EHA Outreach Program: Report first hematology tutorial in the Middle East

Focus on Hemoglobinopathies and Leukemias

One of the main focuses of the EHA Education Program is outreach. The Type II Tutorial held March 5 - 7, 2010 - Beirut, Lebanon is part of EHA’s outreach program and is an initiative to complement the needs in hematology education and to emphasize important topics of benefit to hematologists in the Middle East.

In March 2010, the Type II Tutorial ‘Diagnostic Work-Up of Hematological Malignancies, Focus on Leukemia and Hemoglobinopathies’ was held for the first time in the Middle East, in Lebanon. This educational activity was organized in collaboration with the Lebanese Society of Hematology. A hundred-and-four hematologists and laboratory physicians from eleven countries (see Table) participated in this EHA CME system accredited tutorial.

The meeting spanned three full days during which ten different topics on sickle-cell disease, thalassemia, leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes were covered. The first day commenced with welcome addresses from the regional chair, Adlette Inati, the President of EHA, Robin Foà, and the President of the Lebanese Society of Hematology (representing the Lebanese Minister of Health Dr Mohammad Jawad Khalife), Ali Taher. Dr Inati stressed the objectives of this Tutorial which are: firstly offering state-of-the-art updates, evidence-based guidelines and advances in diagnostic and treatment modalities for hemoglobinopathies and hematologic malignancies, and secondly providing an ideal forum for close scientific interaction between faculty and participants.

Dr Taher conveyed the wishes of Minister Khalife to make this event successful and emphasized the importance of Lebanon as a referral medical center in the region. He also talked about the optimal care offered by the Lebanese Ministry of Health for patients with thalassemia. Both Drs Inati and Taher underscored the importance of conducting this Tutorial in Lebanon and the pride they felt in organizing such an important meeting in collaboration with EHA and ESH. Dr Foà also expressed their feelings in organizing this event and initiating an academic collaboration with the Lebanese Society of Hematology. After explaining the logistics of type II Tutorials, he highlighted the wish of EHA to expand such educational programs to different countries in and outside Europe.

The standard format of the Tutorial, as all type II Tutorials, was based on a lecture, two tutored clinical cases and self-evaluation cases with voting box systems all delivered by each faculty member. Each topic lasted at least three hours and was thoroughly reviewed. At the end, the answers to the questions given in the self-evaluation sessions were extensively discussed.

The scientific program started with a lecture on ‘Successes and challenges in thalassemias’ by Maria Cappellini of the University of Milan, Italy. The next speaker was Ali Taher from the American University of Beirut and his presentation focused on ‘Thalassemia intermedia’. This was followed by a lecture by Adlette Inati from Rafik Hariri University Hospital, Beirut on ‘Sickle cell disease: current understanding and management’ and another one on ‘Blood transfusions in sickle cell disease’ by Mariane De Montalembert from Hôpital Necker Enfants Malades Paris, France.

The first lecture in the second day given by John Porter from the University College in London, United Kingdom, was on ‘Iron overload across different hemoglobinopathies'. Barbara Bain from St Mary’s Hospital London, United Kingdom followed with a presentation on ‘Diagnostic tools in leukemias’. The next topic was ‘Leukemias in children and adolescents’ presented by Stephen Sallan of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston, United States. The second day finished with a lecture on ‘Adult acute leukemias’ presented by Robin Foà from the “Sapienza� University of Rome, Italy.

Day 3 started with a lecture on ‘New approaches in the management of CML therapy’ by Giuseppe Saglio from the University of Turin, Italy. The final speaker in this Tutorial was the chair of the EHATol Unit Gina Zini from the Catholic University in Rome, Italy. She gave a presentation on ‘WHO classification of MDS and MPN’s’. The meeting ended with the statistical evaluation and final remarks by Adlette Inati and Robin Foà.

The scientific program was versatile and, for the first time, covered topics of high prevalence in the region (hemoglobinopathies). The participants were highly interactive and showed interest in the variety of topics which were addressed. They expressed their positive feelings and gratitude for organizing such an important meeting in the Middle East. The evaluation sessions were the most exciting parts of the meeting.

Along with the scientific program, the participants and faculty members had a chance to enjoy the beautiful views of Beirut from the 31^st floor of the Habtoor Hotel during the gala dinner organized on Saturday. During this dinner, a brief speech was delivered by the President of the Order of Physicians of Lebanon, Dr Nassim Khoriaty who congratulated the Tutorial organizers for this landmark educational activity and distributed medals of appreciation to all speakers

This Tutorial was made possible by an unrestricted grant from Novartis Oncology pharmaceutical (Beirut). Two non-profit organizations contributed to this activity: the Wallace H. Coulter Foundation and the George N. Khoriaty Foundation.

The next Type II Tutorial, focusing on myeloid malignancies, will take place in Istanbul, Turkey, June 25-27, 2010, while the next Type I Tutorial on acute malignancies is scheduled for 5-7 November 5-7, 2010 in Cascais, Portugal.

We hope to meet you again in one of the forthcoming Tutorials.