Dear Colleagues and Friends,
The 11th Interventional Pain Conference is promising to be the best so far. Budapest has become one of the sites where continuity of pain education has been made possible by the friendly atmosphere, the light-hearted classically surroundings, good music, good food and wonderful friendships. Grateful patients and grateful participants can measure the impact. Whatever you knew prior to the conference, you will know more after the conference because the intent is to teach and to learn for better patient care.
The program invites experienced, high-quality practitioners, knowledgeable professors that present based on evidence as well as clinical experience. Academic and practical experience opportunities are available to the participants for the 11th year in a row.
For the eighth FIPP (Fellow in Interventional Pain Practice) Examination, there is an introductory Review Course that is helpful. The written examination is in full depth but fair. The practical examination is in front of recognized experts who are the examiners, and every single one of them has gone though the examination process. The FIPP exam tests for patient safety, breadth of knowledge and provides an opportunity to document the candidates’ skills. The oral examination is widely appreciated by the participants and is described as in depth and fair. In 2006 we shall exceed 300 who will have passed the FIPP and will be able to proudly wear the distinctive “Scottie dog” scarf or tie. Nobody else in the world will be able to do that. They also will have completed Part II toward ABIPP certification for USA physicians.
We too realize that knowledge is important but also important is the ability to show continuing medical education credit; thus, we are pleased that CME credits will be available for those who need CME credits in Europe. Efforts are under way toward AMA recognition in the USA. To organize a conference of such breadth and scope is expensive. Educational grants of our sponsors offset a large portion of the expenses. We are grateful to our tentative sponsors and hopefully other x-ray provider-sponsors. We always appreciate and acknowledge the support publicly for all to see that we are all involved in improving patient care. Please help us to make this conference successful, and keep up with the new information, and if you are not a FIPP graduate, I am looking forward for you to sign up as soon as you are qualified and prepared.
With warmest personal regards to all of you,
Gabor Racz, M.D., FIPP
President World Institute of Pain
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