Program

Program

The conference is for primary care practitioners and physician specialists who encounter patients with complex health issues and chronic pain in their clinical practice that may or may not be related to Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes, Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (EDS/HSD+).

The 2024 Canadian Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes Conference will provide the following:

• An overview and inform attendees of the various (and overlapping) symptoms and conditions with which these complex patient populations may present, as well as the importance of making a differential diagnosis promptly.
• Develop a toolkit that will enable care providers to better screen, identify and diagnose patients to inform appropriate treatments and referrals. To this end, following the presentations, the conference will conclude with a roundtable session in which presenters and registered attendees from the medical and research fields will participate. At the same time, registrants from the patient population can observe. We intend that this roundtable session will evolve into a formal working group that will enable interested participants to continue developing the toolkit from evidence-based research and clinical experience.
• A forum within a webinar format that will allow presenters and other professionals to meet, exchange ideas freely about the information presented, and identify opportunities for collaboration.

Throughout the day, attendees will delve into the intricate illness clusters associated with EDS and related disorders through question-and-answer periods following presentations. From hypermobility to gastrointestinal dysmotility, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, mast cell disorders, chronic pain to neurological impairments such as Cervical Cranial Instability (CCI) and Chiari Malformation, we will explore the interconnected nature of these manifestations, enabling attendees to recognize and identify them with greater confidence. The program also emphasizes the importance of compassion and empathy in healthcare delivery. Through interactive sessions and case-based discussions, attendees will explore ways to develop living patient/physician partnerships that prioritize patients’ holistic well-being with EDS and related disorders. By fostering a compassionate approach to care, attendees will enhance patient satisfaction and cultivate a sense of fulfillment in their practice. Attendees will gain valuable insights into how to effectively manage symptoms and improve the quality of life for their patients.

Overall, our conference will empower healthcare professionals with the knowledge, skills, and resources they need to care for their complex patients with EDS and heritable disorders of connective tissue. By attending our conference, physicians in Northern Ontario and beyond will emerge better equipped to navigate the complexities of these conditions, ultimately improving the care they provide and the lives of their patients.

The planning committee will summarize and use evaluation data to assure program quality and develop further programming. Your feedback is important to us.