Accreditation

 

Accreditation Statement: The Georgetown University Hospital is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The Georgetown University Hospital designates this educational activity for a maximum of 15 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Georgetown University Hospital Department of Nursing Education is an approved provider of continuing nursing education by the Maryland Nurses Association, an accredited provider by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on accreditation. Nurses will be awarded a maximum of 15 contact hours for successfully completing the program.

 

Disclosure of Financial Relationships with Any Commercial Interest

As a sponsor accredited by the ACCME, it is the policy of Georgetown University Hospital to require that everyone who is in the position to control the content of an educational activity disclose all relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest prior to the educational activity. The ACCME considers relationship of the person involved in the CME activity to include financial relationship of a spouse or partner. Faculty and planners who refuse to disclose relevant financial relationships will be disqualified from participating in the CME activity. For an individual with no relevant financial relationship(s), the participant must be informed that no conflicts of interest or financial relationship(s) exist.

 

Conference Objectives: Following this program, participants should have a thorough understanding of the important controversial aspects of coordinated local treatment of breast cancer and breast reconstruction. They will be aware of the pros and cons regarding prophylactic mastectomy, as well as the pros and cons regarding nipple-sparing in both prophylactic and therapeutic mastectomy. They will understand surgical techniques designed to improve the likelihood of nipple preservation and reduce the risk of flap or nipple necrosis with mastectomy. They will have a more complete understanding of the impact of reconstruction on post-mastectomy radiation delivery and, conversely, of the impact of post-mastectomy radiation on prior reconstruction. They will learn different philosophies regarding radiation delivery including new techniques and how to minimize side effects to the surrounding tissue. They will obtain a better understanding of the arguments regarding re-staging patients after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and the pros and cons of downstaging based upon response to chemotherapy pre-mastectomy on the subsequent treatment plan, the scope and power of oncoplastic surgery in the patient who undergoes breast conservation therapy for breast cancer, and the arguments in favor of a coordinated team approach in oncoplastic surgery to maximize the cosmetic and oncologic outcomes. Attendees will also become familiar with different methods of breast reconstruction including implant-based reconstruction, flap-based reconstruction, and microsurgical-assisted free flap reconstruction. They will become aware of the proper patient selection and timing for these procedures as well as the evolving role of alloplastic materials in breast reconstruction both in terms of enhancing and facilitating device reconstruction of the breast, as well as reconstructing the abdomen after flap harvesting.

 

Target Audience: This program is specifically designed to be a multidisciplinary program and is intended for a wide range of medical practitioners who are interested in the latest information regarding the local treatment of breast cancer. The program is purposely targeted for general, plastic, breast and oncologic surgeons, as well as radiation & medical oncologists. It is also intended for primary care physicians, oncology nurses and practitioners, genetic counselors and hospital administrators who have an interest in the treatment of breast cancer patients.

 

Course Description: Breast cancer is the most common cancer affecting women. Its diagnosis and treatment are part of the practice of a wide number of medical specialties including primary care physicians, medical oncologists, surgical oncologists, breast surgeons, plastic surgeons, radiation oncologists, psychologists and other healthcare professions. There are national initiatives calling for a multidisciplinary approach to the care of these patients.The multiple components and aspects of the treatment of breast cancer require a high level of coordinated care among different specialties. This coordination becomes even more challenging because of the rapid evolution of new treatment modalities and is especially important because of the possibility of improved outcomes both in terms of curing the disease, as well as maintaining the physical and psychological well-being of the patient. This meeting is the first of its kind to assemble an international faculty of specialists focused on the local treatment of breast cancer including breast surgeons, plastic surgeons and radiation oncologists. The intent of the meeting is to present a range of treatment options and points of view from different specialties regarding specific controversial areas of treatment.

The meeting will offer presentations and panel discussions on a number of currently important topics in the local treatment of breast cancer including oncoplastic surgery, the role of prophylactic mastectomy, the state of partial breast irradiation, intraoperative radiation therapy, timing and indications for post-mastectomy radiation, neoadjuvant chemotherapy and its role in restaging breast cancer, nipple-sparing mastectomy both therapeutic and prophylactic, treatment of breast cancer in a previously augmented breast, the status of MRI screening for breast cancer, the effects of reconstruction on the delivery of post-mastectomy radiation, and the evolving role of alloplastic materials in breast reconstruction.

Attendees will hear different models for coordination of breast cancer from major centers across the USA. They will also hear arguments for and against treatments such as nipple-sparing mastectomy in the patient with breast cancer and the timing of reconstruction vis-a-vis postmastectomy radiation therapy. The meeting’s intent is not only to educate the faculty and attendees about the wide range of options available for breast cancer coordinated care, but also to encourage the development of more standardized treatment strategies and protocols in the local treatment of breast cancer.

 

Acknowledgment: This continuing medical education activity is supported by unrestricted educational grants and exhibitor & commercial support from contributing organizations, each of which will be identified in course materials at the conference.

 

Advisory: Certificates of Attendance for CMEs and Contact hours are available for you to print online during and after this conference. Attendees can update or edit their Attendance Checklist or CME Certificate through August 13, 2012. After that time, no further changes can be made on the forms. Certificates can be printed for a period of two years.