EVENT: International Celiac Disease Symposium 2013 ICDS

I can’t be more excited to go to ICDS 2013 Clinical Forum. It won’t be back in the US for another 10 years – that’s crazy!

The ICDS 2013 will present two distinct forums, a Scientific Forum and a Clinical Forum.

As per the website, the clinical part of the experience is designed for clinicians, such as Physicians, Registered Dietitians, Physician Assistants, Nurse Practitioners, Nurses and those living with celiac disease or non-celiac gluten sensitivity (hey, that’s me).

“This forum will allow participants to learn about the latest research and scientific advances from the world’s leading experts—the very same experts who will be presenting in the Scientific Forum.  The information presented will be highly relevant for practical application in both clinical settings and everyday living. Additionally, the Clinical Forum will explore subjects not covered in the Scientific Forum, such as public policy, psychology and the problems surrounding celiac disease in emerging countries.”

I’ll have access to all the clinical parts of the symposium, as well as the “Gluten Free Marketplace”, exhibit halls, scientific poster sessions, and printed materials. If you register for the clinical track, all of this could be yours – and more (more being you get to come hang out with me!)

If you do register, please note that it also includes FOOD! Registration includes:

• Opening cocktail reception – Sunday evening, September 22 (I won’t be here for this, i’m flying in from IFBC that night)
• Continental breakfast – Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, September 23-25
• Morning and afternoon coffee and refreshment breaks- Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, September 23-25
• Lunches – Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, September 23-25.

Note: Gluten-free food and beverages will be served at all Symposium Meeting functions.YES!!!!!!

Here’s more details (aka costs) for the ICDS Symposium Clinical Forum
Before Sept 1st: Attendee $449, Student/resident/fellow: $349, Accompanying person $199
After September 1st: Attendee $549, Student/resident/fellow: $399, Accompanying person $249
Symposium Date: September 22-25, 2013
Location: Chicago, Illinois
Anticipated Participation: 2,000 people
Main Venue: Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers

So what am I most excited about?

• Wheat Toxicity Outside of Celiac Disease with Elena Verdu (I’d love to learn more about NCGS because I’m always thinking about celiac disease – since I have it – but there’s so much more to gluten than just that)
• What’s the Role of Genetic Testing with Sonia Kupfer (I love my genetic test, and I will always hold my HLDQA genes near to my heart – would love to learn more about this)
• Common Pitfalls in Evaluating Small Bowel Biopsies with John Hart (because who doesn’t love to learn about small bowel biopsies?!?! Not me when I’ve had 4 of them)
• Session V: Melting the iceberg: Potential, Latent, Silent: To Treat or Not to Treat with various presenters (YES, this is so important to me! I didn’t have the symptomatic reactions that everyone else had and am pretty “silent” especially when on full gluten for years, would love to learn more about this and if they recommend people who have the genes to avoid gluten – or not!)
• Helping Adults Coping with Gastrointestinal Symptoms in Celiac Disease with Claes Hallert (Because we all need help coping)
• Session VIII: Debunking Myths with various presenters (God yes, I feel like all I talk about are myths anymore. I can’t wait until someone can set the record straight for me and my readers – finally)
• Not All Non-Responsive Celiacs Have Refractory Disease: What Else Could be Going On? With Alberto Rubio-Tapia (Would love to learn more about this and what happens if you DON’T get better)
• What Happens When Your Diet is Less than Scrupulous with Ben Lebwohl (as I’m stuffing my face with cookies)
• Can Celiac Disease Be Prevented with Luisa Mearin (What an interesting topic! Never thought of this…but what if I was never introduced to gluten in the first place? Man, I just Sliding Doors’d myself)
• When Nutrition is Insufficient or Excessive with Melinda Dennis
• Micronutrient Deficiencies and Other Risk of the Gluten-Free Diet with Shelley Case (I think this is huge, I was so deficient and my celiac wasn’t even ‘that bad’)
• What 200ppm is a Good and Safe Threshold with Alessano Fasano (The NUMBER ONE THING I WANT EVERYONE TO GET OUT OF THIS – yes, I need this so badly)
• When the Limit Will Finally Be Established and How the FDA Plans to Monitor It with Felicia Billingslea (Can’t wait to see what they say about the FDA!)
• Gluten Free in Schools and Universities with Andrea Levario (I’m excited about this one because I can’t wait to share with Emily and the U of A Gluten-Free Club!)

So which session seems exciting to you? Who else is coming to Chicago?