The 14th Annual Minimally Invasive Surgery Symposium

Las Vegas, Nevada
February 26 to March 1, 2014

by Kathleen A. Wenzler

Kathleen A. Wenzler is Conference Marketing Director, Global Academy for Medical Education, Parsippany, New Jersey.

FUNDING: No funding was provided.

DISCLOSURES: The authors report no conflicts of interest relevant to the content of this article.

Bariatric Times. 2014;11(1):20.

This year’s Minimally Invasive Surgery Symposium (MISS) will mark 14 years that Dr. Philip R. Schauer, Director of Advanced Laparoscopic and Bariatric Surgery at Cleveland Clinic’s Bariatric and Metabolic Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, has served as the meeting’s executive director. As Executive Director of MISS, Dr. Schauer has addressed thousands of advanced laparoscopic surgeons and bariatric specialists over the years, many of them gathering annually from across the United States and around the globe to attend this premier meeting.

The 2014 MISS, which will take place February 26 through March 1, 2014 at the Venetian/Palazzo Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada, offers up to 32 CME Credits in the following four key topic areas: colon disease, hernia, and foregut, and metabolic/bariatric surgery, but it is the latter that represents the foundation of the MISS meeting.

Metabolic/bariatric Surgery Program Highlights
Date: Friday, February 28, and Saturday, March 1, 2014.
Agenda: Subjects to be discussed at the 1.5-day metabolic/bariatric program will include the latest developments in metabolic science, metabolic and diabetes surgery, improving quality and outcomes, and controversies and new frontiers. Highlights of the program include discussions on new drug therapies, lifestyle interventions, decision-making for revisional bariatric surgery, and a panel talk on the future of the gastric band.

The MISS metabolic/bariatric program faculty includes several American Society of Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery (ASMBS) Past, Present, and Future Presidents. Notable faculty include current ASMBS President Dr. Ninh Nguyen; President-elect Dr. John Morton; and Past Presidents Drs. Bruce Wolfe, MD, Jaime Ponce, Scott Shikora, Kenneth MacDonald, and Walter Pories. This elite group will be joined by nearly three dozen additional internationally renowned metabolic and bariatric experts.

Another highlight of the 2014 meeting will be Keynote Speaker Jeffrey I. Mechanick, MD, FACP, FACE, FACN, ECNU. Dr. Mechanick is President of American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) and Clinical Professor of Medicine and Director of Metabolic Support in the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Bone Disease at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, New York. He will present his unique perspective on “New AACE Guidelines for Treating Diabetes: Implications for Surgery.” We anticipate this topic to generate a high level of the open discussion and debate for which this collegial meeting has become known.

In addition to compelling general sessions, scientific poster sessions, and an industry-sponsored banding workshop, the 2014 MISS also offers optional (extra fee required) workshops, including hands-on training in laparoscopic suturing and endoscopic interventions led by Dr. Ninh Nguyen. Please note: these offerings have limited capacity and are available on a first come, first served basis. We are also offering a practice management workshop that is designed to help surgical practices achieve more success in the current healthcare environment.

Other Programs
Colon Program.
Date: Wednesday, February 26, and Thursday, February 27, 2014
Agenda: Subjects discussed during the colon program include the following: danger areas for laparoscopic colonic surgery, robotic colorectal surgery, measuring outcomes in colorectal surgery, and laparoscopic complications.

Hernia/Foregut Program.
Date: Thursday, February 27, 2014
Agenda: Subjects discussed during the hernia/foregut program include the following: Components separation, prevention and treatment of parastomal hernias, synthetic versus biologic mesh for abdominal wall reconstruction, and closing the defect in laparoscopic ventral hernia, and a gastroenterologist view of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD).

Poster Abstracts
Poster session abstracts are due Friday, January 31, 2014.

Registration
For complete information and to register, please visit the MISS website: www.MISS-cme.org.

Tags: MISS

Category: Past Articles, Symposium Preview