FACULTY
Each year, very experienced faculty who have done thousands of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound are chosen to become demonstrators at the Penang Course.
The comments at previous courses with regards to the teaching is the style of teaching is very suited to the registrars and radiologists who have difficulty with various aspects of Musculoskeletal MRI and learning Musculoskeletal Ultrasound for the first time or have some limited experience or have good basic training but want advanced knowledge from our experts.
Professor Dr John George has taught over 500 registrars in Radiology from 1993 and thus has a gift for teaching in a style that uses anatomy, radiological images and videos to bring home the point. He has been a lecturer and demonstrator at more than 200 International meetings in his career but now his focus is on running the highest quality courses that ensure that delegates can practice their skills immediately after the course.
For instance, many radiologists have problems with whether there is a partial tear of the ACL which is the cause of a Grade 1 laxity and this is addressed such that even a 10% instra substance tear of the ACL can be determined after being taught. All the common issues that radiologists face with MSK reporting will be dealt with even without asking as Professor George and his team already know the usual queries asked by radiologists.
The MRI video cases have been upgraded to 512 resolution quality and most recent cases in DICOM format compared to earlier courses but for those with open MRI equipment, the course does show some cases where the diagnosis can still be made with poorer quality images. Most common pathology of MSK MRI and MSK Ultrasound will be shown using slides and video cases and as a treat there will be far more Ultrasound videos of pathology of major joints shown after you have learned in the practical sessions to look at the same normal sections and thus understand the differences.
QUALITY OF MATERIALS:
All delegates are given one set of high quality colour photo print of most of the slides in the talks- POWERPOINT BOOK WITH YOUR NAME IN FRONT PAGE and also ONE WORKBOOK ON ULTRASOUND TECHNIQUE AND NORMAL IMAGE EXPECTED that are given which makes it easy to follow and refer to these notes at a later date. This set of books weighs nearly 0.75 kg so please make allowance for it in your luggage. These books are worth RM300.00 and will not be replaced if lost, so guard them carefully.
As a matter of security of all your belongings, bring a high quality padlock and lock in your cabin or main baggage any valuables, handbags, etc that don’t fit into the safe even though we have not had any reports of theft so far. You can then keep the padlock key in the safe.
In addition, on the first day you are required to bring your Windows laptop or Windows partitioned MAC to download the following materials which cost nearly RM900.00 in intellectual property. You will take turns to download the materials while the lectures are going on this first day from one of four external hard discs which need to signed out and on return. Please have an updated antivirus programme in your laptop and ensure your laptop is virus free to prevent virus entering the shared external hard disc. All downloads are to be done on the first day from 9am to 6 pm. EACH SEAT WILL HAVE A POWER SUPPLY UNDER THE DESK. 240 Volts Square plug.
WHAT YOU WILL BE DOWNLOADING:
1. Video of technique of doing MSK Ultrasound and some common pathology.
2. MSK MRI Homework Video entire cases which are given at the end of each day to try and report at night after you return from dinner and shopping. It is a good method to test if you have understood all the principles that have been taught earlier in the day.
3. Powerpoints from lecturers that are useful to bring home many relevant points. Most of the lecture images are in the book but not all as otherwise the book would become too heavy to carry.
4. Resource materials from over 10 years of collection – 3 G. This provides very interesting reading and is provided by the present and past lecturers, previous fellows, generous MSK radiologists who are willing to share some of their materials, articles in PDF from journals and E books by lecturers.
PRACTICAL SESSIONS: Since 2015, one of the key features will be individualised training to be provided to the delegate. Delegates will be asked to choose their current level of expertise in MSK Ultrasound and be assigned to groups that will cater to their initial needs. After attending the initial session only at your station you will still have time to go and join other groups or practise at 3 extra tables with Ultrasound equipment and models. Delegates are not allowed to move to other groups in the first 70 minutes but they can move and practise at the extra 3 tables immediately after their initial hands on. Good news is that we have confirmed 10 models who will man the 10 stations currently confirmed by GE, PHILIPS, SIEMENS and SUPERSONIC & KONICA.
This course therefore provides one of the most dedicated teaching to the level of expertise of the delegate and the most contact time.
EXTRA MSK ULTRASOUND SESSION: Each delegate is entitled to one free extra hands-on ultrasound session where the faculty is paid by the secretariat. This is useful for those keener on MSK Ultrasound training and will be held during the MRI Cases Video sessions . The course is flexible to ensure you get what you mainly came to learn in Penang. No course in the world has provided this facility of extra sessions based on your current level of expertise paid by the course .
VENUE: The venue chosen is a Holiday Beach Resort. Holiday Inn Beach Resort, Batu Feringghi is at the heart of the most popular beach in Penang and has a famous night market along the main road which will surely delight all the delegates for its value for money and also the Famous Hawker food available. Public Bus Service from outside the hotel to the town is only US 1.00 one way and it takes you to the heart of one of the biggest shopping areas in town. From the town, taxi fares to any destination within the town are very affordable (US 3-7). Penang is best enjoyed in the evening in the company of friends who join you for the course and it is best to come a few days earlier (hotel booking special rates start from 3 days before to 3 days after the course) to sightsee Penang Island, Penang Hill, Gurney Drive Hawker Centre, Gurney Mall, Little India, Fort Cornwallis, Large Sleeping Buddha statue are some of the popular landmarks to visit. The cost of stay is very reasonable compared to Europe – a deluxe room with two breakfasts will cost only around US100 per night. In addition, cheaper hotels are present around Holiday Inn which can be found through Google search.
FOOD:
All food provided in this hotel is Halal. Unlike many courses where lunch is not provided or only a lunch box, all lunches provided in this course are BUFFET lunches comprising of North Indian, International, BBQ and Malaysian Food. The hotel is famed for its not so spicy North Indian Tandoori and Naan or Pilau rice. Two tea breaks are provided daily with two snacks such as sandwiches or Malaysian delicacies at 10.30am and 4pm.The lunch is provided at the seaside terrace and is a very enjoyable experience. The BBQ is provided with chefs preparing on the spot for a hot and tasty meal. We encourage as many of you to stay at the hotel, as with more guests, the hotel provides two perks:
1. A Coffee machine for espresso, cappuccino and latte is provided all day which you are free to get up anytime to get a cup and bring to the lecture hall.
2. For those who do not take the hotel breakfast package but are staying at the hotel, there is light breakfast provided with toast, jam and coffee at 7.30am so that you can be refreshed and ready for the 8am prompt start of lectures.
We have stationed projector screens and 40 inch TV screens throughout the room so that you can change positions and prevent back and neck pain sitting or standing anytime in positions you can see at least one of the screens. No seat reservation is allowed but once you have taken a seat for one particular day and left your materials there the seat belongs to you for that day.
In 2016, an additional large screen will also be available by wireless projection for those who would like to change their seat for a while or watch the presentations sitting or standing at the back of the room and watching the presentation on this large screen at the back.
FLIGHTS INTO PENANG:
There are direct flights into Penang from Hong Kong. For most others, you can get an Air Asia Budget flight into Penang via Kuala Lumpur into the new and advanced KLIA 2 airport from which you can transit. Look out for special offers by Malaysia Airlines, Air Asia and other budget airlines like Malindo airlines and book way in advance to get very cheap promotions. KLIA 1 & KLIA 2 allows very good connectivity .There is no airport departure fee payable and airport fees are included in your tickets.
TAXI TO AND FROM HOTEL:
BUDGET TAXI from the airport to the hotel costs Ringgit Malaysia RM74.00. (US20.00) using the safe and efficient taxi counter. From hotel to the airport, you can use the taxis outside the hotel for the same rate. These taxis have been serving the hotel for many years and are safe. Please insist on a BUDGET TAXI even if they tell you none is available to avoid overpaying.
BUS TO TOWN: You can hop on the local bus US1.00 to Georgetown big shopping center called Komtar, a large tower like building which sticks out and can be seen from most parts of Georgetown city and Penang Hill.
CURRENCY:
The Malaysian ringgit can easily be obtained at Currency Exchanges near the hotel at very good rates and you don’t need to change much at the airport which gives poor rates. 1 US dollar = RM3.50 approximately. Long Beach Hawker food centre with fruit juices and others at US3.00 to US5.00 for standard food and the famous Penang Char Koay Teow. This Hawker centre is about 0.5 km to the left of the hotel along the night market. Plenty of other restaurants with Chinese, Malay, Arab and Western food are present opposite the night market from 6pm to 11pm.
POWER SUPPLY: 240 volts square plug with three pins. You may wish to bring a plug adaptor if you have two pin plugs.
ACCREDITATION OF THE COURSE: The Radiology course is accredited 29 Category 1 CPD points by the Royal College of Radiologists, United Kingdom now for its fourth year. The course is also accredited 2 points by the European Society of Skeletal Radiology towards its Diploma. RCR points are accepted by most Middle East Countries.
SCHOLARSHIPS: Available to those from Cambodia, Vietnam, Bangladesh on request only. Please note we subsidize mainly on registrations to cover all the expenses as there is no trade exhibition to cover all the 6 speakers and 5 star venue expenses which are solely for your benefit. This is an investment that will pay you back much more in your lifetime with the skills learned at this course. In 2015, the personalised MSK ultrasound teaching with added cost of extra sessions is added value with no additional costs due to some limited sponsorships.
SAFETY: It is very safe to walk in the night market outside the hotel till 11pm at night when shops close. In the six years of the course, no theft has been reported in the Holiday Inn hotel rooms (safe deposit box provided free of charge in the rooms). Come with a friend to feel safer if you like.
PREVIOUS COURSE REVIEWS: Please read the testimonials that are provided. The course evaluation ratings are very high over the last 4 years since it was taken officially to send to Royal College of Radiology for accreditation. For those who come to learn and listen carefully even to the basics that they may think they know , the tips and pearls given will enable them to report more accurately and also perform Musculoskeletal Ultrasound at the level of competency they had wanted to learn. The HOMEWORK MRI, Powerpoint Quizzes and Video Quizzes in MSK Ultrasound helps consolidate the knowledge acquired. Don’t forget that Interventional MSK Ultrasound Procedures using PRP, Prolotherapy, Autologous Blood are now getting more popular and its use and indications will be covered in this course.
HARD COPY RECEIPTS: All delegates will receive a hard copy receipt. It will be prepared for you to pick up along with your certificate of attendance and CME at 6pm on Saturday for the Radiology Course. Only in special circumstances will the certificate be given early and with permission from Prof Dr John George.
SEE YOU IN PENANG 2016. The course is worth every dollar you are going to spend to increase your reputation and referrals for a lifetime of income far more than you will spend on this unique course.
If there is any query or further information needed, please email the Secretariat at globalfuturistic@gmail.com. To secure a place at this course, please email the Course Director, Prof Dr John George FRCR at msk.rad@gmail.com. Kindly do so prior to making payment.
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