Winter 2015 (Volume 25, Number 4)

News From SOAR:
Atlantic Update 2015

By John Hanly, MD, FRCPC

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The 32^nd annual meeting of the Society of Atlantic Rheumatologists (SOAR) took place at the Algonquin Resort in beautiful Saint Andrews, New Brunswick from June 19-21, 2015. An enthusiastic group of SOARites—with representation from all three Maritime provinces and Maine—gathered for the event. The members renewed personal and professional friendships, garnered new scientific knowledge from excellent presentations, and enjoyed the beautiful weather at that time of year. Some even managed to squeeze in a round of golf!

Forever SOARing to new heights: SOAR members and guests.

This year’s guest speakers were of the usual high caliber for SOAR meetings. Dr. Boulos Haraoui from the Université de Montréal gave the second David Hawkins lecture in rheumatology on Applying T2T in Daily Clinical Practice: Choice and Interpretation of the Target; followed by a presentation on The Biosimilars: Myths and Facts. The following day we were joined by Dr. Jan Dutz, from the University of British Columbia, who addressed the group on The Skin as a Marker of Immunodeficiency in Dermatology and Rheumatology and New Concepts in Cutaneous Vasculitis. The scientific program was completed with presentations from SOAR members.

At our gala dinner SOAR thanked Dr. Jamie Henderson for his 32 years of service as Treasurer/Secretary. Jamie, who retired from clinical practice this year, was one of the founding fathers of the organization and attended all of the annual meetings over a 32-year span, a record unlikely to be matched! We wish him an active and happy retirement and look forward to seeing him and Barb at many more SOAR meetings.

Dr. Jamie Henderson.

At the invitation of Dr. Sylvie Ouellette, several members participated remotely in an event organized in Moncton to honour the memory of three RCMP officers killed in the line of duty in that city in June 2014. As the inaugural event occurred on Father’s Day, it was appropriately called
3 kms for 3 Fathers to bring the community together in honour of these avid runners. It is now intended to be an annual event with aims to create a scholarship fund available to Moncton area high schools.

3 kms for 3 Fathers, a walk/run/jog in honour of three men who gave their lives for their community.

Overall, 2015 was another terrific meeting; the group is already looking forward to next year’s SOAR meeting in Fox Harbour, Wallace, Nova Scotia on June 17-19, 2016.

John Hanly, MD, FRCPC
Professor of Medicine and Pathology,
Director of Research and CME,
Division of Rheumatology,
Department of Medicine,
Capital Health and Dalhousie University
Past-President,
Society of Atlantic Rheumatologists
Halifax, Nova Scotia