UMANA holds second annual Spring Scientific Conference and family ski vacation (06/04/06)

UMANA holds second annual Spring Scientific Conference and family ski vacation

by George G. Kuritza

CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. - The Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA), Illinois Chapter, held its second annual Spring Scientific Conference and family ski vacation at the Crested Butte Club Med resort on Saturday, March 25, - Saturday, April 1. Forty-one UMANA members, families and/or associates participated in this year's event.

The purpose of this scientific assembly and ski vacation was to bring together members of the Ukrainian medical and scientific communities, their families, associates and friends for a week of an accredited scientific conference, as well as an enjoyable ski holiday. Early morning (7-9 a.m.) scientific sessions left ample time for skiing and other winter-related activities with family, friends and colleagues.

The educational format included large group lectures, which were followed by discussions with the course faculty. Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits were awarded to the conference attendees.

This scientific conference was designed to provide a broad overview of various medical and scientific topics for the medical practitioner and other health-care professionals, who have a primary interest in general medicine, its various subspecialties, as well as medical science. Attendees had the opportunity to listen and learn from medical and scientific experts in various fields of medicine. In-depth lectures on various medical and scientific topics served to stimulate an open forum for discussion, and enhance clinical and diagnostic skills. Ample time was scheduled for questions in order to encourage dialogue between the participating faculty and course attendees.

Through its multifaceted curriculum of activities for participants, this event served to foster professional development through education and collegiality across multiple medical and scientific specialties. An outstanding faculty was selected based on their individual areas of expertise, their ability to communicate first-hand knowledge of their areas of specialty to others, and their commitment to address issues of current concern to attendees. Various interdisciplinary conference topics were chosen because of their general interest to the general cross-section of medical and scientific participants.

The following lecturers presented scientific conference topics:

Yarko Maryniuk, M.D., emergency medicine specialist, Ventura, Calif., "High Altitude Illness";
Myron Lewyckyj, M.D., ophthalmologist, Northwest Indiana - "Medical Mission Trips to Ukraine";
Andrij Melnyk, M.D., pediatrician and geneticist, Chicago - "Forensic Genetics, the Science of Human Identification and Genetic Profiling by DNA Analysis: The Romanov Family, O. J. Simpson, Heorhii Gongadze";
Victor Wowk, M.D., orthopedic surgeon, Washington, D.C. - "Winter Sports Injuries";
George Kucyj, M.D., pathologist, Detroit - "Breast Pathology for the Non-Pathologist";
Roman Saldan, M.D., anesthesiologist, Crystal Lake, Ill. - "Awareness During Anesthesia"; and
Roman Dykun, M.D., otorhinolaryngologist, McHenry, Ill. - "Hearing Loss."

Club Med - Crested Butte is America's only totally all-inclusive family ski vacation with world-class skiing. It is a large and modern resort at the base of Crested Butte Mountain with ski-in/ski-out facilities, located in south-central Colorado just north of Gunnison.

Conference attendees and families enjoyed a full week of lift tickets, ski or snowboarding lessons for all - from beginners to experts, all gourmet meals and beverages served in a large buffet style, deluxe lodging and accommodations, and a full schedule of extracurricular activities for adults and kids, such as NASTAR-style ski races, mountain barbecues and evening in-house entertainment.

The daytime weather was postcard perfect, with many days of cloudless skiing, warm temperatures (upper 40s) and cool evenings with many nights of snowfall. Families with children utilized the Club Med Kids' Club for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. ski lessons and/or baby sitting/supervision. Evenings were filled with camraderie and entertainment including: cabarets, musicals, karaoke and various talent shows.

The organizers and the UMANA - Illinois chapter have vowed to continue this tradition, and to hold another scientific meeting next spring, on Saturday, March 25 - Sunday, April 2, 2007. For more details contact: George G. Kuritza, M.D., via e-mail, GGKuritza@AOL.com.

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