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Cruise Conference Planning For Your Association

Gastroenterology

7-Night Mediterranean Cruise Conference
Round-trip Barcelona, Spain
September 08 - 15, 2019
Royal Caribbean's <em>Oasis of the Seas</em>
Royal Caribbean's Oasis of the Seas
12.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
12 ACPE Credits
Up to 12 (part II) MOC points in medical knowledge in the American Board of Internal Medicine's (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program
5 Hours of Pharmacology for NPs
12.0 Contact Hours
Course Fees

Target Audience
Nurses, Nurse PractitionersNurses, Nurse PractitionersPhysicians, Physician Assistants, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists
Program Purpose / Objectives
At the completion of this activity, participants should be able to:
  1. Evaluation of Abnormal Liver Tests
    • Differentiate between tests of liver function and liver injury
    • Use a diagnostic algorithm in the work-up of abnormal liver tests
  2. Hepatitis C management
    • Understand screening guidelines for HCV
    • Understand the natural history of disease progression
    • Use treatment guidelines for chronic hepatitis C patients
  3. Diagnosis and treatment of Chronic Hepatitis B
    • Describe HBV serology for diagnosis and management
    • Recognize at risk populations for vaccination
    • Apply practice guidelines for management and treatment of hepatitis B infection
  4. Diagnosis and management of Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease
    • Understand the natural history of NAFLD
    • Use basic diagnostic approaches for identify patients at risk with risk for advanced disease
    • Employ current approaches to management of NAFLDs
  5. Management Considerations in End-Stage Liver Disease
    • Recognize common complications associated with cirrhosis
    • Understand management options in patients with end-stage liver disease
    • Use effective screening and surveillance methods to detect complications of cirrhosis
  6. Drug-Induced Liver Injury (DILI)
    • Recognize different types of liver injury
    • Describe common drugs and herbals implicated in liver injury
    • Understand management approaches to patients with drug-induced liver injury
  7. Screening for Colon and rectal cancer
    • Improve the outcome and cost effectiveness of screening for Colon Cancer with new guidelines and new screening tests
  8. Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
    • To improve cost effectiveness of management of IBS
    • To Explain current management of IBS, Constipation and Chronic abdominal pain and how they differ. and the place of new medications
  9. Inflammatory Bowel Disease
    • To share on going changes in treatment of Crohn's disease and Ulcerative colitis.
  10. Inflammatory Esophageal Diseases
    • The understanding of new etiologies of Chest pain, heartburn and dysphagia
    • The place of the relationship of Barrett's Esophagus to Chronic reflux Esophageal cancer in perspective
  11. Peptic Ulcer disease
    • To explain new recommendations in the prevention and treatment of Peptic Ulcer disease and its complications
  12. Common Medical Problems in patients with Chronic Gastrointestinal diseases
    • To enhance the ability of the primary care doctor to provide appropriate preventive care in patients with chronic Gastrointestinal disease
  13. Chronic and recurring diarrhea
    • Illustrate the place of the primary care physicians in the diagnosis and management of chronic diarrhea
Conference Sessions generally take place on days at sea (as itinerary allows), giving you plenty of time to enjoy your meals, evenings and ports of call with your companion, family and friends.
IMPORTANT NOTE: All conferees, their families, and guests must book their cruise within the University at Sea® meeting group through University at Sea® at 800-926-3775 or by registering online. This ensures our company can provide conference services and complimentary social amenities to all meeting participants and their guests. Thank you for your cooperation.
Faculty

Keyur Patel, MD, PhD

Keyur Patel, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Medicine
University of Toronto, Division of Gastroenterology
UHN Toronto, ON, Canada Dr. Patel received his Medical degree from the University of Southampton, United Kingdom and completed his clinical fellowships in Internal Medicine and Gastroenterology/Hepatology in Western Australia. He received his PhD from University of Sydney.

He completed a 3-year post-doctoral research fellowship in Clinical and Translational Research in viral hepatitis at Scripps Clinic and Research Foundation, San Diego, CA and Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham NC. He was on faculty at Duke University 2004-2015, and is now at University of Toronto since 2016. His research interests include early phase clinical therapeutic trials for viral hepatitis and NASH fibrosis, and the development non-invasive biomarkers of fibrogenesis.

Martin H. Poleski, MD,CM, FACP, AGAF

Martin H. Poleski, MD,CM, FACP, AGAF
Professor of Medicine, Duke University
Duke Regional Hospital, Durham, North Carolina Dr. Poleski is currently Professor of Medicine at Duke University in the Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Duke University. He was Chief of Gastroenterology at Duke Regional Hospital (DRH) and Director of the Endoscopy from 2008 to 2016. 

Dr. Poleski created the modern DRH Gastroenterology Department, starting with one Gastroenterologist in 2008, and now includes 8 Gastroenterologist. He is currently a full time Professor of Medicine at Duke University with a full time practice at Duke University clinics and endoscopy centers.

Dr. Poleski graduated McGill University, Montreal, in 1973 with an MD. He did his Internal medicine training at The University of Toronto and McGill University. In academic year 1975-76 he was Chief Medical Resident at The Jewish General Hospital of McGill University. He did a fellowship in Gastroenterology at Memorial Sloan Kettering , part of the Cornell Hospitals in New York City.

After completing his fellowship he returned to the Jewish General hospital as a consultant in Gastroenterology, developed the first Inflammatory Bowel Disease center at that hospital and at McGill University. He eventually rose in the ranks to become an Assistant Professor of Medicine at McGill University.

He joined the Scripps Clinic Medical Group in La Jolla , California at the end of 1992 as a consultant in Gastroenterology. He subsequently became Director of the Inflammatory Bowel Disease Center and Director of the Fellowship program in Gastroenterology and Hepatology at Scripps clinic. 

He also had an appointment at UCSD as Clinical Professor of Medicine. In the summer of 2003 he joined the faculty of Duke University as Professor of Medicine and senior consultant in Gastroenterology. He has continued his interest in inflammatory Bowel disease (IBD), involved in clinical studies and having a clinic at Duke University Medical Center dedicated to IBD.

Our staff can assist you with all your travel arrangements.

Questions? Call us at 800-422-0711.
We can assist you with all your travel arrangements. We'd be happy to help you plan your flights, hotels or tours before and/or after your cruise conference.

Cruise Itinerary

DATE PORT OF CALL ARRIVE DEPART
Sun Sep 08 Barcelona, Spain
- 6:00 pm
Mon Sep 09 Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
8:00 am 4:00 pm
Tue Sep 10 Marseille, France
9:00 am 6:00 pm
Wed Sep 11 La Spezia, Italy
8:30 am 8:30 pm
Thu Sep 12 Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy
7:00 am 8:00 pm
Fri Sep 13 Naples, Italy
7:00 am 6:30 pm
Sat Sep 14 *At Sea - Cruising
- -
Sun Sep 15 Barcelona, Spain
5:00 am -
*Tentative course schedule, actual class times may differ.
Royal Caribbean Symphony of the Seas Map

Ports of Call

Barcelona, Spain -

Barcelona is a one of the world's great cities. Stroll down her tree-lined boulevards, the magnificent Passeig de Gràcia or the more touristed Las Ramblas. On the Passeig, shop a serious fashion district while marveling at examples of Mordenisme architecture, seemingly sculpted from the stuff of dreams (Gaudi's masterpiece of a family home, Casa Batlló is well worth a visit). If a trip on the Passeig hasn't convinced you of Gaudi's genius, a visit to La Sagrada Familia Cathedral will do the trick; this fantastic, soaring marvel will live on in your memory long after you've returned.

Not far from the Passeig and just north of Las Ramblas, the Gothic Quarter (the Barri Gotic) provides an abundance of shopping opportunities for all tastes, and a bit of European history to boot - check out the tranquil Cathedral of Barcelona. To see a bit of local life a visit to a food market is a quick, fun detour: try Santa Caterina near the Cathedral or Mercado de La Boqueria, right off of Las Ramblas.

Barcelona's food is also a highlight: stop into a tapas bar and try a variety of delicacies. "Standard" restaurants of every style are available, too. And, there's music, too! Visit an underground jazz club or the magnificent Palau de la Música Catalana; or stop by the Palau Dalmases for a stunning, flamenco performance (it's near the Picasso museum). Did we mention art? One of the largest collections of Picasso's art is found at the Museau Picasso, and a great collection of contemporary, figurative (i.e not abstract) painting and sculpture is housed at the European Museum of Modern Art just around the corner.

It's probably clear by now that you really can't get it all done in a day (even if all means "just the must-sees"). So, stay for a day or three in the Gothic Quarter or near Plaça de Catalunya and really get a feel for what makes Barcelona such a wonderful place. Partly it's the result of the "accidents" of its history and present: as the regional capital of Spain's prosperous Catalunya region, Barcelona has a "flavor" that is a bit of a mix between Spanish and French (it's located quite close to the French border). Yes, you can practice your Spanish here - it attracts Spaniards from throughout the country - but you'll also see and hear Catalan with it's own charm. You won't regret your time here.

Palma de Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain - Floating gemlike off Spain's Mediterranean Riviera, Palma offers pearls, pottery and perfectly sublime sandy beaches. The historic district of the city is a great stop for an inexpensive good meal, a visit to a wonderous cathedral (for those seeking peace, consider visiting the quiet of the Saint Francis cathedral rather than its more touristed big brother. Shopping abounds in this european vacation spot as well as a very beautiful, small modern art museum with free entrance.

Or take a day excursion to visit charming and quiet Valldemosa, where George Sand and Frederic Chopin spent a romantic winter in 1838.

Marseille, France - Marseille offers an unexpected view of a mosaic of buildings and National Heritage Sites from the terraces of Notre-Dame de la Garde Basilica that towers above and watches over the city.

Alongside the port the towers of Saint Victor Abbey house crypts that already existed when Christianity was introduced into Provence. The columns of the Palais de la Bourse, the noble facades of the Prefecture and the fountains of the Palais Longchamp are part of the triumphant architecture from the 19th Century that is scattered throughout the city and that gave Marseille renewed splendour.

In the old quarter the houses are built on the sunny slopes ; the clock in the Accoules Bell tower, which was the old Sauveterre tower, still marks the hours of life around the Town Hall, while beyond the dome of the Vieille Charite hospice, Pierre Puget's masterpiece, stands out against the sky. The small streets of the Panier quarter lie a little further on.

La Spezia, Italy - La Spezia, Italy is a lovely Ligurian town not far from some of Italy’s most attractive sites, including Florence, Pisa, Cinque Terra and even Genoa. It is an ideal port of call for an overnight stay, depsite not being well-known outside Italy. Historically, La Spezia was a prominent trade center during the Roman Empire. Today it remains not only one of Italy’s busiest port towns, but also home to the country’s largest naval base. As a cruise port, La Spezia is convenient, centrally located and a little underrated. This is the region reputed to make the world's best olive oil; be sure to try a local focaccia to see for yourself.

The Cinque Terre are merely a short train trip from Stazione La Spezia Centrale (no roads), making it easy to explore the port of call and surrounding areas in a day or half-day excursion. Florence, home of the Renaissance, is just two hours away;start your day on the coast of the Ligurian Sea and end the day looking up in awe at the Gothic-style Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. Genoa is also well within reach, a little closer than Florence really, and is a quite beautiful city.

Rome (Civitavecchia), Italy - Rome, Italy’s capital, is a sprawling, cosmopolitan city with nearly 3,000 years of globally influential art, architecture and culture on display. Ancient ruins such as the Forum and the Colosseum evoke the power of the former Roman Empire. Vatican City, headquarters of the Roman Catholic Church, has St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, which house masterpieces such as Michelangelo’s Sistine Chapel frescoes.

Naples, Italy - Capital of Southern Italy, the largest city of Campania, Naples is the third most populated city in Italy (after Rome and Milan), with over a million inhabitants, and is the most important industrial center and trading port for the South. Naples itself can provide a day's fun and entertainment, if its somewhat rundown appearance doesn't dissuade you. Or, join a tour of incredible Pompeii, frozen in time since A.D. 79 when Mt. Vesuvius brought an end to that then-thriving city. Or, take a quick ferry across the bay to the flowery Isle of Capri. Or, (yes, there's more) visit fabulous Sorrento, vacation spot for the well to do.

At Sea - Cruising - Cruising

Our staff can assist you with all your travel arrangements.

Questions? Call us at 800-422-0711.
We can assist you with all your travel arrangements. We'd be happy to help you plan your flights, hotels or tours before and/or after your cruise conference.
SHORE EXCURSIONS
Please note that our shore excursions are operated separately and
independently of those offered by the cruise line.
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