Lyme disease – a tick-borne illness caused by bacteria – has become an epidemic and is one of the fastest-growing and most prevalent infectious diseases affecting the United States population. While treatments are available, the nature of the disease and how the body responds to it have turned it into something much more severe. That is because some people can feel its debilitating effects even after being treated with antibiotics.
The severity of the infection is also concerning. It is one of the most challenging diseases to diagnose and treat effectively. Because of its serious nature and rising cases, the International Lyme and Associated Diseases Society aims to educate medical professionals about what they can do to prevent the spread of the disease and the adverse effects of infection. They do this by hosting an annual ILADS Conference. This year will mark its 23rd year. Here is everything you need to know about this year’s ILADS Conference.
When Is ILADS Conference 2022?
In 2022, the ILADS conference will be hosted in late September between Thursday, September 22 and Sunday, September 25. The conference will provide a base for the ILADS community to meet and mingle after a long COVID break that had caused stalls. During the weekend, presentations and educational panels will be held to provide healthcare professionals with the tools to diagnose Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses earlier and more accurately.
The September conference also looks into the possible treatments available for tick-borne diseases. That helps medical professionals with specific designations make the most of what is available to them and their patients. Medical professionals with the following designations are the target audience:
- MDs
- DOs
- NDs
- PAs
- NPs
- RNs
- LCSWs
- DCs
- PhDs
- Psychologists
- Other professionals who work with Lyme and related disease patients
These professionals are invited to the Lyme conference to be better informed and equipped to handle patients with tricky and challenging diseases.
Where Is ILADS Conference 2022?
The ILADS Annual Conference will be held at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress Resort in Orlando, Florida – the same venue as last year. The reason for the repeated venue is its central location to the airport and other attractions in Orlando. Because of its accessibility, the hope is that more people will attend the conference and possibly bring their families to make it a vacation.
Who Is speaking At 2022’s ILADS Conference
This year’s ILADS conference has many presenters and guest speakers that are professionals in the Lyme disease and other tick-borne disease sectors. Speakers include:
- Holly Ahern, MS, MT(ASCP)
- Robert C. Bransfield, MD
- Cheryl Burdette, ND
- Noam Cohen, MD, PhD
- Eboni Cornish, MD
- Magdalena A. Cubala-Kurcharska, MD, PhD
- Tania T. Dempsey, MD
- Gill Diamond, PhD
- Marna E. Ericson, PhD
- Leona Gilbert, PhD
- Rosalie Greenburg, MD
- Sabine Hazan, MD
- Myriah W. Hinchey, ND
- Amiram Katz, MD
- Gary Kaplan, DO
- Casey Kelley, MD
- Danial A. Kinderlehrer, MD
- Henry H. Lindner, MD
- Alessandra Luchini, PhD
- Shawn Manske, ND
- Hope McIntyre, MD
- Scott McMahon, MD
- Jacquelyn Meinhardt, DNP, FNP
- Omar Morales, MD
- B. Robert Mozayeni, MD
- DeAnna Nara, PhD, MSc, LDN, NU, CNS
- James R. Neuenschwander, MD
- Amy Offutt, MD
- William V. Padula, OD, SFNAP, FAAO, FNORA
- Bruce K. Patterson, MD
- Chad J. Prusmack, MD, FAANS
- Jayakumar Rajadas, PhD
- Leo J. Shea, III. PhD
- Craig Shimasaki, PhD, MBA
- Samual M. Shor, MD, FACP
- Kayla M. Socarras, MS
- Theoharis C. Theoharides, MD
This group of medical professionals will be discussing neurological injuries, fundamentals, diagnosis and more.
What Are Some ILADS Events?
Each day of the conference will host various events geared toward medical professionals looking to increase their knowledge, know-how and understanding of vector-borne illnesses. While the events are not obligatory, they are not to be missed by those who genuinely want to change how patients fight Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.
The Vector-Borne Illness Fundamentals course event runs Thursday from 8 am to 5 pm and will educate medical professionals new to these types of infections, or those who wish to brush up on what they already know. Education surrounding the basics is a vital piece of the puzzle regarding understanding these illnesses and how they can often slip under the radar.
Other noteworthy events include:
- Maternal Fetal Transmission – Friday from 3-3:30 pm
- Year in Review of Tick-Borne Diseases: Emerging Trends in Borrelia, Babesia, and Arbovirus – Friday from 4:50-5:15 pm
- Neuroquant® and Biomarker Data in Brain Injury and Biotoxin Exposure – Saturday from 3:30-4:00 pm
- Botanical Medicine and Vector-Borne Disease: From Roots to Reason – Sunday from 9:15-9:55 am
These are just a few of the many events medical professionals can attend at the ILADS Annual Scientific Conference. You can see the full schedule on the ILADS website for more information.
Featured image by Wan San Yip on Unsplash
