2010 POGO Pre-Symposium Seminar
CANCER & GENETICS
Impacts on Family and Health Care Practitioners
November 18, 2010
In the last decade, identification of genetic predisposition to cancer in the childhood age range has become standard clinical practice. POGO is offering this pre-symposium seminar as an opportunity for understanding of the scope and dimensions of psycho-social and ethical issues that affect the parents, families and extended families. The seminar will afford the practitioner an opportunity to learn about the recent advances and increase their understanding
of the impacts of genetic testing. It will offer the opportunity to
consider / define the complementary roles of different disciplines
and an overarching strategy for dealing with these complex issues
is needed.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND?
Allied health and medical practitioners on the team - counselors, ethicists, investigators, physicians, nurses, psychologists, social workers, child life, pharmacists, and students of cancer genetics, psychology, social work, ethics, law fellows and residents.
ACCREDITATION
Application for accreditation currently in progress with University of Toronto. Approval pending.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS SEMINAR
1. Equip professionals with tools for understanding and discussing this new area of science
2. Draw allied health and medical members of the team into an informed collaboration about a new frontier of practice
3. Introduce delegates to psycho-social research related to cancer genetics
4. Expose caregivers to seasoned experts in the field;
5. Promote knowledge exchange with focus on psycho-social strategies for helping patients and families cope
THE HALF-DAY EVENT WILL FOCUS ON:
1. Development of knowledge
2. Identification and integration of resources
3. Advancing understanding of complementary roles of the disciplinary members of the pediatric oncology team
"The image of genetics and psychology as "worlds in collision" must give way to a collaborative spirit of "worlds in collusion". Foreward by Francis S. Collins, 2005. Genetic Testing for Cancer: Psychological Approaches for Helping Patients and Families.
