The Best in Endoscopic Education Offered at DDW 2004 5/4/2004
From: Tamaryn Wiggins of the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 630-570-5618 or twiggins@asge.org OAK BROOK, Ill., May 4 -- During Digestive Disease Week (DDW) 2004 in New Orleans, La., the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE) will provide the premier offering in endoscopic education available under one roof. ASGE's offering-more than 90 total events-will kick off on Sunday, May 16 with clinical symposia for the endoscopic practitioner. More than 150 ASGE faculty are involved with teaching and presenting during this year's event. DDW expects the attendance of more than 14,000 gastroenterologists, endoscopists, and hepatologists and other medical professionals involved with the treatment of GI conditions worldwide. ASGE course coverage includes: -- Colon Cancer Screening: Implementing into Practice -- Endoscopic Therapy to GERD; Getting Patients off Long Term Medications -- Capsule Endoscopy Technology -- Use of Sedation during Endoscopy -- Diagnosing GI Bleeding -- Gender Barriers to Colon Cancer Screening -- The Growing Problem of Obesity "I am very excited about our entire DDW Program for the 2004 meeting. We have worked extremely hard to build upon past programs. We have endeavored to be sensitive to the needs of our membership. We have also tried to put the on-going and exciting changes in technology into perspective," said 2003-4 ASGE President Christopher J. Gostout, MD, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. "This should prove to be valuable experience to all who attend." A stop not to miss at this year's event is the ASGE Learning Center. With over 42 DVD viewing stations and hands-on demonstration areas, this is one of the most popular areas at DDW every year. In 2003, nearly 10,000 gastroenterologists attended Learning Center sessions by watching training tapes or attending hands-on demonstrations. In addition, the ASGE will be taking its recently opened, Interactive Training and Technology (IT&T) Center, an open space lab featuring endoscopic work stations, capsule endoscopy stations and fully interactive simulation stations, to New Orleans for DDW. With three, unique and completely sold out hands-on sessions, the ASGE IT&T Center will be the highlight of attendees experience while at DDW. ASGE's Annual Business Meeting is held in conjunction with DDW and will be held on Wednesday, May 19 followed by the ASGE Plenary Session that will take a technological approach to lectures and will conclude with the induction of the 2004-5 ASGE President, David J. Bjorkman, MD, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City. The ASGE Annual Postgraduate Course, Endoscopic Surgery: Endoscopy for the Next Millennium, will begin on Wednesday, May 19 and will be the culmination of ASGE's educational offering ending on Thursday, May 20. ASGE will present several awards during DDW. Members receiving honors will be recognized at a special ceremony hosted by Dr. Gostout. ASGE's most prestigious award, The Rudolph Schindler Award will be presented to Peter Cotton, MD, from the Medical University of South Carolina during the Plenary Session on Wednesday, May 19. In addition to the many prestigious member awards, the ASGE will present a Congressional Service Award to Representative to Jim Ramstad (R-Minn.) for his efforts to improve the approval of new endoscopic technology which will allow the insurance coding process to work more smoothly benefiting not only physicians but the patient public as well. For more information, including a complete course offering and program guide, ASGE Guide to Endoscopy at DDW or an ASGE Press Kit, please contact Tamaryn Wiggins at 630-570-5681 (prior to May 11) and 630-697-1252 during the event (May 12-19). Information will be available at the DDW Pressroom or the ASGE Exhibit Booth (No. 1835) in the Morial Convention Center through May 19. ABOUT ASGE The American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (ASGE), founded in 1941, is the preeminent professional organization dedicated to advancing the practice of Endoscopy. ASGE promotes the highest standards for endoscopic training and practice, fosters endoscopic research, recognizes distinguished contributions to Endoscopy, and is the foremost resource for physician members worldwide, serves the medical profession and the public by developing and advocating responsible positions for the benefits of patients, the public and medical professionals. ASGE publishes the leading peer-reviewed endoscopic journal, Gastrointestinal Endoscopy (GIE), as well as a comprehensive member newsletter, ASGE News. More information about ASGE can be found on its Web site at http://www.asge.org, or on its new public Web site, http://www.askasge.org. |