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The Annual Meeting Program Planning
Committee has been hard at work finalizing an exceptional 2005 Program.
Below you can find out about some new scheduling features for Posters and
Poster Presentations.
Mark your calendar for October 15 - 19, Vancouver, British Columbia.
If you haven't already registered for the NAASO 2005 Annual Meeting, take a
moment and register
soon. An inspiring program coupled with a dramatic venue makes this
meeting one you won't want to miss. Join your colleagues for valuable
networking opportunities and celebrate with NAASO in a variety of fun
activities.
Reminder: Applications
Due for Special Interest Sections
Don't forget to apply for Special
Interest Section status by
August 15 (see column to the right).
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Obesity Online Launches Commentaries
on Research
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In this new section, thought leaders in obesity
management and research comment on the recent clinical findings from
studies in this field.
Obesity Online's first Commentary on Research is authored
by Christie Ballantyne, MD. Rimonabant in Obesity Europe (RIO-Europe) Study
reviews the recently published findings by the Rimonabant in Obesity
Europe (RIO-Europe) Study Group on the efficacy, safety, and mechanisms
of benefit of rimonabant.
This new NAASO CME activity has been
approved for AMA PRA credit.
Book mark Obesity Online and sign up to
recieve automatic notices when new material is posted to the site.
Obesity Online allows users to customize timely, relevant presentations
from hundreds of searchable slides. Each slide is complete with talking
points and references. The Virtual Meetings section offers ACCME
accredited online obesity education programs and critical presentations
given at recent national meetings by NAASO members -- all online and
free.
Visit Obesity Online
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NAASO Comments on Coverage Review of Bariatric Surgery
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The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
Services (CMS) Website is now closed for comment on the Tracking Sheet
for the National Coverage Determination (NCD) for bariatric surgery for
the treatment of obesity. For this NCD, CMS asked for public comment on
the following questions:
- Is
the evidence adequate for evaluating health outcomes of the
bariatric surgery procedures listed in the request?
- Should
CMS define the list of comorbid conditions that qualify a patient
for bariatric surgery?
- Should
CMS adopt criteria for facilities or surgeons who deliver these
procedures?
- Is
there a need for routine data collection on the delivery or outcomes
of bariatric surgery?
CMS will evaluate all comments along
with relevant supporting evidence, and post a proposed decision
memorandum on or before November 24, 2005. Instructions to Carriers will
be issued by February 2006.
What Medicare decides has implications
for all insurance carriers, making any CMS decision important to the
obesity community.
NAASO has commented on the questions posted in the NCA Tracking Sheet for
Bariatric Surgery for the Treatment of Morbid Obesity (CAG-00250R) in
support of bariatric surgery in the obesity treatment continuum. Thank
you to all participating in the comment process for this important NCD.
Read NAASO's Comments
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Annual Meeting Updates
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Abstract Presenters
All notification letters for oral and poster abstract presenters will be
emailed by July 12th. Please watch your email for instructions on date
and time of your presentation. If you have not yet registered for the
NAASO Annual Meeting, please use the special Registration Form included
with your notification letter.
NEW Poster Viewing and
Presentation Times
This year, presenters will be at their posters for Q and A and discussion
with attendees during times that do not conflict with other sessions or
breaks. To meet the needs of session attendees, posters will be on
display for longer time periods each day.
Also new this year: All Poster
Categories will be represented each day. This new scheduling
allows attendees to view more posters and spend more time in discussion
with poster presenters.
Pre-Registration Open
until September 19
Don't delay. Join your friends, and colleagues in Vancouver - one of the
most beautiful cities in North American - for the largest, inspiring
obesity conference in North America. Register
soon!
More Registration
Benefits to Come
Register for the NAASO Annual Meeting and access lectures, tutorials,
workshops -- all online and free to
Annual Meeting attendees. This new service will allow registrants to
organize schedules with an itinerary planner, download personalized
schedules to a PDA or calendar, increase CME opportunities, and view
select material all through the year! Check our Annual
Meeting Webpage often for more details.
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 NAASO
at Night
Plan your Annual Meeting Schedule to include catching up with friends and
colleagues. Don't miss these activities:
Saturday, October 15, 6:00 PM
Opening Session: President's Lecture
Join Dr. Louis J. Aronne, NAASO President, and guest speakers to
officially kick-off the opening of the 2005 NAASO Annual Meeting.
Opening Reception
All attendees and exhibitors are invited to a reception in the Exhibit
Hall immediately following the Opening Session. Here is a perfect setting
to meet and greet your friends and colleagues.
Monday, October 17,
2005
NAASO Gala, 7:30 - Midnight
Rock the night away with live music from Vancouver's own Timebenders. Purchase your ticket
ahead of time upon registration or on-site. Tickets are $65 per person
and include dinner.
More Activities Planned
Stay-tuned for announcements about more "NAASO at Night"
events!
Visit the 2005 Annual Meeting
Webpage Often
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NAASO News
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East
Kathleen Keller reports
Steve J. Heymsfield, MD
(Columbia University and Merck Pharmaceuticals) presented a review
entitled "Mineral Requirements With Weight Loss" at a National
Academy of Sciences panel on Military Dietary Reference Intakes, which
was held June 13- 15, 2005.
Midwest
Elizabeth Parks writes
Kathryn Schmitz is an
Assistant Professor in the Center for Clinical Epidemiology and
Biostatistics at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia. Her
studies investigate the effects of resistance exercise on cancer risk.
Jessica Graus Woo completed
her Ph.D. in Epidemiology from the University of Cincinnati and is now a
Research Assistant Professor at the Cincinnati Children's Hospital
Medical Center. She is focusing on the role of adipocyte proteins in
obesity and insulin resistance in adolescents.
Kimberly Heidal completed
her Ph.D. in Human Nutrition at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln, and
is now an Assistant Professor in the Department of Nutrition and
Hospitality Management at East Carolina University, Greenville, NC.
Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center has received two major
grants from the National Institutes of Health to study outcomes of
bariatric surgery amont teens. These are believed to be the first
NIH-funded studies to scientifically examine health and psychosocial
outcomes of bariatric surgery in an adolescent population. Researchers
awarded funding include Thomas Inge,
M.D., Ph.D., to investigate the role of bariatric surgery
weight loss on insulin resistance in severely obese young people, and
Psychologist Meg Zeller, Ph.D,
to study psychosocial status and quality of life in adolescents before
and after bariatric surgery.
Dr. ZengKui Guo of the Mayo
Foundation received an American Diabetes Association Research Award
covering 2005-2008 to study lipid metabolism and insulin resistance in
human skeletal muscle. Michael Jensen,
MD is a Co-Investigator.
Jasjit S Ahluwalia, M.D., M.P.H.,
currently the Sosland Family Professor and Chair of the Department of
Preventive Medicine at the University of Kansas School of Medicine has
accepted a job as Director for the Office of Clinical Research at the
University of Minnesota Academic Health Sciences Center to oversee
clinical research.
Ved Gossain, MD, has been
given an endowed chair in the Department of Medicine at Michigan State
University in East Lansing, MI. Dr Gossain now holds the Swartz
Professorship in the Department of Medicine, in the Division of
Endocrinology.
South
Steven R. Smith, M.D writes
In April-May, Bernard Gutin, PhD,
spent six weeks in Spain as a Fulbright Senior Specialist, lecturing and
consulting on the topic of physical activity, body composition and
cardiovascular health. He focused mainly on recent studies of these
relations in youths because the problem of pediatric obesity is
increasing in Spain.
In July, 2005 Dr. Gutin will be transitioning to the status of Emeritus
Professor of Pediatrics at the Georgia Prevention Institute, Medical
College of Georgia.
Nikhil Dhurandhar, PhD,
Pennington Biomedical Research Center, Associate Professor, has a unique
research program. He examines the role of viruses in the etiology of
obesity with an emphasis on the mechanisms of action. He uses
experimental animals but he has also a human component in his research
program.
Tim Nagy, PhD, co-chaired a
workshop on "Non-invasive methods for determining body composition
in small animals" at the European Congress of Obesity in Athens
Greece. In addition, Dr. Nagy gave a seminar at the Department of
Nutritional Sciences at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey,
entitled "The Skinny on Fat and Cancer".
Canada
Paul Boisvert reports
Arya M. Sharma, MD/PhD,
Canada Research Chair on Cardiovascular Obesity Research and Management
hosted the 1st McMaster Bariatric Conference on April 27th, 2005,
covering a wide range of topics ranging from epidemiology, quality of
life and pharmacotherapy to surgery. The conference drew an audience of
over 150 physicians, surgeons, and allied health professionals.
Read NAASO News in its Entirety
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Announcing
the Formation of Special Interest Sections
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NAASO, The Obesity Society is now
accepting applications for the formation of Special Interest Sections. These Sections will allow
NAASO to better serve the diverse nature of the obesity community and
assist you in finding your true home within NAASO.
Special Interest Sections are
self-defined groups sharing a common interest. They will develop their
own leadership and represent the interests of the group before the
organization as a whole. A member of Council will be appointed to
represent the interests of the Special Interest Sections.
Each section shall conduct a business
meeting during the Annual Scientific Meeting and develop a work plan for
Council approval at the end of each fiscal year. All fiscal matters
related to the section shall be administered by NAASO and be incorporated
into the normal NAASO budgetary process under the direction of the
Secretary/Treasurer
If you wish to apply for status as a
Special Interest Section, you must submit an application by August 15. Applications must state:
- Names
of members willing to become active members of the section (a
minimum number of 25 names)
- A
statement of the goals and objectives of the section and how it
relates to the Mission of NAASO, the Obesity Society.
- Initial
Officers of the Section (Each section must have a Chair,
Chair-elect, and Secretary/Treasurer)
All applications will be submitted to
Council for review. Council may approve, reject, or request additional
information of applicants. If approved Council will set the initial date
upon which the Special Interest Section may become active.
Please submit your application by August
15 via e- mail to Ana Escobar, or mail to:
NAASO,The Obesity Society
Special Interest Sections
8630 Fenton Street
Suite 918
Silver Spring, MD 20910
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