1st CANADIAN NATIONAL FOP CONFERENCE

 & FAMILY MEDICAL CLINIC

 

The first Canadian National FOP Conference and Family Medical Clinic was held in London, Ontario, Canada, May 29-31, 2009.  The Canadian FOP Network (CFOPN) hosted the event in partnership with the Thames Valley Children’s Centre (TVCC), the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR) Group in Skeletal Development & Remodeling at the University of Western Ontario (UWO) and the International FOP Association (IFOPA).

 

Approximately 80 registrants attended throughout the weekend, including 10 FOP families, physicians, educators, caregivers, therapists and researchers.  There were eight FOP families from Canada, one from the Netherlands and another from Ukraine by way of the U.S.A.

 

Our stellar panel of presenters included:

• Dr. Frederick Kaplan, Isaac & Rose Nassau Professor of Orthopaedic Molecular Medicine; The University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
• Dr. Eileen Shore, FOP Lab Director and Scientific Advisor, University of Pennsylvania
• Dr. Burton Nussbaum, Clinical Professor of Pediatric Dentistry, University of Pennsylvania
• Dr. Zvi Grunwald, James D. Wentzler Professor and Chairman, Department of Anesthesiology, Thomas Jefferson University
• Dr. Jane Aubin, Scientific Director, Canadian Institute of Health Research, University of Toronto

The conference began on Friday with a scientific symposium for researchers and physicians hosted by the CIHR Group in Skeletal Development & Remodeling at UWO. Dr. Nussbaum met with local dental health professionals for an informal dental health discussion at TVCC, and Dr. Grunwald met with local anesthesiology experts and received a tour of the London Health Sciences Centre.  Family Clinics started later in the afternoon at TVCC with Dr. Kaplan and Dr. Nussbaum, followed by a reception at the Best Western Lamplighter Inn.

 

The main family events took place on Saturday, with presentations throughout the morning followed by an afternoon of clinics and family workshops. Amanda Cali, IFOPA board member and former board chairman, presented the IFOPA’s Traveling Resource Centre, during which time individuals with FOP were given an “EZ Reacher”. Later that evening, registrants attended a conference dinner at the hotel.

 

On Sunday, attendees met to elect a board of directors and held the first Annual General Meeting of the Canadian FOP Network. Dr. Fred Kaplan gave closing remarks, congratulating the organizers for the excellent event and for establishing CFOPN.

 

The Canadian National FOP Conference and Family Medical Clinic was generously sponsored by a grant from the SickKids Foundation and a donation from the Canadian Office & Professional Employee’s Union (COPE) Local 468.  The venue for the event was generously provided by the Thames Valley Children’s Centre.