AUA Mentored Renal Laparoscopy: A Skills and Knowledge-Based Approach

AUA Surgical Learning Center Course 13.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™

Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, Texas

November 6 - 7, 2010

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Course Co-directors:
J. Stuart Wolf, Jr., MD
Stephen Y. Nakada, MD

Faculty:
Sean P. Hedican, MD
Steven J. Shichman, MD
Richard E. Link, MD, Ph.D
Timothy D. Averch, MD

Target Audience
This intermediate course is designed for urologists who have laparoscopic experience or who have previously attended a Hand-assisted Laparoscopy (HAL) course.

Statement of Need
The challenge to the practicing urologist is to develop new laparoscopic skills without excessive time commitment and expense. AUA Mentored Renal Laparoscopy is designed to meet this challenge by bringing together a diverse group of expert laparoscopic urologists to teach a well-defined curriculum focusing on skill development and problem-solving.

Course Description
This course facilitates the highest level of laparoscopic performance by practicing urologists by directly addressing clinical needs. Extensive situation training sessions and clinically-oriented lectures provide the conceptual backbone for advancing the participant's practice. Three different inanimate training programs and a hands-on procedural animate laboratory practicum are designed to systematically develop the participant's surgical skills. We start with a pre-course test to help the participant focus on his or her own needs. Throughout the course faculty and participants are paired to facilitate a mentoring relationship that extends beyond the duration of the course. Based on performance in the training program, we provide a personalized audit and a post-course plan of action for each participant.

The AUA Mentored Renal Laparoscopy Course takes advantage of the excellent facilities at the Baylor College of Medicine Surgical Learning Center and teaches techniques which are revised and continually updated to provide practicing urologists a superlative opportunity to improve laparoscopic skills. Under the direction of Drs. J. Stuart Wolf and Stephen Y. Nakada, a minimum of six experts in the field will provide hands-on teaching to a maximum of 24 practicing urologists over a two-day period. This is an intermediate level course and is designed for urologists with laparoscopic experience or who have previously attended a Hand-assisted Laparoscopy course.

Three major problem areas will be addressed:

• Developing laparoscopic skills with a limited number of training cases – addressed by teaching and rehearsing a step-by-step approach to laparoscopic renal surgery, including both standard and hand-assisted techniques
• Laparoscopic suturing – this course focuses on developing confidence to repair visceral injuries, control hemorrhage and consider simple reconstructive techniques utilizing hand-assisted and standard laparoscopic suturing
• Prevention and management of complications – course emphasis is to minimize the urologist's learning curve in laparoscopic renal urology, learning how to avoid complications and how to manage them when they arise

Laboratory Experience
Three different inanimate training programs and an animate laboratory practicum are employed to systematically develop the participant's surgical skills. All laboratory sessions are directed by the faculty, with a ratio of one faculty member to every three or four participants.

• Skills and Suturing Stations – Inanimate training with a variety of tasks, including suturing
• Renal Ablation Station – Experience with cryoablation and ultrasonographic monitoring
• Ex-vivo Pyeloplasty Model – An excellent model for pyeloplasty that focuses on the crucial steps
• Hands-on Procedural Animate Laboratory Practicum – Nephrectomy and partial nephrectomy

Learning Objectives
Upon completion of this course, participants should be able to:

• Demonstrate improved standard and hand-assisted laparoscopic renal surgery skills resulting in optimal patient care
• Perform laparoscopic suturing using both hand-assisted and standard laparoscopic techniques
• Strategize to prevent complications, but also identify and manage complications including acute hemorrhage, visceral injury and port site complications
• Assess personal skills and mental approach to laparoscopic urology
• Review and analyze updated information on surgical simulation, tissue ablation, reconstructive options and other controversies in urologic laparoscopy

All participants will be filmed and will receive expert analysis and mentoring while at the course. Participants will also receive a personalized DVD at the end of the course.

The Program Schedule

Physician Course Directors:
J. Stuart Wolf, Jr., MD
David A. Bloom Professor of Urology
Director, Division of Endourology and Stone Disease
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, MI

Dr. Wolf is internationally acclaimed in urologic laparoscopy, in particular for his pioneering efforts in donor and partial nephrectomy. He is a prolific surgeon and is regarded as an outstanding hands-on teacher. Dr. Wolf serves on numerous editorial boards, including the Journal of Endourology and Urology Times.

Stephen Y. Nakada, MD
Chairman of Urology
The David T. Uehling Professor of Urology
The University of Wisconsin
Madison, WI

Dr. Nakada has been teaching and directing AUA courses since 1996, and his innovative teaching style is well known to course participants. He pioneered the hand-assisted laparoscopic radical nephrectomy. Dr. Nakada serves on several editorial boards, including Urology, the Journal of Endourology and Urology Times. He is the current Chair of the AUA Laparoscopy Committee.

Faculty:
Sean P. Hedican, MD
Associate Professor of Surgery/Urology
The University of Wisconsin Medical School
Madison, WI

Dr. Hedican is an expert in urologic laparoscopy and, specifically, laparoscopic reconstruction. He is a veteran of AUA courses at the surgical learning center. He has authored numerous articles and chapters in urologic laparoscopy and leads the effort in creating videotapes of the participants. He brings a refined teaching style to this faculty.

Steven J. Shichman, MD
Connecticut Surgical Group
Senior Attending Urologist
Hartford Hospital
Associate Clinical Professor of Urology
University of Connecticut Health Center
Hartford, CT

Dr. Shichman is one of the busiest clinical urologic laparoscopists in the United States. He is a former AUA course director and faculty member. He is recognized for refining the hand-assisted nephroureterectomy and partial nephrectomy and for his clinical teaching skills. Dr. Shichman's vast clinical experience in urologic laparoscopy and extensive videotape collection are integral to this course.

Richard E. Link, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Urology
Director, Division of Endourology and Minimally Invasive Surgery
Baylor College of Medicine
Houston, TX

After varied and intense training, Dr. Link returned to Baylor College of Medicine, where the Surgical Learning Center is located. Dr. Link has won numerous academic awards including first place in the 2005 AUA Prize Essay Contest. He has special interest in improving and teaching the use of minimally invasive surgery in treatment of urological problems. His straightforward and systematic teaching style is a great boon to participants.

Timothy D. Averch, MD
Associate Professor of Urology
Director of Endourology
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
Pittsburgh, PA

Dr. Averch is an expert in minimally invasive surgery, including urologic laparoscopy, both extirpative and reconstructive. He has authored numerous articles and chapters in urologic laparoscopy and serves on the editorial boards of The Journal of Urology and The Canadian Journal of Urology. He brings years of experience of teaching hand-assisted laparoscopic techniques to this forum.

Continuing Medical Education Accreditation
The American Urological Association (AUA) is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The AUA takes responsibility for the content, quality and scientific integrity of this CME activity.

Credit Designation
The American Urological Association designates this educational activity for a maximum of 13.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

AUAER Disclosure Policy
As a provider accredited by the ACCME, the AUA must insure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all its activities.

All faculty participating in an educational activity provided by the AUA are required to disclose to the provider any relevant financial relationships with any commercial interest. The AUA must determine if the faculty's relationships may influence the educational content with regard to exposition or conclusion and resolve any conflicts of interest prior to the commencement of the educational activity.

Unlabeled or Unapproved Use of Drugs or Devices
It is the policy of the AUA to require the disclosure of all references to unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices prior to the presentation of educational content. The audience is advised that this continuing medical education activity may contain reference(s) to unlabeled or unapproved uses of drugs or devices. Please consult the prescribing information for full disclosure of approved uses.

Disclaimer
The opinions and recommendations expressed by faculty, authors and other experts whose input is included in this program are their own and do not necessarily represent the viewpoint of the AUA.

Evidence-Based Content
As a provider of continuing medical education accredited by the ACCME, it is the policy of the AUA to review and certify that the content contained in this CME activity is valid, fair, balanced, scientifically rigorous and free of commercial bias.

Special Assistance
The American Urological Association, an organization accredited for Continuing Medical Education (CME), complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act 12112(a). If any participant is in need of special assistance or has any dietary restrictions, a written request should be submitted at least one month in advance. For additional assistance with your request, please call 800-908-9414.

Hotel Information
Houston Marriott Medical Center
6580 Fannin Street
Houston, TX 77030
Telephone: 713-796-0080
Fax: 713-770-8100
www.marriott.com

The Houston Marriott Medical Center is located in the heart of the Texas Medical Center and connected with a climate-controlled skyway to medical schools, Methodist Hospital, and Scurlock and Smith Towers. Just steps to Houston's new Metrorail, the Houston downtown hotel is convenient to it all. The Houston Marriott Medical Center is the closest full-service Marriott Hotel to downtown Houston. Hotel amenities include fitness center, indoor pool and three on-site restaurants.

To hold a reservation, a major credit card number must be provided.

Guest Room Rate: $104 single/double occupancy. Reference the AUA Mentored Laparoscopy meeting when you make your reservation at the Houston Marriott Medical Center hotel to receive the special group rate. Once the AUA group rate block is full, which may be prior to the cut-off date, the AUA is unable to guarantee rooms at this rate or this hotel.

Cut-off Date: October 14, 2010
Guest rooms may not be available at the AUA special rate after this date.

Check In: 4:00 p.m.
Check Out: 12:00 p.m.
Parking: Self parking rate is $9 per day. Valet parking is $20 per day.

Transportation: Cab fare from Hobby Airport (12 miles) is approximately $30. From Bush Intercontinental Airport (25 miles), it is approximately $60. Transportation to and from the hotel may also be arranged through Super Shuttle Service at 713-523-8888.

Car Rental: Avis is offering special discounted rates to all meeting attendees. Reservations can be made by calling 1 800 331 1600 and referencing the AUA Avis Worldwide Discount (AWD) number J907607 or visit www.avis.com. Be sure to enter the AWD number J907607 and "Best" in the rate code to receive the available discount.

Questions? Call 800-908-9414 or e-mail registration@auanet.org.

Enrollment for this unique course is limited. Prerequisite: Hand-assisted Laparoscopy Course

To apply for this course, click here

AUA Member Fee: $2,350

Non-member Fee: $2,900

We do not recommend the purchase of airline tickets until your registration is confirmed in writing or by telephone by the AUA.