CRAJ Winter 2019

Winter 2019 (Volume 29, Number 4)

All About the New CRA Review Course

A Q&A with co-chairs, Dr. Shahin Jamal and
Dr. Trudy Taylor

What exactly is the CRA Review Course, and why should potential participants be interested?
The CRA Review Course is a full-day course aimed at the practicing clinical rheumatologist. It will take place on Wednesday, February 26, 2020, before the opening sessions of the CRA and Arthritis Health Professions Association (AHPA) Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM). The course will be comprised of dynamic expert speakers reviewing important clinical topics in rheumatology to look at what is available and what is coming in the pipeline. The main objective of the course is to provide an evidence-based clinical update on important conditions seen by rheumatologists, focusing on relevance to Canada.

Why did the committee decide to launch the CRA Review Course now?
There have been informal discussions about introducing a review course to run before the CRA and AHPA ASM over the years. The CRA Review Course was launched in response to positive feedback from CRA members, compiled from needs assessments completed both at the time of membership renewal as well as at the CRA Annual General Meeting. CRA members showed interest in attending such a course, so we felt it was an excellent time to offer it. Furthermore, the residents' review course has received very high ratings–so high, in fact, that many practicing rheumatologists have expressed an interest and even tried to attend. Needs assessments completed by residents stated that they are more comfortable learning without practicing faculty in the room; as such, the CRA decided to start a review course aimed at the clinician practicing in Canada.

What can participants expect to learn and interface with throughout the day?
Participants can expect to receive updates and pearls on various core clinical topics/diseases pertaining to clinical rheumatology. The sessions are going to be interactive, with time for questions from the audience. It will also be an opportunity to interact with experts in the field, and potentially get help with difficult clinical cases.

Can anyone sign up for the CRA Review Course, or is it designed with a specific audience in mind?
This is open to both CRA members and non-members. It has been designed to provide an update on clinical rheumatology topics, and will be most appealing to the practicing clinician. Trainees are required to attend the Residents’ Pre-Course, which occurs at the same time, and will not be in attendance. Similarly, there is a concurrent AHPA course.

Are there any other benefits of attending (i.e., accreditation, certificates, etc.)?
This program is an Accredited Group Learning Activity (Section 1) as defined by the Maintenance of Certification Program of the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada and approved by the Canadian Rheumatology Association. It will also be an opportunity to network with colleagues in clinical practice and experts in many fields.

Why are you launching the Review Course alongside the CRA and AHPA ASM
The CRA believes this is a great value-added opportunity for delegates who may already be travelling to attend the CRA and AHPA ASM. You can simply add on an extra day to get very high-yield education on a selection of clinically relevant topics.

What should participants bring to the Review Course (i.e., tools, laptop)? Is material being provided?
Participants may bring anything that they wish to take notes; however this is not mandatory. We plan to make speaker slides available on the CRA website for attendees after the course is completed. We encourage people to come well rested and ready to learn!

Is there anything else you would like to share?
CRA members are offered a registration discount for the Review Course, and early-bird discounts will be provided to ALL who register by January 17, 2020. Registration will have opened at the end of November (at the same time as ASM registration); industry registrations are limited and restricted to scientific and medical representatives exclusively.

For more information on the CRA Review Course, visit asm.rheum.ca/review-course/.