Regional UMDF Mitochondrial Disease Symposium Set for Feb. 12-13

The United Mitochondrial Disease Foundation’s UMDF Regional Symposium, taking place Feb. 12-13 in Houston, Texas, will include for a first time local specialists treating mitochondrial patients to further understanding and insights into managing patients with mitochondrial disease.

The 2016 symposium will be hosted by McGovern Medical School’s Mitochondrial Center of Excellence and the Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital, according to a press release.

Mitochondrial diseases have been found to be more common that previously thought. Mitochondrial pathophysiology is now recognized as being significantly involved in many disease processes, including diabetes, AIDS, cancer, and heart disease. Significant advances have also been made in the field of mitochondrial pathophysiology, epidemiology, proteomics, and molecular genetics.

Symposia targeting mitochondrial diseases tend to draw an audience limited to physicians, researchers and expert specialists, UMDF said on its symposium website. For this reason, the organization decided to expand its Grand Rounds program to include local specialists with mitochondrial patients and to make it a longer event. Under Grand Rounds, began in 2008, a mitochondrial specialist would visit hospitals to speak to neurologists and geneticists taking part in one-hour monthly continuing medical education (CME) sessions.

The UMDF this year will offer of a full day of CME  activity on Feb. 12, and a half day of sessions for patients and families on Fe. 13.

UMDF “hopes to see this program build in the coming years — not only through our efforts but also by collaborating with other organizations to reach as many clinicians and allied health as possible. Together, we will make a difference in the lives of patients/families struggling with mitochondrial disease,” it said on the website.

CME-accredited courses offered during the symposium target residents/fellows and students, physical therapy and speech-language pathology specialists, endocrinologists, cardiologists, pediatrics, geneticists, and neurologists. Course planning is chaired by Dr. Mary Kay Koenig, the Mitochondrial Clinic director, Tuberous Sclerosis Center co-director and associate professor of pediatrics. The content was determined by assessment of educational needs, and includes new medical knowledge, medical practice, literature review, surveys, and didactic lectures from invited experts.

For more information regarding the UMDF symposium, including registration and a detailed course description, please visit this link.