, MB, ChB, FACC is the Senior Consultant Cardiologist at Hamad General Hospital in Qatar. He will join Dr. Joseph Kannam of Harvard Medical School to lecture on the latest advances in cardiology. In one lecture, Dr. Al Suwaidi will present the epidemiology of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in the Gulf Region, and discuss the newest guidelines for managing AMI.

"Although numerous clinical trials have identified many advances in the treatment of patients with AMI, registries of clinical practice in the developed world have found that in clinical practice a large proportion of patients do not receive guideline-recommended therapies," said Al Suwaidi. "In addition, data on the epidemiology, management, and outcome of patients with AMI with their various ethnic backgrounds in the Gulf region is lacking."

Al Suwaidi will also lecture on acute coronary syndrome. He points out that despite the availability of modern-day tools for diagnosing acute heart attacks, about 5% of patients stricken with acute myocardial infarction are missed by emergency departments, with subsequent associated morbidity and mortality and legal consequences.

Practi-Med Dubai 2004 will also cover health care challenges common to the Middle Eastern countries, including the rise of cardiovascular disease, as well as diabetes, obesity, and the care of children and expectant mothers. The program will focus not only on these and other health issues, but also on ways to build sustainable diagnosis, prevention, and treatment systems that can have lasting benefits for health care delivery in the Middle East. This year's program includes a number of topics that have not previously been covered at Practi-Med, including emergency medicine, dermatology, headache diagnosis and treatment, and counseling patients with severe illnesses.

Last December, more than 1,200 physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals gathered in Dubai for the first lifelong learning program developed by HMI and DHCC. Earlier this year, HMI and DHCC collaborated on two Specialty Practi-Med programs, one on diabetes and another on musculoskeletal health. The response has been enthusiastic and program attendees have reported immediate impacts on the way they approach their daily practice.

Practi-Med Dubai will be held at the Jumeirah Beach Hotel from December 5 - 7, 2004. For more information, including the program, or to register online those interested can visit http://www.practi-med.com/dubai. HMI and DHCC also make sponsorship opportunities available to corporations and exhibitors that are interested in building relationships with practicing health care professionals.

Practi-Med Dubai 2004 has been accredited by the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland for18 credit hours (6 hours per day). The General Health Authority in Abu Dhabi has granted up to 16 credit hours, and the Continuing Medical Education & Professional Development Committee of the United Arab Emirates University Faculty of Medicine and Health Science has granted up to 18.5 credit hours. Those participating in the conference will be awarded a 'Certificate of Attendance' by Harvard Medical International and DHCC.