MDA Hosts National Becker MD Conference in August

World-class clinicians and researchers will address topics of interest to families affected by Becker muscular dystrophy (BMD)  on Saturday, Aug. 11, in a conference presented in Chicago by MDA and the University of Chicago.

This is the fourth year for the BMD conference and the first year it has been organized as a national event. Regional BMD conferences were held in Boston in 2009 and 2010, and in Los Angeles in 2011.

The registration deadline is Aug. 1 for this free event. For those unable to attend, MDA will provide a live video stream of the conference that can be viewed from home, or at “satellite conferences” hosted by local MDA offices around the country. Online participants also can ask questions in real time.

Research, health care and more

Presentation topics include cardiac and pulmonary care, genetic counseling, physical and occupational therapy, nutrition, transitioning to adulthood with BMD and research updates.

An array of expert presenters will speak on these topics:

• Cardiology: Elizabeth McNally, M.D., Ph.D., University of Chicago
• Pulmonology: Lisa Wolfe, M.D., Northwestern University, Evanston, Ill.
• Genetics: Lisa Dellefave-Castillo, M.S., CGC, University of Chicago
• Nutrition: Megan Paul, RD, LDN, certified nutrition support dietitian, Walgreens Infusion Services
• Occupational therapy: Pat Casey, M.S., OTR/L, CCRC, Northwestern University
• Transitioning to adulthood: Chris Rosa, University Dean for Student Affairs at the City University of New York
• Moving toward clinical trials: Brian Tseng, M.D., Ph.D., Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston

In addition, research presentations will be made by:

• Ron Victor, M.D., Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles
• Lee Sweeney, Ph.D., University of Pennsylvania
• Melissa Spencer, Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles
• Glenn Walter, Ph.D., University of Florida

Sign up soon

The conference will take place from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. (Central Daylight Time) at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.

More information is available at mda.org/bmdconference. To sign up for the conference, contact bmdchicago2012@gmail.com, or return the RSVP card sent to all those registered with MDA who have BMD.

The video cast of the conference will be archived on the MDA website for future viewing.