14 February 2019
February follows January, the month which can so often see new healthy regimes undertaken and concerted efforts to replace hearty winter warmers with more nutritional dishes that complement our return to the gym and exercise classes. February also kick started our strategic partners (the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow) Medicine For All 2019 educational programme with rheumatology and dermatology sessions delivered to 100+ medical professionals on 08 February.
Our Devolved Nations Liaison Officer Lauren Bennie attended the half=day morning conference and met with health care professionals and presenters to discuss how the British Society for Rheumatology is working to support our members across the UK. We were positively received during morning registration with trainees commenting on the benefit of having national representation in their home country and access to local resources. Delegate specialities were wide-ranging and this event served to promote rheumatology as a career and highlight the ongoing work of BSR in each of the home nations.
Professor Iain McInnes CBE opened the conference in good humour by likening inflammation of the joint to that of a typical Glasgow house party, resulting in an energised lecture theatre geared up for educational content which examined cytokines, the evolution of rheumatoid arthritis treatment and precision medicine as the next step-change in rheumatology.
Society member Dr Elaine Morrison presented Lupus for Physicians using extensive case studies and Dr Mike Reed’s interactive quizzing on problems in the receiving unit set pulses racing and fingers twitching over the voting panels as each case study pushed trainees to consider the appropriate course of action.
Dr Hilary Wilson and Dr Gabrielle Becher discussed their clinical experiences to present their combined approach to psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, transitioning delegates into the RCPSG’s afternoon dermatology session.
Lauren said: “It was fantastic to see our guidelines and website resources being referenced across each of the sessions. Events such as the Medicine For All series also support our strategic objectives not least to promote rheumatology as a career and we are committed to ensuring our approach best reflects the needs of our members across each of our home countries.
"In the last month I have met with members in NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, NHS Ayrshire & Arran, NHS Grampian and NHS Highland and will be listening to our members in Wales at the Welsh Rheumatology Society’s annual meeting at Gregynog Hall in March.”
Image from R to L: EULAR President, Professor Iain McInnes CBE and Dr Mike Reed, Consultant Rheumatologist at our stand set against RCPSG Heritage illustration from Andreas Vesalius’s Book II of De Humani Corporis Fabrica in the Crush Hall.