Medical school to hold conference on new surgery techniques, technology

The FIU Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine will present a medical conference in June that focuses on drawing international attention to surgical innovations that could potentially revolutionize nearly every field of medicine.

“Advances in Minimally Invasive Treatments” will focus on evolving instruments and techniques that are rapidly making less-invasive surgery possible across a broad spectrum of specialties. Such procedures are increasingly replacing traditional surgeries, which usually involve opening up portions of the body. Minimally invasive treatments, by contrast, require very small access points—a tiny incision in the groin or wrist, for example—to allow the entry of specialized devices that can be guided to specific organs or vessels for repair.

“Minimally invasive treatments often pose fewer risks to the patient, require less operator time and potentially cost less than traditional surgery,” explained Manuel Viamonte Jr., associate dean of the College of Medicine and professor of radiology. Viamonte is directing the conference. “We see limitless opportunities for the application of minimally invasive treatments.”

The conference is organized into sections that emphasize the treatment of disorders in different organ systems, among them cardiovascular, respiratory, skeletal, neurological and others. Local experts with international reputations will present research and share their clinical experience. Doctors in specialties such as general surgery, internal medicine and family and general practice will find the five-day conference the most beneficial. Specialists in areas such as gastroenterology, gynecology and orthopedics will find specific days of the conference to best suit their needs and interests.

In addition to several FIU faculty, the list of scheduled conference speakers includes leading physicians representing FIU’s clinical partners, among them Baptist, Jackson, Mercy, Mt. Sinai and Miami Children’s hospitals, as well as private practitioners and other doctors recognized as authorities. The University of Miami Miller School of Medicine is co-presenting the conference, with FIU taking the lead.

Physicians can earn up to 40 hours of continuing medical education credit by attending the full course. Complimentary registration for FIU medical students and discounts for residents and fellows, military physicians, international physicians and all allied health professionals are available. The conference takes place June 28-July 2 at the Ritz-Carlton, South Beach. Members of the FIU and UM communities, regardless of their participation in the conference, can take advantage of special rates at the hotel by mentioning the name of the conference when making a reservation. For more information about the conference, go to www.mitreat.com.