CRPS Cork 2017: world class conference with the largest attendance ever!

Photo Above - Some Conference Faculty Members: (L to R back) Prof. C. McCabe (UK), Dr. R van Dongen (Netherlands), Dr. J. Lewis (UK), Prof. K. Slavin (USA). (L to R front) Dr. L. Knudsen (Denmark), Lord Mayor T. Fitzgerald., Dr. D. Hegarty (Chair CRSP Cork 2017) Mrs. K. Salvin (USA)

The IASP Special interest group in a complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS) met in Cork under the chairmanship of Dr. Dominic Hegarty (Clinical Director Pain Relief Ireland) at the start of September.

This was the largest ever meeting of its kind with 230 delegates from 20 different countries including Australia, New Zealand, USA, and many U.K. and European centres. The conference feedback was fabulous where discussions focused on the theme of "Working together to Succeed". 16 key note world experts spoke on a variety of areas including psychology, physical rehabilitation medical management & technological advances needed to improve our understanding and management of CRPS.

The meeting was officially opened by Ms. Helen Donovan CEO South Infirmary & Victoria University Hospital where the Pain Medicine Unit is based. She welcomed all the delegates and underlined the value of collaboration to ensure resources, clinical and academic are used wisely. The meeting was supported by industry including Cork Convention Bureau, University College Cork, the Assert Centre and Tyndall National Institute which reflected the quality of the speaker profile & agenda. Pain Relief Ireland were proud to be a supporter and to be associated with the conference.

Not only was the meeting the largest CRPS meeting ever held, new ground-breaking research on CRPS was presented, a new information leaflet launched, patient representation for the first time and the challenge for future planning explored. The meeting attracted many Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn postings around the conference.

Dr. Dominic Hegarty highlighted the important networking capacity in this meeting from clinical development and the impact on the local economy. "We were honoured that the Lord Mayor Cll. Tony Fitzgerald hosted the conference faculty to a reception in his chambers on the eve of the conference. This was an excellent opportunity to highlight some of the wonderful history and tradition Cork City has to offer."

In his speech, the Lord Mayor outlined that an important goal of his office was to underline the importance of health in the community. The theme of the CRPS Cork 2017 conference resonated with his goals. The conference was estimate to be worth €450,000 to the city and the region.

Photo Above - Local organising Committee: (L to R back) E. O’Sullivan (Cork Convention Bureau), A. Wood (CUH), M. O’Brien (SIVUH), J Gould (SIVUH), A. O’ Driscoll (CUH). (L to R front) A. Ryan (SIVUH), Lord Mayor T. Fitzgerald., Dr. D. Hegarty (Chair CRSP Cork 2017)