Gastroenterology may have been in the limelight in Dunedin
for all the "wrong reasons", but a meeting in the city should
remedy that, gastroenterologist Dr Michael Schultz says.
Dr Schultz, a senior lecturer at the University of Otago's
Dunedin school of medicine, is convening the annual
scientific meeting of the New Zealand Society of
Gastroenterology and the New Zealand Nurses Organisation
(gastroenterology section) at the university from November 23
to 25.
It was a brilliant opportunity to "showcase the scientific
spirit of Dunedin", reflected in the exciting centre of
excellence for gastrointestinal diseases being developed by
the university and the Southern District Health Board, he
said.
The board has been criticised over access to publicly-funded
colonoscopies and Dr Schultz said it would be a chance to
show the city was "not just famous for not providing enough
colonoscopies".
The conference, expected to attract 300 participants, will
begin with a public lecture by Prof Grant Montgomery, of
Sydney, on the genetic background of complex and common
diseases. Other speakers are coming from Germany, the US,
Denmark and Australia.
Colonoscopies will not escape mention, with one of the
sessions addressing the issue of measuring colonoscopy skills
and an afternoon session dealing with aspects of colorectal
cancer screening.
A 5km "Great Guts" charity fun run/walk, raising money for
the Otago chapter of the Chron's and Colitis Foundation, will
be held during the conference on November 24.
- elspeth.mclean@odt.co.nz
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