OLD LYME, CT — OCTOBER 30, 2013 — The France Foundation and the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) have launched an educational program for pathologists on myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), supported by an educational grant from Celgene. MDS is a rare blood disorder that is difficult to diagnose, frequently misdiagnosed, and transforms into acute myelogenous leukemia in about one-third of patients.
A three-hour session at ASCP’s 2013 Annual Meeting held on September 20 in Chicago, Ill., was attended by nearly 150 learners, with an additional 70 participants worldwide who participated via a simulcast of the session online. This session brought together a multidisciplinary team of renowned faculty representing oncologists, hematopathologists, flow cytometrists, cytogeneticists, and molecular geneticists to probe the latest science, discuss best practices and the complexities of diagnosing and treating MDS, and examine emerging technologies to treat this often deadly disease.
The session was designed to provide an interactive dialogue between the pathologists and other clinicians who discuss the clinical approach, diagnosis, classification, and clinical care of patients with MDS, including addressing common barriers and communication issues.
Other components of this MDS initiative include:
- An on-demand version of the three-hour live session
- Four (4) online, multimedia, interactive MDS clinical case studies
- A performance support page directing learners to additional resources, including images, references, and resource links to current guidelines
- CHECKPATH®, ASCP’s longstanding and respected assessment program that is also a product approved for the American Board of Pathology Maintenance of Certification Part II and IV requirements. The module includes 10 separate MDS-diagnostic cases.
For more information, visit: http://www.mdslearning.com/
About The France Foundation
Since its inception in 1999, The France Foundation has been at the forefront of planning, developing, and implementing multidisciplinary accredited medical education. The France Foundation specializes in curriculum-based education and in educational collaborations that improve providers’ knowledge, competence, and practical performance to ultimately improve the care practices provide. The France Foundation is accredited with commendation by the ACCME (Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education) and by the ACPE (Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education) to provide CME credit for physicians and pharmacists respectively.
About the American Society for Microbiology
ASCP is the world’s largest professional membership organization for pathologists and laboratory professionals. Our mission is to provide excellence in education, certification, and advocacy on behalf of patients, pathologists, and laboratory professionals across the globe. With more than 100,000 members, the Society’s influence has guided the application and evolution of the pathology and laboratory medicine specialty since 1922.
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