Minimally Invasive Approaches to The Management of Achalasia and Other Benign Esophageal Diseases

September 27, 2022 to September 29, 2022

This three-day conference aims to expand clinical knowledge regarding treatment of benign esophageal diseases, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), achalasia, paraesophageal hernia, Zenker’s Diverticulum, and Barrett’s espophagus.  Furthermore, this course strives to improve technical knowledge and skill in surgical treatment of benign esophageal disease, focusing on surgical interventions such as nissen fundoplication, heller myotomy, minimally invasive repair of paraesophageal hernias, LINX implantation, per oral endoscopic myotomy (POEM), and re-operative surgery.  These educational goals are met through interactive didactic sessions featuring world-renowned experts, broadcast of live surgery, and a porcine POEM lab also featuring robotic heller myotomy.

Target Audience

This course is designed for general and thoracic surgery attendings and trainees, gastroenterologists, minimally invasive team members (MD, DO, RN, PA, NP), allied health professionals, and any other interested medical healthcare professionals and researchers.

Additional Information

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 16.50 AAPA Category I CME
  • 16.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
  • 16.50 ANCC
    UPMC Provider Unit is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation
  • 16.50 Attendance
Course opens: 
04/27/2022
Course expires: 
09/22/2023
Event starts: 
09/27/2022 - 2:00pm EDT
Event ends: 
09/29/2022 - 3:30pm EDT
Cost:
$1.00

September 27th: WISER MET 11, Floor 4
WISER Institute 
230 McKee Pl. 
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
2:00 — 5:00pm
**Wet lab will begin with brief didactic in this room.

September 28th: Live Surgery Viewing & APP Session
University Club
123 University Pl
Pittsburgh, PA 15213
7:00am — 4:00pm

APP Session:
Scaife CC Room 1102
UPMC Presbyterian University Hospital
200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh PA 15213
7:00am - 12:00pm 

September 29th:Didactic Session 
Scaife CC Room 1105ABC
UPMC Presbyterian University Hospital
200 Lothrop Street, Pittsburgh PA 15213
7:00am - 3:30pm

Travel

Hotel Accommodations:
A room block has been set up at The Oaklander Hotel, Autograph Collection.  Standard King guest rooms are available at the UPMC rate of $209.
 
The Oaklander Hotel, Autograph Collection
5130 Bigelow Blvd.
Pittsburgh, PA 15213

Parking:
Course participants will be permitted to park in the UPMC Presbyterian Hospital Garage.  Please let the garage attendant know you are here for the UPMC Benign Esophageal course.  Parking will be discounted for course participants. 

University of Pittsburgh Course Directors
James D. Luketich, MD, FACS
Henry T. Bahnson Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Chairman, Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Chief, Division of Thoracic and Foregut Surgery

Inderpal S. Sarkaria, MD, MBA, FACS
Chair in Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery
Vice Chairman, Clinical Affairs
Director, Thoracic Robotic Surgery
Co-Director, Esophageal and Lung Surgery Institute

Ryan M. Levy, MD
Vice Chairman, Community Outreach and Thoracic Expansion
Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Chief, Thoracic Surgery, UPMC Passavant

Omar Awais, DO
Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Chief, Thoracic Surgery, UPMC Mercy
Director, Advanced Minimally Invasive Thoracic Surgery Fellowship

Rajeev Dhupar, MD, MBA, FACS
Assistant Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Chief, Thoracic Surgery, VAMC of Pittsburgh

Angela Gallagher, RN, MSN, ACNP-BC
Clinical Administrator, UPMC Presbyterian

Danielle Bajus, DNP, ACNP-BC, CCRN
APP Clinical Supervisor, UPMC Presbyterian 

Invited Faculty
Hiran C. Fernando, MBBS, FRCS, FRCSed
Director of Thoracic Surgery, Allegheny General Hospital
Professor of Surgery, Drexel University

Sumeet K. Mittal, MD
Professor of Surgery, 
Creighton University School of Medicine (PHX Campus)
Director, Center of Esophageal and Gastric Disorders
Norton Thoracic Institute

Course Faculty
Neil A. Christie, MD
Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery
Chief, Thoracic Surgery, UPMC Shadyside

Arjun Pennathur, MD
Sampson Family Endowed Chair of Thoracic Surgical Oncology
Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, UPMC

Matthew J. Schuchert, MD
Associate Professor of Cardiothoracic Surgery, UPMC
Chief, Thoracic Surgery, VAMC Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery

APP Session Faculty 
Charles Hileman, PA-C
UPMC Presbyterian

Brittany Quattrone, CRNP, FNP-BC
UPMC Mercy

Courtney Svec, PA-C
UPMC East
 

Wet Lab Invited Faculty:
Jeffrey M. Marks, MD, FACS, FASGE
Professor of Surgery
Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine
Director, Surgical Endoscopy
University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center

Steve Schomisch, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor, CWRU
Director, Surgical Training and Research Core
Department of Surgery
Case Western Reserve University


FACULTY DISCLOSURE
All individuals in a position to control the content of this education activity have disclosed all financial relationships with any companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare
products used by or on patients.

All the relevant financial relationships for the individuals listed below have been mitigated:

James D. Luketich, MD, FACS
Consultant: Medtronics; CE Speakers’ Bureau: Covidien;
Stockholder: Intuitive Surgical, INC; Cigna Corp;
United Therapeutics Corp, Smith & Nephew;
Grant/Research Support: Boston University

Inderpal S. Sarkaria, MD, MBA, FACS
Grant/Research Support: On Target Laboratories,
CE Speakers’ Bureau: Intuitive Surgical INC,
Cambridge Medical Robotics, Auris Medical

Omar Awais, DO
CE Speakers’ Bureau: Pinnacle Biologics

Sumeet Mittal, MD
Consultant: Stella Diagnostics, Attract, Endostim

Jeffrey Marks, MD, FACS, FASGE
Consultant: Steris Endoscopy, Boston Scientific

No other members of the planning committee, speakers, presenters, authors, content reviewers and/or anyone else in a position to control the content of this education activity have relevant financial relationships with any companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Physician (CME)
The University of Pittsburgh designates this live activity for a maximum of 16.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Nursing (CNE)
The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 16.5 contact hours.

Physician Assistant (AAPA)
The University of Pittsburgh has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 16.5 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.  

Other health care professionals will receive a certificate of attendance confirming the number of contact hours commensurate with the extent of participation in this activity.

Available Credit

  • 16.50 AAPA Category I CME
  • 16.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
    The University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
  • 16.50 ANCC
    UPMC Provider Unit is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation
  • 16.50 Attendance

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COMMERCIAL SUPPORT
We gratefully acknowledge the support from the following for this activity:

Monetary Grant Support
Medical Device Business Services, Inc.
Olympus Corporation of the Americas
Pinnacle Biologics, Inc.

In-Kind Grant Support
Boston Scientific Corporation
Medtronic
Olympus Corporation of the Americas
Pinnacle Biologics, Inc.

Exhibitors
Baxter International
Ethicon
Intuitive
Medtronic
Merit Medical Endotek
Olympus Corporations of the Americas
Pinnacle Biologics, Inc.
Regeneron

Price

Cost:
$1.00
Please login or register to take this course.

Registration Fees:

All cancellations must be sent via email, fancsalisk@upmc.edu. Cancellations received before 08/30/2022, will be refunded in full. After 08/30/2022, a $30 fee will be assessed and no refunds will be made after 09/13/2022.

Participation by all individuals is encouraged. Advance notification of any special needs will help us provide better service. Please notify us of your needs at least two weeks in advance of the program by emailing fancsalisk@upmc.edu.

For more information, contact Susan Fancsali at fancsalisk@upmc.edu or 412-648-6342.