Ten Topics in Rheumatology : Background
Summary
In 1985, an innovative 2-day postgraduate rheumatology course was started by the Lupus Unit at St Thomas’ Hospital under the leadership of Professor Graham Hughes.
The aims of the course were threefold: firstly, to aim high and to bring in the best and most authoritative speakers in their field. Secondly, to concentrate on new advances, especially in lupus and the connective tissue diseases, which at that time were poorly represented in most European meetings. And thirdly, to keep the audience ‘on their toes’ with alternating “Hot Topics”, short clinical vignettes and more “basic” updates.
To these three aims we added a fourth: to keep the cost of the 2-day meeting minimal – especially to trainees. We have kept to that goal – so much so that even in 2007, the cost to trainees is a mere £40 and to more senior rheumatologists and physicians £140.
The popularity of Ten Topics has grown and grown. The size of the facilities at St Thomas’ Hospital limits the attendance to 150 (on a ‘first come’ basis). However, such has been the interest from abroad that satellite “Ten Topics” meetings are now held in Barcelona and Rome, with Buenos Aires starting a programme in the autumn of 2007.
Innovations
Popular innovations have included “Nightmare on Lambeth Palace Road”, a presentation of a number of “impossibly difficult” cases, and “Masterclass” with presentations by leaders in their fields.
More recently, the course has always included at least one “general interest” lecture – this year our Guest Lecturer is Lord Jeffrey Archer, the famous author.
Speakers
In addition to the Lupus Team at St Thomas’, speakers include 10 or 12 National Speakers and 3 or 4 International Speakers from USA and mainland Europe. While most of our Speakers come from the world of Rheumatology, we also include experts from other fields.
Cost of subsidised Fellowships
One of our major aims has been to keep costs down. This year (2007), he registration cost has once again been pegged at £140. Thanks to our sponsors, we are again able to offer 60 subsidised places to UK Rheumatology Trainees at £40 on a “first come” basis. The course is eligible for CME accreditation.
Barcelona, Rome, Argentina….
For the past 10 years a parallel Ten Topics in Rheumatology has been held in Barcelona. The idea, the brainchild of Dr Martin Ballarin of Laboratorios Menarini was to follow-up the London meeting inviting some of the Speakers of the London meeting with a predominantly Spanish faculty. The Barcelona “Ten Topics” has also become extremely popular, attracting over 800 registrants each year.
The word is spreading, and, for the past 3 years “Ten Topics” has also been held in Rome, organised by Professor Guido Valesini, again in collaboration with St Thomas’ Hospital.
This year, there are plans for an autumn “Ten Topics” in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Future Plans
Such has been the success of “Ten Topics” that we wish to keep the formula reasonably constant. Despite the size limits of St Thomas’ Hospital, we have resisted the temptation to move to outside, larger (and more impressive) congress centres. In fact, St Thomas’ has proved to be hugely popular.
We believe that this formula could possibly be taken up by more countries in the Middle and Far East, for example. The formula could also be applied to other mainstream medical, surgical and obstetric specialties and this is our aim for the future.
How to apply
Please download the relevant application form and return it, with the appropriate cheque, to Sandy Hampson, Lupus Unit, The Rayne Institute, St Thomas’ Hospital, London SE1 7EH