Bridging the Gap Conference 2024

Spinal CSF Leak: Bridging the Gap 2024

Bridging the Gap is an annual conference held in November at the University of Colorado Anschutz in Aurora, Colorado. This event aims to share collective insights via a diverse cohort of clinicians, researchers and patients, and is aimed at any person interested in spinal CSF leak, be they physicians, patients, caregivers, or the general population. The goal of this conference is to foster a nuanced, patient-centered understanding of the diagnosis and treatment of spinal CSF leak. This event is presented by Dr. Andrew Callen and the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus in partnership with the Spinal CSF Leak Foundation.

This year's Bridging the Gap conference is entitled "Past, Present, and Future", and will be discussing all three elements as applied to the field of spinal CSF leak research and treatment.

As with last year's event, this conference will be FREE for patients, whether attending virtually or in person.

In person registration IS CLOSED as of on Monday, October 28th, 2024 at noon Mountain Time.

Virtual registration will close on November 2, 2024 at 8am Mountain Time.

AGENDA 

All times in Mountain Time
Note: schedule is subject to change.

DAY 1: SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2024

Introductions—8:15-8:45 AM

• Welcome address and introduction to the 2024 conference — Dr. Andrew Callen and Jen MacKenzie
• Keynote speaker: Perspectives on a career in spinal CSF leak and the importance of the patient-physician relationship — Dr. Linda Gray

Diagnosis: Patient Presentation and Overlapping Syndromes—8:45-10:00 AM

• Patient talk: Challenges to clinical diagnosis — Dr. Jodi Blaszyk
• Physician talk: Classic presentation of spinal CSF leak symptoms — Dr. Jill Rau
• Physician talk: Atypical presentation of spinal CSF leak symptoms — Dr. Deborah Friedman
• Physician talk: Rethinking the clinical presentation of SIH in CSF-venous fistulas — Dr. Andrew Callen
• Physician talk: Overlapping syndromes in Spinal CSF Leak — Dr. Ilene Ruhoy

☕️ Coffee Break ☕️—10:00-10:10 AM

Challenges in Diagnosis—10:10-10:55 AM

• Patient talk: Perspectives on diagnosis from a physician with a spinal CSF leak — Dr. Tasha Haiduk
• Physician talk: Refining MR protocols and why they are used — Dr. Niklas Lützen 
• Physician talk: The diagnosis of SIH, from old to new understandings — Dr. Ian Mark

Myelography: From Consent to Conclusion—10:55-11:55 AM

• Patient talk: The myelography experience from the patient’s point-of-view — Sarah Berry
• Physician talk: DSM: What, when, why, and how? — Dr. Niklas Lützen 
• Physician talk: dCTM: What, when, why, and how? — Dr. Lalani Carlton Jones
• Physician talk: Photon Counting CT: What, when, why, and how? — Dr. Ajay Madhavan

Q&A from Morning Sessions—11:55-12:15 PM

Lunch—12:15-1:00 PM

The Importance of Communication—1:00-1:45 PM

• Patient talk: How to minimize miscommunications when advocating for your care — Aubrey Bolan 
• Physician talk: Communicating with patients during their spinal CSF leak journey — Dr. Mark Mamlouk 
• Patient talk: Intersectionality and navigating diagnosis — Asia Gibson 

Epidural Blood and Fibrin Glue Patching—1:45-2:15 PM

• Physician talk: Patching basics — Dr. Ian Carroll
• Patient talk: The patching experience from the patient’s point-of-view — Kristen Friese

☕️ Coffee Break ☕️—2:15 - 2:25 PM

Addressing The Cognitive and Emotional Burden of the Spinal CSF Leak Journey—2:25-3:10 PM

• Patient talk: Physical and emotional wellbeing while living with a spinal CSF leak — Leah Leavitt 
• Physician talk: Palliative care — Dr. Katherine Morrison 
• Patient talk: Mental health and the emotional toll of missed and mis-diagnosis — Dr. John Reiman

The Evolution of Patient Advocacy and Caregiving—3:10-3:55 PM

• Spinal CSF Leak Foundation 10 year anniversary: The Foundation through the years — Dr. Connie Deline, Andrea J. Buchan, & Jen MacKenzie
• Patient talk: The evolution of patient advocacy in spinal CSF leak — Linda Pohuski
• Patient talk: Caregiving in the context of spinal CSF leak — Darren Jackson

End of Day Q&A —3:55-4:25 PM

Honoring Connie Rim—4:25-4:30 PM

DAY 2: SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2024 

Welcome Remarks—8:15-8:25 AM

Treatments for The Spectrum of Dural Defects—8:25-9:10 AM

• Physician talk: Basics of surgery for spinal CSF leaks: What, why, & how? — Dr. Peter Lennarson 
• Physician talk: Updates and challenges in spinal CSF leak surgery — Dr. Wouter Schievink
• Patient talk: The surgical experience from the patient’s point-of-view — Jeremy Marks

CSF-Venous Fistulas and Treatments Thereof—9:10-10:25 AM

• Physician talk: CSF-venous fistulas: The known and the unknown — Dr. Peter Kranz 
• Physician talk: CSF-venous fistulas: Why or why not to embolize? — Dr. Eike Piechowiak
• Physician talk: CSF-venous fistulas: Why or why not to use glue? — Dr. Mark Mamlouk
• Physician talk: CSF-venous fistulas: Why or why not to surgically repair? — Dr. Vinay Deshmukh
• Patient talk: CSF-venous fistula treatments from the patient's point-of-view — Laura Tietz, PharmD, RPh

☕️ Coffee Break ☕️—10:25-10:40 AM

Post-Dural Puncture Headache (PDPH)—10:40-11:40 PM

• Physician talk: Iatrogenic spinal CSF leaks: the known and unknown — Dr. Andrew Callen 
• Physician talk: Spinal CSF Leaks and pregnancy — Dr. Samantha Petrucci
• Patient talk: Perspectives of PDPH — Julie Schmitz, CRNA, ACNP
• Physician talk: Surgery for PDPH: Blebs and needle holes — Dr. Juergen Beck

Q&A from morning sessions—11:40-12:20 PM

Lunch—12:20-1:20 PM

The Imaging Negative SIH Patient: How We Do it—1:20-2:05 PM

• Physician talk: The imaging negative brain in SIH: What we’ve learned — Dr. Wouter Schievink 
• Physician talk: The imaging negative brain in SIH: How I do it — Dr. Peter Kranz 
• Physician talk: The imaging negative brain in SIH: How I do it — Dr. Ian Carroll

☕️ Coffee Break ☕️—2:05-2:20 PM

Treatment Considerations and Post-Treatment Care—2:20-3:35 PM

• Physician talk: MCAS, post-viral concerns, hEDS, POTS, & other conditions that may impact spinal CSF leak treatment & healing — Dr. Ilene Ruhoy 
• Patient talk: Navigating concurrent conditions while deferring treatment — Jodi Ettenberg
• Physician talk: Rebound intracranial hypertension: what we know (and don't know) — Dr. Simy Parikh
• Physical therapy in the context of spinal CSF leak — Nicole Frost, BAppSci (Physio) Hons
• Patient talk: Logistics of care and aftercare — Jen MacKenzie

Closing Q&A—3:35-4:20 PM

Closing Remarks—4:20-4:30 PM

Q&A SESSIONS: SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS AHEAD OF TIME

This year, we are offering a means for attendees to submit their questions for our Q&A sessions ahead of time, via a form based on the section topics in the above agenda. We will get to as many as we can in the allocated Q&A time slots, but anticipate that volume will exceed the available time and apologize in advance for those questions we may not be able to get to. 

In person attendees will be able to ask questions in real time as well.

You can access the submission form for questions here. It will also be linked out in your receipt for your ticket.

SPEAKERS

Professor Juergen Beck, MD
Sarah Berry, PhD ABD
Jodi Blaszyk, PsyD
Aubrey Bolan
Andrea J. Buchanan
Lalani Carlton Jones, MA (Cantab) MBBS MSc MRCS FRCR
Andrew Callen, MD (Course Director)
Ian Carroll, MD, MS
Connie Deline, MD
Vinay Deshmukh, MD, FACS
Jodi Ettenberg, BCL, LLB
Deborah Friedman, MD, MPH
Kristen Friese
Nicole Frost, BAppSci (Physio) Hons
Asia Gibson
Linda Gray, MD
Tasha Haiduk, MD
Darren Jackson
Peter Kranz, MD
Leah Leavitt
Peter Lennarson, MD
Niklas Lützen, MD
Jen MacKenzie
Ajay Madhavan, MD
Mark Mamlouk, MD
Ian Mark, MD, MSM
Jeremy Marks
Katherine Morrison, MD
Simy Parikh, MD
Samantha Petrucci, MD, PhD
Eike Piechowiak, MD
Linda Pohuski
Jill Rau, MPsych, MD, PhD, FRCPC, FAHS
John Reiman, PhD
Ilene Ruhoy, MD, PhD
Wouter Schievink, MD
Julie Schmitz, CRNA, ACNP
Laura Tietz, PharmD, RPh

TRAVEL CONSIDERATIONS

We have reserved a hotel block at The Benson Hotel and Faculty Club, located within walking distance of the conference. Please use this link to access the discounted rate of $189/night for your stay.

If you are planning on staying more than Friday and/or Saturday night, please call the hotel directly at the number below. They ought to be able to accommodate the special rate for additional nights. 

We have a limited amount of reserved rooms and so if you would like to stay there, please book ASAP. If you prefer alternate hotels, there is a Hyatt House, SpringHill Suites, Holiday Inn Express & Suites, or Comfort Suites all in similar distance to the conference venue as The Benson Hotel.

Hotel information:

The Benson Hotel & Faculty Club
13025 East Montview Boulevard, Aurora CO 80045
720-627-5958

ACCREDITATION AND DESIGNATION STATEMENT

This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through the joint providership of The University of Colorado School of Medicine and the Spinal CSF Leak Foundation. The University of Colorado School of Medicine is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The University of Colorado School of Medicine designates this live activity for a maximum of 14.25AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Identify and differentiate between typical and atypical presentations of spinal CSF leaks, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and reducing instances of underdiagnosis and overdiagnosis.
• Analyze the applications and limitations of the Bern score in the radiographic diagnosis of intracranial hypotension, facilitating a rigorous yet nuanced approach to interpreting radiographic results.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the available percutaneous and surgical treatment options, including the historical context and recent advancements, to better guide patients in choosing the most appropriate treatment path.
• Implement patient-centric approaches in their practice, utilizing the insights and experiences shared by patients during the conference to foster a more collaborative and empathetic healthcare environment.
• Assess and enhance their communication strategies among all team members, including the neurologist, neuroradiologist, neurosurgeon, and nursing staff, to optimize spinal CSF leak management and improve patient satisfaction and outcomes.

REFUNDS: The full registration fee is refundable, less the processing fee, if your cancellation is received, in writing, by October 25, 2024 (The processing fee is nonrefundable regardless of the reason for cancellation.) Refunds will not be granted after this time, or in the case of non-attendance. The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus and the Spinal CSF Leak Foundation reserve the right to cancel this conference in the event of an unforeseen circumstance or force majeure event. In the event of cancellation, only the registration fee will be refunded.