We are currently finalizing the 2009 conference programme. Below you will find the 2008 programme for your persual.

Musculoskeletal Conference 2008
28 January 2008

09:00	Opening Remarks by Chair: Dr. Humeira Badsha, Specialist Rheumatologist, Dubai Bone & Joint Center, Dubai, UAE
09:05	Arthritis in the UAE – Creating the Emirates Arthritis Foundation Dr. Cathy Leibman, Emirates Arthritis Foundation
09:10	Rheumatoid Arthritis – State of the Art Update Dr. Humeira Badsha, Specialist Rheumatologist, Dubai Bone & Joint Center, Dubai, UAE
09:30	Beyond RA – Review of Psoriatic Arthritis, Ankylosing Spondylitis and Other Inflammatory Arthritis Prof. Muhammad Asim Khan, MD, MACP, FRCP, Professor of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), Cleveland, Ohio, USA
09:50	The GPs Guide to DMARDS for Rheumatoid Arthritis Dr. Christopher J. Edwards, BSc, FRCP, MD, Consultant Rheumatologist & Honorary Senior Lecturer, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust & The London Lupus Clinic, London Bridge Hospital, HCA International Hospitals, UK
10:10	Anti-TNF Drugs – Safety and Efficacy Updates Prof. Muhammad Asim Khan, MD, MACP, FRCP, Professor of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), Cleveland, Ohio, USA
10:30	New Frontiers in the Treatment of RA   Dr. Ayman Mofti, MD, FACR, Rheumatologist, American Hospital, Dubai, UAE
10:50	Coffee Break
11:30	Lupus – Diagnosis and Management Dr. Graham R. V. Hughes, MD, FRCP, Head, London Lupus Centre, HCA International Hospitals, London, UK
11:50	Pregnancy and Rheumatic Drugs Dr. Christopher J. Edwards, BSc, FRCP, MD, Consultant Rheumatologist & Honorary Senior Lecturer, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust & The London Lupus Clinic, London Bridge Hospital, HCA International Hospitals, UK
12:10	Management of the Pregnant Patient with Anti-phospholipid Syndrome Dr. Graham R. V. Hughes, MD, FRCP, Head, London Lupus Centre, HCA International Hospitals, London, UK
12:30	Lunch
14:00	Back Pain – Red Flags and Non-Surgical Management Dr. Daniel Mazanec, Vice Chairperson, Cleveland Clinic Spine Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
14:20	Pain Management – Update on Safety of NSAIDs and Cox-2 Inhibitors Dr.  Zbigniew  J. Brodzinski, MD, Consultant Spinal Surgeon, King Fahad Armed  Forces  Hospital, Jeddah, KSA
14:40	Gout – Guidelines and use of drugs: From colchicines to Febuxostat Dr. Stewart Graham, Senior Consultant Rheumatologist, Sheikh Khalifa Medical Center, Abu Dhabi, UAE
15:00	The New Science of Osteoarthritis: What this Means in Managing our Patients Dr. Terrence W. Starz, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Department of Arthritis and Internal Medicine Associates, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
15:20	Coffee Break
15:50	Osteoporosis and Interpretation of the DEXA Scan: Common Errors, Artifacts and Quality Issues Dr. Basel Masri, Consultant Rheumatologist, Jordan Osteoporosis Centre, Jordan Hospital, Amman, Jordan
16:10	Insights of Osteoporosis Treatment in Daily Clinical Practice Dr. Basel Masri, Consultant Rheumatologist, Jordan Osteoporosis Centre, Jordan Hospital, Amman, Jordan
16:30	Degenerative Lumbar Spine Conditions: Surgical Treatment Options Dr. Maarten Spruit, Chief, Department of Orthopaedics, Sint Maartens Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
16:50	The Epidemic of Vitamin D Deficiency and Implications Beyond Bone Health: How do we Manage Severe Vitamin D Deficiency? Dr. Abdullah Al Arifi, Consultant, Endocrinologist, Department of Medicine; Associate Executive Director, Academic & Training Affairs, CME Section; King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, KSA
17:10	Closing remarks by Co-Chair: Dr. Maarten Spruit, Chief, Department of Orthopaedics, Sint Maartens Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
Speaker Faculty
Chair: Dr. Humeira Badsha, Specialist Rheumatologist, Dubai Bone & Joint Center, Dubai, UAE
Co-Chair: Dr. Maarten Spruit, Chief, Department of Orthopaedics, Sint Maartens Hospital, Nijmegen, the Netherlands
Dr. Abdullah Al Arifi, Consultant, Endocrinologist, Department of Medicine; Associate Executive Director, Academic & Training Affairs, CME Section; King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre, Riyadh, KSA
Dr.  Zbigniew  J. Brodzinski, MD, Consultant Spinal Surgeon, King Fahad Armed  Forces  Hospital, Jeddah, KSA
Dr. Christopher J. Edwards, BSc, FRCP, MD, Consultant Rheumatologist & Honorary Senior Lecturer, Southampton General Hospital, Southampton University Hospitals NHS Trust & The London Lupus Clinic, London Bridge Hospital, HCA International Hospitals, UK
Dr. Stewart Graham, Senior Consultant Rheumatologist, Sheikh Khalifa Medical Center, Abu Dhabi, UAE
Dr. Graham R. V. Hughes, MD, FRCP, Head, London Lupus Centre, HCA International Hospitals, London, UK
Prof. Muhammad Asim Khan, MD, MACP, FRCP, Professor of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University (CWRU), Cleveland, Ohio,USA
Dr. Cathy Leibman, Emirates Arthritis Foundation
Dr. Basel Masri, Consultant Rheumatologist, Jordan Osteoporosis Centre, Jordan Hospital, Amman, Jordan
Dr. Daniel Mazanec, Vice Chairperson, Cleveland Clinic Spine Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Dr. Ayman Mofti, MD, FACR, Rheumatologist, American Hospital, Dubai, UAE
Dr. Terrence W. Starz, Clinical Professor of Medicine, Department of Arthritis and Internal Medicine Associates, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA