The Third Educational Seminar for Myeloma Patients, their Family Members and Friends was successfully held on 7th and 8th September 2007 in Lednice. The seminar was organised by the Czech Myeloma Group Endowment Fund (CMG) together with the Multiple Myeloma Patient Support Group and The International Myeloma Foundation. As well, companies Novartis and Lipomed kindly helped to carry out the event providing financial support.
The participants consisted of 62 patients and 55 family members and friends. The majority of the participants, accounting for 85%, accepted the accommodation at the location of the Seminar (My hotel, Pension Jordán) and could meet up for a friendly eve-of-seminar dinner party in an informal setting that combined pleasing ambience with cimbalom music.
On Saturday 7th at 8:30 a.m., the specialised part of the Seminar program was launched with introduction of the realization team and with presentation of the Czech Myeloma Group Endowment Fund delivered by the chairman of the board of directors Prof.. Roman Hájek, M.D, Ph.D. Presentation on newly formed Myeloma Patient Support Group, its partners and activities in 2007 ensued. The subsequent part of the program was devoted to educational lectures and to several talks sharing the same theme: Update on the Treatment of Multiple Myeloma given by the prominent myeloma specialists in the Czech Republic.
This year, we had the honor to receive guests from abroad. Mr. Greg Brozeit, Director IMF Europe, and Robert Schäfer, Myeloma Euronet Board Member and Secretary, accepted our invitation and attended the event. As well, we had the pleasure of meeting the delegate of Slovak Patient Support Group, Mr. Miroslav Hrianka, and Mrs. Denisa Ševčíková representing the Coalition for Health.
In the afternoon part of the program, the attendees divided into three groups according to the discussion themes they were interested in. The theme of Clinician Patient Communication and Conveying Medical Information was discussed within one group consisting of two clinicians and several patients and aroused unexpected interest. The discussion reached beyond facts and engaged the participants on an emotional level setting a reflective tone for the workshop.
The Saturday afternoon discussions developed into lively and constructive platform, questions were numerous and participants found the time too short to explore all the issues raised.
The Seminar was closed at 4:30 p.m. After the participants said their farewells, they got on the bus that was prepared for them in front of the hotel and set out on a journey (for most of them long) home.
We noted a strong interest in attending the event and we do regret that, owing to the limited capacity of the lecture hall and accommodation possibilities, we could not replay positively to all the requests for participation in our Seminar. According to the evaluation questionnaire, 100% of the participants would appreciate to attend next seminar and would be glad to see the program extended which represents a challenge for organizers. The Fourth Seminar will be organised with reference to this fact. The organisation of the next seminar will take into consideration the observations and comments provided by attendees. We are grateful for their feedback information.
The Czech Myeloma Group Endowment Fund would like to thank all the patients, their friends and family members for their attendance as well as all the speakers, discussion participants and the helpful staff of My hotel in Lednice.
The Fourth Educational Seminar for Myeloma Patients, their Family Members and Friends is scheduled for September 2008 and is supposed to take place in Poděbrady.
We are looking forward to the next Seminar.
