Amyloidosis Masterclass: The Art and Science of Managing Amyloidosis

The Amyloidosis Research Consortium (ARC) is excited to announce the first in a series of physician education “Masterclasses” to take place on January 10, 2020 in Dallas, TX. The Amyloidosis Masterclass will provide attendees with information about amyloidosis diagnosis and care, as well as the opportunity to connect with experts in the field.

For the first Masterclass, ARC has partnered with Boston University School of Medicine (BUSM) to provide a 1-day live AMA PRA-accredited conference. This Masterclass will be led by an internationally renowned faculty of amyloidosis experts and is open to healthcare practitioners of all disciplines. The primary target audience is practicing physicians who most commonly see and treat patients who are exhibiting signs and symptoms of amyloidosis, including cardiologists, neurologists and hematologists, with a secondary focus on heart failure specialists, nurses and echocardiographers.

In general, physicians outside of amyloidosis centers have limited knowledge of the disease. Due to the non-specific and widespread symptoms with which amyloidosis patients present, delays in diagnosis and misdiagnoses are very common. The average patient sees at least four doctors before being accurately diagnosed, and often by that time is too sick to benefit from treatment. Even when the suspicion of amyloidosis is raised, many clinicians do not understand the appropriate test to run or how to interpret the results properly. As each type of amyloidosis has distinct treatment options, prescribing the incorrect treatment can be ineffective and even harmful for other types of amyloidosis.

With the recent approval of the first treatments for ATTR amyloidosis, the diagnostic, treatment and clinical trial landscape for systemic amyloidosis is fast evolving. It has never been more important to ensure that the complexities associated with treating these multi-systemic, progressive diseases are well understood, and that patients are quickly and correctly diagnosed and have access to appropriate treatment. The Masterclass is part of ARC’s continuing efforts to reduce the time to an accurate diagnosis, educate physicians about appropriate diagnostic procedures and new treatments, and improve patient outcomes by expanding the availability of knowledgeable care for all amyloidosis patients.

In addition to gaining the knowledge and skills they need to rapidly and properly diagnose, treat, and follow amyloidosis patients, attendees of the Amyloidosis Masterclass will have the opportunity to connect with experts from established amyloidosis treatment centers. They will learn the value of multi-disciplinary teams and when and how to refer their patients to specialty centers. The Amyloidosis Masterclass also will help attendees learn how to build amyloidosis programs of their own that will best support patients, and ensure that these new and growing centers maintain a high level of excellence.

Following this interactive educational event, attendees will be able to:

1. Identify signs, symptoms and features that should raise suspicion for a potential diagnosis of amyloidosis.
2. Outline the methods available for testing for amyloidosis including possible limitations of specific tests.
3. Discuss data from recent clinical trials outlining possible treatment and potential patients who would benefit.
4. Identify challenges and possible barriers to treatment, including disease severity, financial burden and potential outcomes.
5. Apply clinical algorithms to case studies.
6. Recognize best practices for a multidisciplinary approach to amyloidosis clinical care.

This CME Course will be led by the following experts:

• Course Director: Vaishali Sanchorawala, MD of Boston University School of Medicine’s Amyloidosis Center.
Speakers:
• Larry Anderson Jr., MD, PhD of Southwestern Medical Center
• John Berk, MD of BUSM
• Anita D’Souza, MD, MS of the Medical College of Wisconsin
• David Hughes, PharmD, BCOP of Boston Medical Center
• Sami Khella, MD of Penn Presbyterian Medical Center
• Mathew Maurer, MD of Columbia University Irving Medical Center
• Lisa Mendelson, BSN, MSN, ANP-BC of BUSM.

For more information, or to register, please visit: https://www.bucme.org/live/9513