GOALS
The goal of the Annual Meeting of the CMSC is to provide MS healthcare professionals with the most up-to-date information impacting patient care in the areas of:

• Research
• Disease modification
• Epidemiology
• Symptomatic management
• Pathophysiology
• Neuroimaging
• Quality of life
• Rehabilitation
• Psychosocial support
• MS collaborative care
• Gender specific issues
• New and emerging therapies
• Biomarkers

HIGHLIGHTS

• Basic research and clinical trials
• Clinical care
• Case-based learning
• Team building
• Mentorships
• Collaborative international approaches to managing MS
• Gender issues in multiple sclerosis
• Technological advances in clinical care and research
• Networking opportunities
• Committee meetings
• Exhibits with the latest in services and products
• Roundtables
• Social events
• Awards and prizes
• Special events

TARGET AUDIENCE
Healthcare professionals and researchers involved in MS clinical care or research.

TRACK OBJECTIVES (LEARNING OBJECTIVES)
Basic Science/Environmental Factors

• Identify key concepts of the immunologic and neuropathologic disease processes associated with multiple sclerosis.
• Recognize that the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis is affected by gender, ethnocultural origin, and environmental factors and tailor diagnosis and management appropriately.

Cognition, Depression, Psychosocial

• Appropriately utilize tools and strategies that facilitate patient assessment in order to differentiate between cognitive problems, depression, and related psychosocial issues.
• Incorporate information obtained through this assessment process into therapeutic plans of care for each area of concern.

Comprehensive Care

• Examine the various models of care in multiple sclerosis along with the roles and responsibilities of the team members in order to adapt the most appropriate model for a given practice setting.
• Integrate the complex structures that support the provision of comprehensive care in MS (i.e. transmural, principal care, rehabilitative care, etc.) into effective centers providing evidence-based care.

Disease Management

• Analyze the complex mechanisms underlying the pathophysiology of multiple sclerosis in order to more appropriately initiate and sustain evidence-based therapeutic interventions.
• Critically evaluate disease monitoring measures in order to facilitate effective therapeutic decision-making and outcome assessment.

Nursing

• Analyze and integrate the conceptual framework under which MS nurses construct individualized interventions and monitor outcomes in multiple sclerosis.
• Examine specific nursing skills and incorporate them into individualized care of patients and families affected by multiple sclerosis.

Rehabilitation

• Differentiate the roles and responsibilities of each member of the rehabilitation team and describe the interplay between each professional service.
• Identify MS-specific screening techniques that facilitate individualized and targeted rehabilitation services.

Symptomatic Management

• Analyze common symptoms of multiple sclerosis and their appropriate pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic interventions in order to develop strategies designed to produce disease control and maximal function.
• Identify assessment techniques that differentiate between acute and chronic MS symptoms along with appropriate techniques to identify those factors that affect the manifestation of the complex symptomatology of MS.