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Orthopedics Today Hawaii 2010: New learning opportunities abound on the Big Island
While I know many of you have attended some of our previous five Orthopedics Today annual courses, let me review why I am involved with this educational venture and continue to build on our previous successes. Despite the challenging economic times and the current decrease in industrial support for CME courses, we are committed to producing and enhancing the Orthopedics Today Hawaii meetings.
A critical part of my surgical and personal development over the years has been gained through attending, organizing and participating in numerous national and international CME courses. I learned from the other faculty members and the attendees, as we were all trying to be the best doctors we could and learn new ways to benefit our patients. I found these courses and the act of being “on the road again” with my friends and colleagues exciting.
Classic courses
Many of the current CME courses have become sterile and choreographed with increasing rules, regulations and what appears, sometimes, to be a loss of collegiality.
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Orthopedics Today Hawaii is an updated version of the classic courses that I attended. It has a “retro” feel and is how I like to learn. The format includes open discussions, carefully selected top speakers and educators who are organized, enlightening and, at times, entertaining — all presented in a relaxed setting.
Working hard and playing hard has always brought me the most professional satisfaction. The Fairmont Orchid on the Big Island of Hawaii is a great setting with Mauna Kea’s snow-capped mountaintop, Kilauea Volcano’s flowing lava, tropical rainforests and beautiful beaches all within a scenic drive or hike. The prices we negotiated are reasonable for the accommodations and the timing is perfect for surgeons to bring their families to share in this wonderful setting. I suggest coming a few days early or stay a few days after the meeting for additional relaxation.
Outstanding faculty
Another reason I am looking forward to Orthopedics Today Hawaii 2010 is that I am able to run the course without having to get the approvals of various committees or boards. I design a course I would like to attend. Look at our preview on page 29 for the outstanding faculty and current and applicable topics to your practice. Even though I am responsible for the content of the course, I rely on data collected from attendee surveys from past courses and the input of our excellent faculty.
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Images: Beadling L, Orthopedics Today |
In particular, Jack M. Bert, MD, the Section Chair for practice management; Thomas P. Schamalzried, MD, Section Chair for joint replacement; William N. Levine, MD, Section Chair for sports medicine; and Richard F. Kyle, MD, and David C. Templeman, MD, Co-section Chairs for trauma, are critical in curriculum development.
We use an audience response system during our meeting, which allows immediate attendee input and allows for comparisons with the opinions of the speakers and panels when desired. Later, we publish many of the presentations and the data in Orthopedics Today and on ORTHOSuperSite.com.
To further the educational and collegial experience, we meet daily at our Banyan Tree Gatherings for one-on-one discussions with faculty and an afternoon social interchange. We all let our hair down and talk to learn from and help each other. These discussions range from patient care, surgical techniques and practice survival to how we handle the stresses in our practice and relationships with our families. Like-minded and similarly struggling individuals from all over the country share what is working for them and what is not. I suggest you review the program course. You will likely find that about 85% of the content should relate to what you see in your practice.
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Reinvigorate yourself
Each year after this course, I leave Hawaii reinvigorated and filled with thoughts on how I can make the next year more successful. This course is designed for you, not to pass a test but to be a better doctor and get greater enjoyment from your career.
The attendees are experienced practitioners and the curriculum is designed to challenge them (myself included) to think critically about treatment. It will reconfirm your approach or encourage you to change or seek out additional training in a specific technique.
We have a great number of outstanding potential faculty members in our profession to choose from, and I have chosen our course faculty carefully from this pool. Those invited love teaching and are good at it. They have experience, have performed research and/or critical reviews of their patients, listen and are willing to admit their limitations. I find their lectures stimulating and I am sure you will as well. I also like speakers with a sense of humor and can be appropriately entertaining at the podium and during the Banyan Tree Gatherings.
I encourage you to take a break next January and come spend some time with us in Hawaii. These are changing times; fortunately, we are still able to care for our patients and adjust to the changes occurring around us. This course is just what the doctor ordered.
Douglas W. Jackson, MD
Chief Medical Editor
For more information:
- For more information or to register for Orthopedics Today Hawaii 2010, visit www.othawaii.com .