Frontiers in reproductive endocrinology

A Comprehensive Review and Update

March 22-25, 2007 - Arlington, Virginia, USA

• 3-1/2 days, 1 Chairman, 20 speakers, 155 learners, no commercial exhibitors, no posters presented.
• Learner type: 89% Clinicians, 1% Nurses and 10% Other. 89% of learners were clinicians, 3% teach, 2% do scientific research, and 7% do other work.
• 60% of the audience had 5 years or less of professional experience (i.e. trainees or fellows).
• Credit type: ACCME.
• This symposium featured experts in the field of reproductive endocrinology. The faculty provided information on the mechanism, diagnosis and treatment of a broad range of reproductive endocrine disorders.
• 98% of learners reported that the content was free from commercial bias.
• 99% of learners reported that the content was scientifically rigorous.
• 98% of learners reported that they would recommend this program to a colleague.
• 97% of learners felt that the information provided in the program would ultimately benefit patient care and 92% of learners could identify at least one thing they learned that they would apply to their patients’ care in the next 6 months.
• Objectives of the course were to:

• Describe the appropriate diagnostic steps and management for a wide range of reproductive disorders.

• Specify the scope, limitations, and error rates for different diagnostic interventions.

• Apply the use of evidence-based medicine in decision making in infertility and other reproductive disorders.

• Gain an appreciation of the appropriate summary statistics for time to pregnancy and other types of reproductive outcomes.

• Selected learner comments included:

• “There is no other comprehensive course like this one that covers so much information so well, in a manageable period of time.”
• “Excellent program, well organized and excellent speakers. Dr. McDonough is excellent, energetic and knowledgeable.”
• “Excellent intellectual stimulation, clarify the thinking process / approach to clinical problems, update basic science knowledge.”
• “Excellent review of relevant topics for fellowship level. Presenter quality very good - experts with great speaking skills.”
• “This was a well organized, focused review course that focused on clinically relevant and board relevant topics. Very thorough review with excellent choice of speakers. Dr. McDonough made discussions and overall conference, interesting, amusing and informative.”
• “Good comprehensive review. Provides opportunity to interact with authoritative figures on important topics and colleagues also preparing for boards.”

• Selected comments about the speakers included:

• “Excellent overview of sexual differentiation.”

• “Very dynamic - kept me engaged - would be good to review workup.”

• “Learned a couple of new things in a subject in which I feel well versed.”

• “Very engaging speaker.”

• “Good summary of impact of endometriosis.”

• “Enjoyed hearing about his current study on PCOS.”

• “Excellent correlation with notes - well presented.“

• “Great job. Your knowledge base is incredible. I truly enjoyed your lectures - very funny - you kept it lively.”

• “This lecture opened my eyes to how to interpret the test results - to scrutinize negative as well as positive results.”

• “Excellent consolidation of literature.“

• “I liked how he focused on controversial topics.”

Disclosure of Faculty Relationships

BioSymposia, Inc. (formerly Serono Symposia International, Inc.) adheres to guidelines of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation (ANCCCA), the Accreditation Council for Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE), and all other professional organizations as applicable, stating that programs where continuing education credits are awarded must be balanced, independent, objective, and scientifically rigorous.

As uses for pharmaceutical agents, medical devices, and other products may be presented in the program that are not necessarily the same as those indicated in approved product labeling (but which may reflect clinical experience, professional literature, other clinical sources known to the presenter, or investigational uses of products), we ask the presenter to provide participants with information about relationships with pharmaceutical or medical equipment companies that may have relevance to their lectures. This policy is not intended to exclude faculty who have relationships with such companies; it is simply intended to inform participants of any potential conflicts so that participants may form their own judgments based on full disclosure of the facts. Further, these opinions and recommendations presented during the program or materials related to the program do not imply an endorsement or recommendation on the part of BioSymposia, Inc. These presentations solely represent the independent views of the presenters/authors.

The following faculty provided information regarding significant commercial relationships and/or discussions of investigational or non-FDA approved (off-label) uses of drugs:

John Collins, M.D. discloses that he has been a consultant on regulatory issues for Berlex Canada and discloses that he is a member of a speaker’s bureau for phase III clinical trials of long-acting hCG for Organon GmbH OS, Netherlands.

Richard S. Legro, M.D. discloses that he consults for Ferring, EMD Serono, and Glaxo Smith Kline.

Ana A. Murphy, M.D. discloses that she will discuss the off-labeled use of products in the treatment of patients with endometriosis.

Lynette Nieman, M.D. discloses that her presentation will include discussion of off-labeled use of corticotropin-releasing hormone as used in the dexamethasone corticotropin-releasing hormone test.

Robert D. Oates, M.D. discloses that he consults for and is a member of a speaker’s bureau for Repromedix.

Mary D. Stephenson, M.D., M.Sc. discloses that her presentation will include discussion of off-labeled use of IVIG, Progesterone, acetyl salicylic acid, and Heparin.

The following faculty indicated no significant relationship with commercial supporters and/or discussion of investigational or non-FDA approved (off-label) uses of drugs:

Paul G. McDonough, M.D., Kenneth Burman, M.D., Charles Chaffin, M.D., Keith Hansen, M.D., Randall S. Hines, M.D., Joseph W. Hogan, Sc.D., Larry Kricka, Ph.D., Peter Lee, M.D., Ph.D. Kelly E. Mayo, Ph.D., Santiago L. Padilla, M.D., Keith L. Parker, M.D., Ph.D., Alan D. Rogol, M.D., Ph.D., and Stefan Schlatt, M.D., and Richard T. Scott, M.D.

Commercial Support and Other Disclosures

BioSymposia, Inc. (formerly Serono Symposia International, Inc.) is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. All of our programs are organized solely to promote the exchange and dissemination of scientific and medical information. No forms of promotional activities are permitted. There may be presentations discussing investigational uses of various products. These views are the responsibility of the named speakers and do not represent an endorsement or recommendation on the part of BioSymposia, Inc.

This program was supported by an unrestricted educational grant from EMD Serono, Inc. In addition, BioSymposia personnel are employees of EMD Serono, Inc. and BioSymposia, Inc. also receives other in-kind support from EMD Serono, Inc. in the form of space and administrative services.

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