Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation Unveils Keynote Speakers for PFF Summit 2017 in Nashville
The Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) has announced its keynote speakers for the upcoming PFF Summit 2017, a biennial meeting set for Nov. 9-11 in Nashville, Tennessee.
During the event, physicians and researchers will present their most current work on pulmonary fibrosis (PF), stem cell therapies, medical tourism and advances in imaging. The summit will also feature specialized sessions for newly diagnosed patients and their families, long-time PF patients, those who have lost a loved one to the disease, and lung transplant recipients.
“The PFF Summit is patient-centric and presenters will address the individuality of pulmonary fibrosis and its progression,” Bill Schmidt, the organization’s president and CEO, said in a press release. “We will announce clinical trials in the pipeline for pulmonary fibrosis and potential therapies moving forward.”
Dr. James Kiley of the National Health, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) will present the opening keynote address, “NHLBI Support for Personalized Therapy in Lung Disease.” Kiley’s presentation will kick off a plenary session on genetics and personalized medicine in PF, followed by a panel discussion consisting of physicians and patients with familial IPF.
Dr. Gordon Bernard, executive vice-president for research at Nashville’s Vanderbilt Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, will deliver the final keynote address. His presentation, “Re-thinking Clinical Trials in IPF,” will discuss how to maximize available therapies in IPF.
This year’s special celebrity appearances include former New York Yankee Bernie Williams, a long-time partner of the PFF and four-time World Series champion. Williams will present a special performance in honor of his father, who died of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) — a form of PF that has no known cause.
Also, to honor Nashville’s country music tradition, singer-songwriter Billy Kirsch will lead patients and caregivers in writing a song about PF. Kirsch will perform the song himself at a networking dinner during the summit, accompanied by Victoria Banks and Rusty Tabor.
As in previous years, the PFF Summit will offer a three-day continuing medical education (CME) and continuing education (CE) program accredited by PFF, and a Postgraduate Institute for Medicine/Global Academy for Medical Education collaboration.
The CME/CE special sessions target physicians, researchers, registered nurses, respiratory therapists, pharmacists and health professionals in the field. Focusing on PF, these specific sessions will address genetics, environmental influences, advances in diagnosis and development of new therapeutics.
Pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable disease, affects about 200,000 Americans and kills more than 40,000 people annually.
