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Cruise Conference Planning For Your Association

PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS NOT A CURRENTLY ACTIVE PROGRAM.

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Current Topics in Nephrology and Rheumatology

7-Night Southern Caribbean Cruise
Round-trip San Juan, Puerto Rico
August 09 - 16, 2020
Royal Caribbean's <em>Freedom of the Seas</em>
Royal Caribbean's Freedom of the Seas
14.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™
14 ACPE Credits
14.0 Contact Hours
Course Fees

Target Audience
Nurses, Nurse PractitionersNurses, Nurse PractitionersPhysicians, Physician Assistants, Nurses, Nurse Practitioners, Pharmacists
Program Purpose / Objectives
The purpose of these lectures is to equip the attendees with the necessary clinical skills and strategies to identify, 
evaluate and manage either individually or as part of an interprofessional team, common clinical problems in Nephrology to overall improve patient care. The lectures will help the  health care provider(s) be confident in the: 
  • Approach to evaluating urinalysis and hyponatremia
  •  Recognition of renovascular hypertension and chronic kidney disease 
  • Appropriate use of diuretics 
  •  Management of Acute Kidney Injury and poisonings.

Neurology topics:
  1. Urinalysis - A Window into the Body
    • Describe methods of urine collection.
    • Interpret physical and dipstick examination of urine.
    • Identify microscopic elements in urine sediment.
    • Solve clinical cases with abnormal urinalyses
  2. Understanding Diuretics
    • Describe classification and mechanism of action of diuretics
    • Review clinical uses and adverse effects
    • Define diuretic adaptation and resistance
  3. Acute Kidney Injury
    • Review definition, epidemiology, course and burden of AKI
    • Recognize common causes of AKI and identify risk factors
    • Discuss the medical management of AKI in the hospitalized patient
    • Illustrate with case presentation
  4. Poisonings in Nephrology
    • Discuss different medications and poisonings seen in clinical practice
    • Review the clinical presentation of these poisonings
    • Describe the management of these poisonings
  5. Disorders of Water Balance
    • Define osmolality and tonicity
    • Describe approach to hypo and hypernatremia with case presentations
    • Review steps and pitfalls in management of hyponatremia
  6. Renovascular Hypertension
    • Review the pathophysiology of renovascular hypertension
    • Describe patients at risk for developing ischemic nephropathy
    • Describe diagnostic evaluation of renal artery stenosis
    • Discuss management of patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis
  7. Chronic kidney Disease - A Call to Action
    • Facilitate timely testing and intervention in patients at risk for CKD.
    • Apply appropriate clinical measures to manage risk and increase patient safety in CKD.
    • Comanage and refer to nephrologists, when appropriate, to improve outcomes in CKD.

This purpose of this lecture series is to provide health care providers with the latest tools to evaluate and initiate early treatment for a variety of common rheumatic diseases. By the end of the lecture series, attendees will be able to diagnose and initiate treatment for rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, polymyalgia rheumatica, giant cell arteritis, gout and pyrophosphate deposition disease. Attendees will also be able to critically analyze lupus serology and explain the poor specificity of the anti-nuclear antibody.

Attendees will be able to describe key clinical findings in scleroderma and discuss the role of an echocardiogram, pulmonary function test and high resolution CT scan of the chest to screen for and identify interstitial lung disease and pulmonary arterial hypertension. Finally, attendees will be able to outline a plan for timing of immunizations and elective surgery for patients who are being treated with immunosuppressive agents for their rheumatic disease.

Rheumatology topics:
  1. Rheumatoid arthritis: Diagnosis and management
    • Diagnose and initiate treatment of rheumatoid arthritis
  2. Lupus: A case-based approach
    • List the most common clinical and laboratory features of lupus
  3. Sjogren&aposs syndrome: Beyond sicca
    • Identify extra-glandular features of Sjogren's syndrome and outline a treatment plan for most common manifestations.
  4. Scleroderma: A systemic disease
    • Describe key clinical features scleroderma.
    • Accurately select patients who require more immediate investigations to identify cardiopulmonary disease.
  5. Polymyalgia rheumatica and giant cell arteritis
    • Diagnose polymyalgia rheumatica and initiate treatment.
    • Diagnose giant cell arteritis and initiate treatment
  6. Gout and calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease
    • Use the ACR/EULAR guidelines to diagnose and treat gout.
    • Differentiate between gout and pyrophosphate deposition disease.
  7. Rheumatologic medications: what you need to know
    • Summarize key potential risks when using disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs).
    • Develop a plan for the appropriate administration of immunizations and timing of surgical procedures in patients who are being treated with DMARDs
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

Mohanram Narayanan, MD, FACP, FNKF, FASN, FRCP(C)

Mohanram Narayanan, MD, FACP, FNKF, FASN, FRCP(C)
Professor of Medicine, Texas A&M HSC COM
Director, Division of Nephrology & Hypertension
Chief, Section of Clinical Transplantation 

Dr. Narayanan received his medical degree at Christian Medical College, Ludhiana, India, and completed residencies in Internal Medicine at the Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, India and at Cook County Hospital, Chicago, Illinois. He completed clinical fellowships in Nephrology at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Chicago, Illinois, and at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Texas. He is board certified in Internal Medicine, Nephrology, and Geriatric Medicine and is a Certified Specialist in Hypertension by the American Society of Hypertension.

Dr. Narayanan is a Professor of Medicine at the Texas A&M Health Science Center-College of Medicine and Baylor Scott & White Healthcare in Temple, Texas, where he serves as Director, Division of Nephrology-Hypertension and Medical Director of the Abdominal Transplant Program.

A fellow of the National Kidney Foundation, the American Society of Nephrology, the American College of Physicians and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, Dr. Narayanan&apos's clinical practice focuses on all aspects of Nephrology as well as kidney and pancreas transplantation. 

A frequent lecturer, presenter, and author, Dr. Narayanan's work has been published in several peer reviewed journals including the American Journal of Kidney Disease, American Journal of Transplantation, Annals of Emergency Medicine, Hemodialysis International, Investigative Radiology, and Journal of the American Society of Nephrology , among many others. He is also the Principal Investigator for several industry sponsored clinical trials. Dr. Narayanan serves on the editorial board of the journal Advances in Chronic Kidney Disease and is a reviewer for the American Journal of Transplantation .

Ronald R. Butendieck, JR, MD, FACP

Ronald R. Butendieck, JR, MD, FACP
Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine
Rheumatology Consultant
Mayo Clinic
Jacksonville, FL Dr. Butendieck received his undergraduate degree in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology at Rollins College in Winter Park, Florida and his Doctor of Medicine degree at the University of Florida College of Medicine. He completed clinical residency and fellowship training in Internal Medicine and Rheumatology at the Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida.

Dr. Butendieck is an Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine and serves as a consultant in the Division of Rheumatology at the Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida. He is actively involved in teaching residents and fellows and has received the Top Teacher in Rheumatology Award on multiple occasions. Since 2013, he has presented the topics of Vasculitis and Inflammatory/Non-inflammatory myopathies each year at the Mayo Clinic Internal Medicine Board Review series for senior residents.

He has a special interest in Behçet’s disease and has presented internationally on the topic of Neuro-Behçet’s. He is also the contributing author on the topic of Behçet’s for the National Organization for Rare Disorders. He has presented nationally and internationally on various topics in rheumatology and has authored peer-reviewed articles and book chapters.

In 2017, he was elected as a Fellow in the American College of Physicians. He currently serves on the Mayo International Health Program Selection Committee and the Humanities in Medici

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 Aug 09 San Juan, Puerto Rico
- 8:30 pm
Mon Aug 10 *At Sea - Cruising
- -
Tue Aug 11 Oranjestad, Aruba
8:00 am 9:00 pm
Wed Aug 12 Willemstad, Curacao
8:00 am 8:00 pm
Thu Aug 13 Kralendijk (Bonaire), Antilles
8:00 am 5:00 pm
Fri Aug 14 *At Sea - Cruising
- -
Sat Aug 15 Philipsburg, St. Maarten
8:00 am 5:00 pm
Sun Aug 16 San Juan, Puerto Rico
6:00 am -
*Tentative course schedule, actual class times may differ.
Royal Caribbean Freedom of the Seas Map

Ports of Call

San Juan, Puerto Rico - The vibrant capital of Puerto Rico, San Juan offers something for every traveler — world-famous beaches with crystal clear waters, incredible cuisine, rugged natural beauty and a rich history that goes back 500 years. With its ancient fortresses and colorful colonial-era buildings, San Juan makes it easy to feel as though you’ve slipped into the past. Life moves at a slower pace along the sunny cobblestone streets of Old San Juan, and salsa beats seem to waft perpetually from open windows. If you’re craving a hike, head to El Yunque National Forest. And if you’re more in the mood to unwind, set your sights on the beautiful shores of Isla Verde or El Condado. Mealtime is also an adventure, with so many delicious options to try — from mofongo and pastelon to chillo frito and alcapurrias. Pair every bite with a piña colada — Puerto Rico’s national drink.

At Sea - Cruising - Cruising

Oranjestad, Aruba - A Dutch jewel with a tropical touch. In Oranjestad, Aruba's capital, explore the colorful floating market and Nassaustraat, brimming with quaint shops. Head for the beach where water sports abound: snorkeling, rides on glass bottom boats and submarines. Or venture into the countryside to see the haunts of the huge green parakeet, the unique rock gardens of Casi Bari, the curious divi divi tree, forever bending in the tradewind breezes

Willemstad, Curacao - Curaçao is a treasure trove of cultural attractions, rich history, and natural scenery — from desert landscapes and rugged cliffs to 38 spectacular, and mostly secluded, beaches. Sint Anna Bay separates the two sides of the capital of Willemstad. Punda, the original settlement, is a tidy grid filled with shops and unique markets, restaurants and open-air cafes. Not to mention the famous tropicalized Dutch architecture in vibrant hues. Otrobanda (literally, “the other side”) is a maze of narrow streets and even narrower alleyways. And at only 40 miles long, a wide variety of island adventures are within easy reach during your Curaçao cruise.

Kralendijk (Bonaire), Antilles - Kralendijk is the sleepy capital of Bonaire, an island in the Dutch Antilles. Kralendijk is lined with delightfully pastel stucco houses, in pinks, oranges and lime greens. Famous for its diving - the island is surrounded by a Marine Park - Bonaire also offers such treats as flamingos, hiking and the only barefoot casino in the Caribbean.

Philipsburg, St. Maarten - The capital of the Dutch side of St. Maarten is the town of Philipsburg, though St. Maarten is an island with two distinct sides. To the north is the French side, whose capital is Marigot, while Philipsburg sits on the southern part of the island. When exploring on cruises that go to St. Maarten, it’s important to visit both sides to understand their customs and heritage.

You’ll quickly be charmed by all sides of the island. Of course, this Caribbean island is best known for its beaches, like Maho Beach or Great Bay Beach, one of the area’s best snorkeling spots. Sample local seafood or rum during your time in port, which have become symbols of St. Maarten life. There’s just enough to fill the day here, especially if you hop between the French and Dutch beaches.

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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