A new series of training courses aimed at helping physicians better diagnose osteoporosis has been launched by IOF ? International Osteoporosis Foundation.
The IOF Osteoporosis Diagnosis Course with Densitometry Certification will be run in some ten countries in 2007, and bookings are now being taken for 2008 courses.
Currently it is estimated that over 200 million people worldwide are affected by osteoporosis (i). Health care professionals worldwide face a significant challenge as ageing of the population will be responsible for a major increase of the incidence of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women (ii).
?IOF Osteoporosis Diagnosis Course with Densitometry Certification builds on the successful training programs for orthopaedic surgeons and radiologists that IOF already offers. We believe that this course is a valuable tool to help medical professionals better handle the growing osteoporosis ?epidemic?. We expect that the series of courses will have a positive impact on the quality of care available internationally,? says Professor Cyrus Cooper, Chairman of the IOF Committee of Scientific Advisors.
The IOF Osteoporosis Diagnosis Course is offered in partnership with national or regional osteoporosis societies to train physicians and other health professionals.
The schedule for 2007:
Irish Osteoporosis Society, Dublin, Ireland, 16-17 February 2007
Vietnam Rheumatology Association, Hanoi, Vietnam, 12-13 March 2007
Romanian Foundation of Osteoarthrology, Cluj-Napoca, Romania, 11-14 April 2007
IOF Latin America, Lima, Peru, 2-3 May 2007
Osteoporosis Society of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China, 18-19 May 2007
Russian Association on Osteoporosis, Moscow, Russia, 21-22 May 2007
Malaysian Osteoporosis Society, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2-3 August 2007
Estonian Osteoporosis Society, Tartu, Estonia, 5-6 September 2007
Serbia Osteoporosis Society, Niska Banja, Serbia, 11-13 October 2007
Czech Society for Metabolic Skeletal Diseases, Luhacovice, Czech Republic, 27-28 October 2007
The two day course comprises 12 lectures, with an optional two-hour certification exam. It covers the latest knowledge on the epidemiology, diagnosis and management of osteoporosis.
The IOF Osteoporosis Diagnosis Course with Densitometry Certification was developed by an internationally renowned faculty that includes Pierre D. Delmas (France), Ignac Fogelman (UK), Claus Gl?er (Germany), Olof Johnell? (Sweden), Marius Kraenzlin ? course leader ? (Switzerland), Nick A. Pocock (Australia), Ren? Rizzoli (Switzerland) and Ego Seeman (Australia).
National osteoporosis societies that are members of IOF are invited to apply to hold the IOF Osteoporosis Diagnosis Course with Densitometry Certification in 2008.