Print  Email    
From the Chairman
Gorelick
Dear Colleague:

We are well into our planning for the International Stroke Conference, to be held Feb. 20-22, 2008, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, La. On behalf of the American Stroke Association, a division of the American Heart Association, and the Stroke Council Program Committee, we welcome you to join us. The conference highlights our multi-year goal to reduce death and disability from stroke by 25 percent by the year 2010. The scientific and clinical content presented at this conference provides the basis for the American Stroke Association’s ongoing professional education programs. The program emphasizes basic, clinical and translational sciences as they evolve toward a more complete understanding of stroke pathophysiology with the overall goal of developing more effective prevention and treatment.

The International Stroke Conference provides unique opportunities to meet with colleagues from around the world with wide-ranging research interests and expertise in stroke prevention, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation. Last year’s professional attendance increased by 28 percent from 2006. This year, we anticipate more than 4,350 professional attendees, as well as exhibitors displaying new stroke products and services.

The program offers a pre-conference nursing symposium, oral presentations and posters, as well as special lectures on recent advances and state-of-the-art technologies. Once again, the AANS/CNS Cerebrovascular Section and the American Society of Interventional and Therapeutic Neuroradiology (ASITN) have integrated their annual conference into ours. They have designed innovative, exciting sessions tailored to neurosurgeons, interventional neuroradiologists and endovascular specialists.

For the seventh year, the Council on Cardiovascular Nursing has planned another extraordinary pre-conference symposium. The State-of-the-Art Stroke Nursing Symposium will be held Feb. 19, 2008, at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, La. Last year, attendance grew by almost 10 percent and we anticipate over 850 attendees from around the nation once again. This year, the program will include topics in development of acute stroke programs, nursing care in the acute phase of ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, primary and secondary stroke prevention and stroke recovery, rehabilitation and community integration.

The International Stroke Conference will feature special symposia on numerous topics including stroke in sickle cell disease; modern management of carotid atherosclerotic disease; ischemic penumbra; risks, management and prevention of stroke during pregnancy; rehabilitation intervention effectiveness; legal issues in cerebrovascular disease; molecular biology and genetics of brain aneurysms and AVM; clinical approaches to brain repair after stroke; how to make stroke models better; replacement of lost CNS function; giant intracranial aneurysm; and other enlightening symposia.

On Wednesday and Thursday, the Program Committee has planned plenary sessions titled “Blood to save brain: Endothelial precursors, stem cells and angiogenesis for brain repair” and “Cerebral hemorrhage: An overview.” In addition, the plenary sessions will highlight the Willis and Feinberg Award winners for 2008.

This year, not only will you have the opportunity to experience exceptional education and cutting-edge technology, you can see how the New Orleans you love is back and ready to greet the International Stroke Conference with its world-renowned southern hospitality. We are excited to return to New Orleans and show our support for this great city. The Ernest N. Morial Convention Center has undergone major renovations and is better than ever. See the beautiful sites and taste the wonderful food for which New Orleans is famous. The city is ready for us!

Join us in New Orleans for the International Stroke Conference 2008.  For the most current conference information, please visit the Web site at strokeconference.org.

Sincerely,

Philip Gorelick, M.D., FAHA, M.P.H., FACP
Chair, Stroke Council Program Committee