Congress of European Hematologists: Ensuring Long Term Standards and representing European Hematology
The European Hematology Association (EHA) as it gathers for its annual conference in Copenhagen is keen to emphasize the importance it attaches to continuous education of practitioners in the field. The new special fellowship program it has inaugurated to help young hematologists in east Europe profit from working at west European institutions is the latest example of that goal. It is also a facet of the EHA Curriculum Passport, which offers hematologists certification of their individual competences. The EHA is also pleased to announce that this year’s conference offers VODcasting (video-on-demand) of sessions, a tool which has already proved its value.
On the European level EHA is focused on emphasizing the approach of patient care in hematology from an integrated view point. Therefore the relations with the EU will be intensified. Issues in need of attention are the funding of research and regulatory affairs.
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Copenhagen, June 13, 2008 – “No profession is under so profound an obligation to ensure further education of its practitioners as is the medical profession”, says EHA president Prof. Willem Fibbe (Leiden, The Netherlands), “Knowledge saves lives”. The enormous increase in the volume, scope and complexity of hematology as a discipline and in medical science in general has added urgency to the need to ensure efficient, top quality Continuing Medical Education (CME) is available to hematologists. The EHA, along with other European and national organizations of hematology, has founded the EHA-CME Unit to meet this need. The Unit offers accreditation of CME activities adhering to its high standards and peer-review. Professor Fibbe says the EHA is pleased to announce that its 13th Annual Congress has met these criteria and has been awarded EHA-CME accreditation. |
Prof. Wilhelm Fibbe |
Good Governance
EHA puts the emphasis on Good Governance. “EHA, like other organizations, needs to formalize a structure of good governance, in particular but not executively, regarding its relation with the pharmaceutical industries”, says Professor Fibbe, EHA has a long standing and good relation with the pharmaceutical industry and this relation will remain crucial for the core activities of EHA. “Increased transparency, openness and firm adherence to ethical standard are mandatory to maintain public trust.’ Therefore in January 2008 the EHA Board established the EHA Governance Committee. This committees advises the EHA Board on policy regarding Good Governance.
This year’s policy forum in Copenhagen titled ‘Relation between academia and pharma: public trust at stake?’ will also focus on Good Governance.
Records of achievement
Practitioners of hematology undergoing further education are encouraged by the EHA to take part in its Curriculum program. The Program offers a “passport”, developed by EHA in cooperation with national hematology societies, in which educational achievements of each individual practitioner may be recorded in detail. “Beyond the value of an individual record, the EHA Curriculum is also intended to promote harmonization across the field”, says Professor Fibbe. “That will also improve mobility for hematologists within the EU area.” The newly inaugurated EHA Partner Fellowship Program, offering young medical graduates in hematology from east Europe funding for up to three years to pursue approved projects at west European institutions, is an excellent example of both the drive to ensure further education and the priority given to creating European-wide standards in hematology. “These programs contribute to the status of all European hematologists taking part”, says professor Fibbe.
Getting the full value
Webcasting or Vodcasts are available at the Copenhagen Congress. They are accessible to EHA members and individuals attending the Congress via the EHA website. “This service was offered for the first time at the 12th Congress in Vienna last year and was greatly appreciated by members and congress participants”, says Professor Fibbe. The value of this tool can be easily read from the fact that there were over 1,300 downloads after the Congress as well.
“Vodcasting is rapidly becoming a significant educational tool”, says Professor Fibbe. It provides congress participants and EHA members with the option to listen to and watch sessions presented at the congress, at a time and place of their choosing.” Sessions may be accessed while travelling and can be reviewed on multiple occasions. All congress participants and EHA members will receive a personal login and password to view the vodcasted sessions. The vodcasts will be available from www.ehaweb.org for two years following the close of the meeting.
Contact
B&K Medien- und Kommunikationsberatung GmbH
Dr. Birgit Kofler; Daniela Pedross, MA.
Porzellangasse 35/Top 3, A-1090 Vienna
Press Office: Phone during the Congress: 0045-32 47 21 03
Phone after the Congress: 0043-1-319 43 78-11
E-Mail: kofler@bkkommunikation.com , pedross@bkkommunikation.com
About EHA
The European Hematology Association (EHA) aims to promote excellence in clinical practice, research and education in European hematology.
Today, EHA – with over 2700 active members from 95 countries – directs a large and growing number of projects and programs. An Executive Board and Councilors elected by the membership form the governmental body responsible for the strategy and organization of the Association.
About the EHA Annual Congress
The EHA annual congress is held every June in a major European city. Over the years the congress has become the meeting place for hematologists in all fields of the specialty. The congress program has sessions on clinical and laboratory hematology and covers all the major hematological subspecialties, including hemato-oncology, red cell disorders, hemostasis, thrombosis, pediatric hematology and transfusion medicine.
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Last updated on Friday 13 June 2008.