Scientific Information

Target Audience:

• Allergy & Immunology
• Allied Health
• Anesthesiology & Pain Management
• Cardiology
• Chiropractic
• Neurologist
• Clinical Nurse Practitioner
• Dentistry
• Dermatology
• Family Medicine
• Gastroenterology
• Genetics
• Hospital Administrators
• Integrative Medicine
• Ministry of Health Policy Writers
• Neurology
• Neuroradiology
• Neurosurgery
• Nursing
• Paediatrics
• Physiotherapy
• Psychology
• Rheumatology
• Women’s Health

This one-credit-per-hour Group Learning program meets the certification criteria of the College of Family Physicians of Canada and has been certified by the Continuing Education and Professional Development Office at NOSM University for up to 6.5 Mainpro+ credit(s).

Learning Objectives:

• Recognize and identify the illness clusters associated with Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes (EDS) and other Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue.
• Construct a practical approach for office-based screening of individuals with EDS with co-existent Dysautonomia, Gastrointestinal Dysmotility, Mast Cell Disorders, and neurological impairment caused by Cervical Cranial Instability (CCI), Atlanto-Axial Instability (AAI), Chiari Malformation, Tethered Cord, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), spinal fluid leaks, and Spontaneous Intercranial Hypotension (SIH).
• Describe the best-evidence informed approach for management of multisystemic manifestations in Ehlers-Danlos Syndromes and other Heritable Disorders of Connective Tissue.
• Express compassion and empathy in healthcare delivery to develop living patient/physician partnerships for improved quality of life.
• In patients with neurological impairment caused by CCI, AAI, Chiari Malformation, Tethered Cord, ME, CFS, spinal fluid leaks, and SIH, understanding and expanding knowledge about diagnostic criteria and treatment of the spine, and the predisposing factors linked with these disorders such as EDS.
• Obtaining resources regarding treatment and tools to manage symptoms and pain to improve quality of life.

Planning Committee

• Dr. Roland Beaulieu, MD, FRCPC, Cardiologist, Co-Chair
• Dr. Virginia McEwen, Pain Management, Family Medicine, Co-Chair
• Tanya Hole, Patient & Healthcare Advocate, EDS Canada Foundation
• Claudine Lafond, Occupational Therapy, EDS Canada Foundation
• Ilana Mendelssohn, BAAN, EDS Canada Foundation
• Dr. Tara Packham, PhD, OTReg (Ont)
• Jacqueline Raposo, MHA (CC), EDS Canada Foundation
• Sandy Smeenk, Founder, Director, EDS Canada Foundation
• Sandra Stiles, MSc, Professor and Patient Advocate, EDS Canada Foundation