SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The 94th Annual Clinical Congress of the American College of Surgeons, one of the largest meetings of surgeons in the world, will convene October 12-16 at the Moscone Convention Center in San Francisco.
The Clinical Congress provides a prime opportunity for writers, editors, and producers who cover the health care beat to provide the latest information for their readers or viewers on topics such as:
In addition to hundreds of general and specialty sessions, a series of lectures by prominent guest speakers, and more than 35 sessions highlighting research-in-progress reports will be presented. Technical exhibits from over 250 companies will be on display in the Moscone Convention Center, along with scientific exhibits from surgical researchers from around the world.
Another highlight for reporters will be press conferences and briefings scheduled for Tuesday, October 14, and Wednesday, October 15, in the Clinical Congress Press Conference Room. These sessions provide a unique opportunity for reporters to interview key speakers away from the presentation podium and to ask their own questions to customize their coverage for their readers, listeners, or viewers.
Press Activities Schedule
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
11:00 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. (Press Briefing)
DEBATING THE ETHICS OF THE OFFSHORE OUTSOURCING OF SURGICAL CARE
MODERATOR: Mary H. McGrath, MD, FACS, San Francisco, CA
PANELISTS: Alexander M. Capron, Los Angeles, CA; Michael Dory Horowitz, MD, FACS, Lebanon, GA; David Jaimovich, MD, Oakbrook Terrace, IL; and Mark Siegler, MD, Chicago, IL
A box lunch will be served for presenters and reporters in attendance.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
1:00 p.m. - 1:30 p.m. (Press Conference)
SURGEONS TEST A NOVEL PROTEIN-BASED TREATMENT FOR PANCREATIC CANCER (Surgical Forum Presentation)
PRESENTERS: Selwyn M. Vickers, MD, FACS, Minneapolis, MN; Ashok K. Saluja, PhD, Minneapolis, MN; and Daniel Borja-Cacho, MD, Minneapolis, MN
Surgeons at the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, are studying the possible applications of a pancreatic cancer-specific agent that could increase treatment options for that type of cancer. The study is one of several leading to a phase I clinical trial that researchers hope will ultimately result in a change to the treatment regimen for the disease.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m. (Press Conference)
SURGEONS PERFECT A TECHNIQUE FOR SUTURELESS MICROVASCULAR ANASTOMOSIS USING THERMOREVERSIBLE POLOXAMERS
(Surgical Forum Presentation)
PRESENTERS: Geoffrey Gurtner, MD, FACS, Stanford, CA and Edward I. Chang, MD, Stanford, CA
Researchers from Stanford University (CA) will explain how a new technology has been developed to perfect a technique for performing sutureless microvascular anastomosis. This new surgical innovation using thermoreversible poloxamers not only provides surgeons with a safe and cost-effective way to get patients out of the operating room faster, it opens the door to perform procedures currently impossible before its introduction.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (Press Conference)
SURGEONS FIND UNSUSPECTED THYROID PROBLEMS IN ELDERLY PATIENTS THROUGH CLINICAL IMAGING STUDIES
(Surgical Forum Presentation)
PRESENTERS: Gardner Scott Smith, MD, Birmingham, AL; Richard A. Prinz, MD, Chicago, IL; and John M. Pontarelli, Chicago, IL
Surgeons at Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, are studying
the role of routine imaging in finding potentially malignant thyroid nodules in an effort to actively diagnose and treat thyroid cancer in elderly patients. The research may enable surgeons to treat patients who previously were not candidates for surgical treatment.
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
12:30 - 1:00 p.m. (Press Conference)
SURGEONS ADVOCATE EARLY SURGICAL TREATMENT FOR ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH A HYPERACTIVE PARATHYROID GLAND (Surgical Forum Presentation)
PRESENTERS: Susanna Shin, MD, Norfolk, VA and Nancy Perrier, MD, FACS, Houston, TX
Researchers from M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, have analyzed elderly patients with hyperparathyroidism to determine whether or not parathyroidectomy is advisable in the short and long term. The study also evaluated the safety of performing such operations on the elderly, as well as the role of parathyroidectomy in improving quality of life for these patients as they age.
Upon presenting the appropriate identification, members of the media who meet the criteria set forth by the College for securing press credentials can register on site in the Clinical Congress Press Room (North Hall, Moscone Convention Center). For further details, see the ACS Policy for Securing Press Credentials online at: http://www.facs.org/clincon2008/press/credentials.html.
The ACS Press Room phone number is: 415-978-3644 (effective October 12.) Press Room Hours are: Sun., Oct. 12, 9:00 am - 4 pm; Mon. Oct. 13 to Wed. Oct. 15, 8 am - 5 pm; Thurs. Oct. 16 8:00 am - 12:00 noon.
If you have any questions before the Clinical Congress begins, please contact:
Sally Garneski, Manager, Public Information/Electronic Publishing
sgarneski@facs.org, tel: 312-202-5409
Cory Suzan Petty, Senior Public Information Assistant
cpetty@facs.org, tel: 312-202-5328
E-mail: pressinquiry@facs.org
The American College of Surgeons is a scientific and educational organization of surgeons that was founded in 1913 to raise the standards of surgical practice and to improve the care of the surgical patient. The College is dedicated to the ethical and competent practice of surgery. It has more than 73,000 members and is the largest organization of surgeons in the world. For more information, visit www.facs.org.
CONTACT: Sally Garneski, Manager, Public Information/Electronic
Publishing, +1-312-202-5409, sgarneski@facs.org, or Cory Suzan Petty,
Senior Public Information Assistant, +1-312-202-5328, cpetty@facs.org, both
of American College of Surgeons
Web site: http://www.facs.org//
