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ForwardAmyloidosis: No Longer a Rare Disease
Amyloidosis is a rare, debilitating and often fatal set of diseases. Early recognition is vital for therapy to have a meaningful effect on survival and patient quality of life. In this online course, amyloidosis expert Morie A. Gertz, M.D., discusses the critical need for earlier diagnosis in as well as the merits of conventional and high-dose therapy for disease management.
This course is part of the Lawrence Blacher, M.D., Memorial Lecture.
About Dr. Lawrence Blacher
Dr. Lawrence Blacher was a pillar of the South Florida medical community. In practice for more than 40 years, he was instrumental in the founding and growth of Baptist Health Miami Cardiac & Vascular Institute and one of the original members of HeartWell, the Institute’s cardiology group. He was a strong advocate for the collaborative approach to medicine, contributing his expertise, guidance and wisdom.
A second-generation physician, Dr. Blacher took a personal approach to medicine and devoted his time and energy to listen and connect with his patients. He was a kind soul whose actions remind us that compassion and empathy are at the heart of medicine.
In late 2022, Dr. Blacher found himself on the other side of the doctor-patient relationship when he was diagnosed with AL amyloidosis, a rare disease presenting a constellation of symptoms that complicated his diagnosis and treatment. During his courageous final days, Dr. Blacher’s only wish was to increase awareness within the medical community about this cruel disease.
This program is a manifestation of his final wish. Today, we honor his memory and pay tribute to Dr. Blacher’s commitment to lifelong learning and to improving the outcomes for those with AL amyloidosis.
Target Audience
Cardiologists, interventional cardiologists, cardiothoracic surgeons, vascular surgeons, interventional radiologists, echocardiographers, pulmonologists, hematologists, general internists, primary care physicians, intensivists, emergency medicine physicians, hospitalists, nurses, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, and other interested healthcare providers.
Learning Objectives
- Recognize clinical situations in which Amyloid Light-chain (AL) amyloidosis should be seriously considered as a differential diagnosis.
- Weigh the merits of conventional and high-dose therapy as management for AL amyloidosis.
- Apply evidence-based recommendations that allow for earlier diagnosis of this rare set of diseases and enable accurate staging and counseling about prognosis.
Morie A. Gertz, M.D., MACP
Chair Emeritus, Division of Hematology
Roland Seidler Jr. Professor of the Art of Medicine
Chair Emeritus of the Department of Medicine
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Mayo Distinguished Clinician
Rochester, Minnesota
Morie A. Gertz, M.D., faculty for this educational activity, receives research support from Pfizer, Alnylam, Eidos and Prothena, is a consultant for Pfizer, Alnylam, Eidos, Prothena, Ionis, Ackea and GSK, and is on the speakers’ bureau for Celgene, Proteo Tech, Inc., Sanofi-Aventis, Sofinnova Ventures, Inc., Novartis, Ionis, Prothena and Johnson & Johnson, and has indicated that the presentation or discussion will not include off-label or unapproved product usage. All of the relevant financial relationships listed for this individual have been mitigated.
Eli M. Friedman, M.D., conference director for this educational activity, has no relevant financial relationships with ineligible companies* to disclose.
Brian Schiro, M.D., director of this educational activity, is a consultant for Phillips and a member of the speakers’ bureau for Medtronic, Phillips, Penumbra, Cook and Sirtex.
Non-faculty contributors and others involved in the planning, development and editing/review of the content have no relevant financial relationships to disclose with ineligible companies*.
*Ineligible companies – Companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.
Baptist Health South Florida is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Baptist Health has been re-surveyed by the ACCME and awarded Commendation for 6 years as a provider of CME for physicians.
Baptist Health South Florida designates this enduring material for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
American Board of Surgery - Accredited CME - General Surgery
Successful completion of this CME activity enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME requirements of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.
Your participation information will be shared with specialty boards through the ACCME's PARS reporting system. Successful completion of a course examination is required. Submissions are recorded in approximately 48 hours. You will receive an email when your credits have been processed.
Available Credit
- 1.00 ABS MOC II
- 1.00 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
- 1.00 General certificate of attendance
- 1.00 Nurse Practitioners
- 1.00 Florida Board of Nursing
- 1.00 Florida Board of Pharmacy
- 1.00 Florida Board of Respiratory Therapy
Your participation information will be shared with specialty boards through the ACCME's PARS reporting system. Successful completion of a course examination is required. Submissions are recorded in approximately 48 hours. You will receive an email when your credits have been processed.
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