Renowned leaders in diabetes prevention, treatment, research to descend at Jefferson Symposium

Renowned national and international leaders in diabetes prevention, treatment and research will descend on Philadelphia for the Second Annual Diabetes Symposium: New Advances and Innovations, a one-day symposium on advancing patient care at the intersection of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, cancer, sexual health and new this year, physicians and diabetes educators will address the latest advances in managing obesity in the diabetic patient.

The symposium is organized and lead by Serge Jabbour, M.D., director of the Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes Center, and Comprehensive Weight Management Program, and Jeffrey Miller, M.D., clinical director, Division of Endocrinology and Co-director of the Thyroid and Parathyroid Center at Jefferson and will commence on Friday, October 11th from 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in the Dorrance H. Hamilton Building on the Thomas Jefferson University campus.

The symposium, a CME program for physicians, will again feature keynote speakers David Nathan, M.D., director of the Diabetes Center at Massachusetts General Hospital and a Harvard Professor, and Vivian A. Fonseca, M.D., chief of Endocrinology and Metabolism at Tulane University Medical Center and professor of Medicine at Tulane University.

"For years we have known that a diabetes diagnosis places patients at greater risk for heart disease," says Dr. Jabbour, "But diabetes is a known risk-factor for several cancers, including cancers of the liver, pancreas and endometrium, which are twice as common in patients with Type 2 diabetes, and post-menopausal breast cancer and colorectal cancer which are modestly increased. In addition, sexual function can be compromised by diabetes."

"The good news," adds Dr. Miller, "Is that lifestyle changes, including a healthy diet, regular physical activity and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce your risk for many of these high-risk comorbidities. Our experts will share the latest information and treatments, including new weight-loss drugs to aid overweight patients with Type 2 diabetes through a series of lectures and panel discussions."

The American Diabetes Association estimates that 25.8 million children and adults in the United States—8.3 percent of the population—have diabetes.

Featured speakers and panelists include: Paul Ridker, M.D., Harvard Professor and Director of the Center for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention at Brigham and Women's Hospital; Edwin Gale, M.D., Emeritus Professor, Diabetes and Metabolism- School of Clinical Sciences at the University of Bristol, U.K.; and Robert Eckel, M.D., Professor of Medicine - Division of Endocrinology, Metabolism and Diabetes, and Cardiology at the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

Dr. Eckel's research is presently focused on the relationship between nutrition, insulin action, energy balance and body weight regulation. He will speak on Management of Obesity—Beyond Diets.

Jefferson Medical College speakers and panelists include Intekhab Ahmed, MD, and Kevin Furlong, DO, Division of Endocrinology; Richard C. Wender, MD, chair, Department of Family and Community Medicine; and Cheryl Marco, RD, CDE, director of the Jefferson Weight Management Program.

"We have developed a program that encourages endocrinologists, primary care and family physicians, nurse practitioners, certified diabetes educators, dieticians and nurses to share strategies and best practices that have led to better outcomes for their patients," says Dr. Jabbour, "And help practicing physicians learn the most up-to-date information in this rapidly evolving field."