Kiel, Germany, July 12-17, 2009

The "Baltic Sea Summer Schools on Epilepsy" (BSSSE) are taking place once a year since 2007 in different countries around the Baltic Sea. They are clinically oriented  and focused on comprehensive aspects of diagnosis and treatment of epilepsy. The open and informal atmosphere of the BSSSE allows easy communication between faculty and trainees. Lithuania has hosted the first BSSSE in the tranquil resort town of Druskininkai. The second one was organized in Tune, close to Copenhagen, in collaboration with the Danish Epilepsy Society. The third one will be be held in Kiel, with the German Society for Epileptology as hosts.

Target audience: The BSSSE are primarily addressed to medical postgraduates and junior researchers (age up to 40 years) from the countries bordering the Baltic Sea with a special clinical or scientific interest in epilepsy. Candidates from other countries are accepted to the entent that places are available. Exceptionally, other professionals working in the field of epilepsy are welcome to apply. Attendance is restricted to 40 students, in line with the interactive spirit of the Summer Schools.

Program

The 3rd BSSSE will again have a faculty of prominent epileptologists from the countries around the Baltic Sea.

Preliminary topics: Inflammation in epilepsy (in etiopathogenesis and in infectious diseases), advances in research on epilepsy and cognition/personality, neuronal networks in epilepsy (basic insights, measurement in the patient), epilepsy in the multi-handicapped (genetics, treatment modalities, how to deal with).

The didactic format promotes the combination of lectures and interactive group work. Case oriented learning is emphasized. Didactic cases provided by tutors and case reports or research presentations prepared by participants will be discussed in small groups.

Learning objectives

The course, on completion, will have provided an update on important clinical aspects of epilepsy. It will enable the participants to critically evaluate information and expert opinion on the main topics of clinical epileptology. They will improve their competence and gain practical skills in the diagnostic work-up and decision-making concerning the management of different aspects of pediatric and adult epileptology including diagnostic approaches (especially regarding the EEG and neuroimaging) and pharmacotherapy. The didactic cases provided by tutors in case-oriented learning will address realistic clinical problems in daily practice. By their own case or scientific presentations, the participants will improve their competence and confidence in lecturing and teaching.

The course, on completion, will enable participants to:

• understand, diagnose and make the right choice of treatment in epilepsy patients with personal, cognitive and mood disturbances
• improve their knowledge about the role of inflammation in epilepsy
• identify acute and remote AEDs adverse events and make the right correction in treatment
• improve their skills in EEG, recognize ictal EEG phenomena
• understand what contribution can be expected from development of brain function analysis
• improve their skills in genetic syndromes with reference to phenotypes and EEG changes
• identify trigger mechanisms of acute symptomatic seizures
• improve their skills in clinical diagnostic of focal epilepsies
• fully understand the significance of the idiopathic generalized epilepsies.

The didactic methods are elaborated in cooperation with EUREPA.

The BSSSE will be given in English.

The 3rd BSSSE will take place in Kiel, Germany, from July 12 to 17, 2009.

 

Organizers:	ILAE Commission on European Affairs / European Advisory Council, European Epilepsy Academy (EUREPA)
Local organizers:	German Society for Epileptology
Organizing Committee:	Peter Wolf, Ulrich Stephani, Svein Johannessen
Programm Committee:	Peter Wolf, Ulrich Stephani, Ruta Mameniskiene
Duration:	The 3rd BSSSE is planned for 4,5 working days (Monday - Friday morning), followed by 1/2 day of optional sightseeing. Arrival on Sunday, July 12, departure from Kiel on Friday noon, July 17, optional afternoon trip to Hamburg.
Location:	The venue will be the Sparkassenakademie in the coastal city of Kiel, Germany. Accommodation for tutors and participants and well-equipped rooms for the whole-day work will be available. Please see this download for information on how to get to Kiel from Hamburg airport.
Bursaries:	A number of bursaries will be available from different sources, including the ILAE Commission on European Affairs*, UCB Nordic, the Peter & Jytte Wolf Foundation, and the Danish, German and Norwegian ILAE chapters. Applicants are encouraged to apply. The bursaries regularly cover the registration fee and do not include travel expenses. * Kindly note that the ILAE/CEA give only one bursary per person per year. Please also contact your national ILAE chapter for further information and local bursary possibilities.
Registration fee:	800 EUR The fee includes accommodation (in twin room), full board, and access to all educational activities (lectures, tutorials, case discussions, video-sessions) including handouts. Some single room accomodations are available on advance request for an additional charge to be paid by the participant, which is not covered by the bursaries.

Application

Each candidate for the 3rd BSSSE is required to submit:

1. Application form (need for bursary can be indicated on it. Age limit for application and for bursaries is 40 years)
2. A case report from student's clinical practice with patients with epilepsy / or a report on personal scientific research
3. Curriculum vitae (CV) on 2 pages max. and list of publications
4. Letter of intent
5. Recommendations : reference letter from the ILAE Chapter or the Head of the Department, statement of current activities etc.

Applications to the 3rd BSSSE should be submitted before the deadline of May 31, 2009.

A video case report is not mandatory but it is welcome and encouraged to submit.

Case reports provided by students are expected to be:

• specific and with some difficulties / problems in clinical semiology, diagnostics, classification and therapeutic strategy and possibly showing some unusual clinical features
• it is recommended that case report includes questions addressed to audience for the discussion, and concluding student's answers, explanations and ideas to be presented after comments of a group

Reports on personal scientific results may be provided instead of case reports.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CASE REPORT SUBMISSION

The report should be prepared as Power Point presentation, in English. The first slide: title, applicant's name, the institution, city and country Use 12-15 slides at maximum Adapt font size and number of lines to easy reading from the audience. Standard abbreviations may be used. The case presentation should be informative, containing: introduction case report conclusion Drug Products should be identified by their non-proprietary names only Video-sequence(s) EEG fragments, neuroimaging scans etc, if available should be included in the presentation The reports on personal scientific research should include: introduction aims methods results discussion conclusions Authors are responsible for the linguistic accuracy and ethical standards All presentations will be reviewed by the Organizing Committee CD with case reports prepared as PPT presentation, or adapted in a PDF format should be sent by post-mail to Ruta Mameniskiene as soon as possible.

Certification:

Participants who successfully take part in the program will receive a CERTIFICATE. The BSSSE is accredited by EUREPA and integrated in the European Certification in Epileptology.

A detailed educational programme will soon be available.

Please follow the website for updates.

Information available: http://www.epilepsy-academy.org (EUREPA) ; http:// www.ilae.org (ILAE) Petra Novotny, EUREPA, petra@epilepsy-academy.org, Ruta Mameniskiene, ruta.mameniskiene@yahoo.com, or contact your national ILAE chapter (see www.ilae.org for addresses) Important dates and addresses 3rd Baltic Sea Summer School on Epilepsy, July 12-17, 2009, Kiel, Germany Application deadline: May 31, 2009. Priority deadline for applications from the countries bordering the Baltic Sea is March 31, 2009. Please also contact your national ILAE chapter for further information and local bursary possibilities. Applicants will be informed of the outcome of their application as soon as possible. The online application form is mandatory, it has to be filled in and sent online. All attachments required for the application (CV, list of publications, letter of intent, reference letter) should be sent by e-mail to Petra Novotny, Eurepa, petra@epilepsy-academy.org. Case reports prepared as PPT presentation, or adapted in a PDF format, or as an archive file, must be sent by email (or on CD by postal mail) to Ruta Mameniskiene, ruta.mameniskiene@yahoo.com, Dept. of Neurology, Vilnius University Hospital Santariskiu Clinics, Santariskiu 2, Vilnius, LT - 08661 Lithuania. The registration fee should only be paid after the participant receives an approval letter from the Organizing Committee.  Payment of the registration fee is desirable until June 15, 2009.

» Use application form

» Download information on how to get from Hamburg airport to the venue in Kiel (PDF file)

» Download announcement of the BSSSE 3 ( MS Word document)

» See powerpoint presentation on BSSSE 1 and BSSSE 2  (as PDF file, 380kB)

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