Fibro and Sleep Disorders Scientific Conference

The American National Fibromyalgia Research Association (NFRA) has released details of the 2008 Fibromyalgia and Sleep Disorders Scientific Conference in Portland, Oregon, taking place on October 2-4 2008.

The faculty of experts for the conference, which the NFRA are sponsoring, includes:

Robert Bennett, MD
Professor of Medicine and Nursing Research, Oregon Health and Science University

Harvey Moldofsky, MD
Professor Emeritus, Director, Centre for Sleep and Chronobiology, University of Toronto School of Medicine

Andrew Holman, MD
Pacific Rheumatology Research, Inc.
Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine, University of Washington

Patrick Wood, MD
Chief Medical Officer, Angler Biomedical Technologies
Adjunct Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, LSU Health Sciences Center

Dedra Buchwald, MD
Professor, Department of Medicine & Director, Center for Clinical and Epidemiological Research
Director, University of Washington Twin Registry

George Chrousos, MD
Professor & Chairman, First Department of Pediatrics, Athens University Medical School, Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital

Manuel Martínez-Lavín, MD
Chief, Rheumatology Department, National Cardiology Institute of Mexico

Maurice Ohayon, MD, DSc, PhD
Professor, Psychiatry & Behavioral Science—Sleep Center, Stanford University

Gerald Rich, MD
Medical Director, Pacific Sleep Program

I.Jon Russell, MD, PhD
Associate Professor of Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio
Director, University Clinical Research Center
Editor-in-Chief, The Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain

Tobias Schmidt-Wilcke, M.A.
Department of Neurology, Universitätsklinik Regensburg

Petra Schweinhardt, MD, PhD
Centre for Research on Pain, McGill University

Jerome M. Siegel, PhD
Professor, Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences Center for Sleep Research, University of California

Michael T. Smith, PhD
Associate Professor, Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences & Director, Behavioral Sleep Medicine Program, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Michael V. Vitiello, PhD
Professor, Sciences, Medicine, and Biobehavioral Nursing & Associate Director, Northwest Geriatric Education Center (NWGEC), University of Washington

Harvey Moldofsky, MD, who first made the link between Fibro and non-refreshing sleep in the 1970s, is quoted as saying:

“Clinical and research studies highlight the importance of unrefreshing sleep, fatigue and widespread pain as core problems in patients with fibromyalgia and related illnesses. This meeting, organized by the National Fibromyalgia Research Association (NFRA), will serve as the first major scientific and pubic meeting to highlight our current understanding of such problems and advances in their treatment.”

Plenary sessions will include:

'Fibromyalgia—Diagnosis, Differential Diagnosis, and Structured Evaluation' from Andrew Holman, MD

'The Interaction of Sleep, Pain, and Mood: A Primer for Primary Care Physicians' from Maurice Ohayon, MD

'Pathophysiology of Sleep as Related to Fibromyalgia' from Harvey Moldofsky, MD

'Anatomy and Physiology of Pain Perception' from Robert Bennet, MD

'The Pathophysiology of Fibromyalgia' from Patrick Wood, MD

'Impact of Fibromyalgia, Sleep, and Aging on the HPA Axis' from George Chrousos, MD

'Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: Similarities and Differences with Fibromyalgia and Treatment Approaches' from Debra Buchwald, MD

The purpose of this conference is to offer clinicians knowledge and tools to provide better treatment for their Fibroa patients. The conference been designed to meet the educational needs of physicians, nurses, and allied healthcare professionals involved inthe care of patients with Fibro and related sleep disorders, and will provide nearly 15 hours of Continuous Medical Education credits for attending healthcare professionals.

The Fibromyalgia and Sleep Disorders Scientific Conference is taking place at the Portland Downtown Marriott Waterfront from October 2-4, 2008.

For more information, see the NFRA website.