Remember the Alamo! Highlights from the 2015 Annual Meeting
By Eva Hurst, MD, FACMS
Mohs College members gathered in the shadow of the Alamo in San Antonio, Texas from April 30 through May 3 for the 47th annual ACMS meeting. The meeting was held at the Marriott Rivercenter, right on the bustling and beautiful San Antonio Riverwalk, where members could enjoy healthy walks, “not-so-healthy” TexMex, and tasty margaritas!
Dr. Jerry Brewer and colleagues put together a great scientific program, combining long-time favorite oncology and reconstructive sessions with some new information designed to make everyday life easier for us and our patients. Sgt. Kenneth B. Weichert, a fitness trainer and six-time Army Soldier of the Year, led a pre-meeting exercise Boot Camp and spoke on stress management. Special world-class medical guests included Dr. Mark Varvares (head and neck surgery), Dr. Svetomir Markovic (medical oncology), Dr. Christopher Barker (radiation oncology), and Dr. Brian Swick (pathology).
On Thursday, members enjoyed the Tromovitch abstract session, where fellows presented the top research projects of the year. This year, Dr. Andrew Breithaupt and Teresa Soriano’s UCLA crew won the prize with their work on virus RNA sequencing in cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas. A new and popular session titled “Things that Make my Life Easier” was a meeting highlight, with senior practitioners providing tips and tricks for practice efficiency and improving the Mohs experience for patients. Dr. Varvares also gave a session on cost analysis on quality of life issues in high risk cancer patients.
Friday’s highlights for me were the “Merkel Cell Carcinoma Update,” emphasizing a multidisciplinary approach and reviewing the latest literature on this complicated and aggressive tumor, and the afternoon “Transplant Dermatology” session. In the transplant session, Dr. Margaret Mann discussed the practical use of chemowraps, and Dr. Marcy Neuburg reviewed a novel dosing of capecitabine as chemoprevention in her transplant population. Other leading experts discussed PDT, complex patient management, and immunosuppressive medications. Another fun session on Friday was the “2-Minute Pearls,” with topics ranging from reconstruction tricks to pathology interpretation tips.
On Saturday, the “Melanoma Update” session was fantastic. Dr. Tim Johnson gave a thorough review on the latest data regarding sentinel lymph node biopsy and how it is utilized at his institution. Special guest Dr. Svetomir Markovic gave an extremely comprehensive, yet understandable, review of the current best systemic treatments and what is coming down the pipeline. Both speakers reviewed all of the latest literature and studies with a perspective truly helpful for the practicing dermatologic surgeon. Saturday also included what I like to call some “old favorites,” the “How Would you Reconstruct It” and “Tumor Board” sessions.
For those surgical warriors who stayed through Sunday morning, you were rewarded with the always humbling “Diagnostic Quality Control Exam Review” session. Dr. Sumaira Aasi and gang again challenged us with practical, as well as some unusual, examples of things encountered when reviewing Mohs slides. This year was nice because the test was all electronic, and answers and explanation were posted online for review and learning after the meeting. Also on Sunday, members could enjoy the “Masters’ Pearls” and “Case Controversies” sessions, and the opportunity to obtain Maintenance of Certification (MOC) credits.
There was also plenty of opportunity for networking, meeting new folks, and reconnecting with old friends at events like Thursday’s welcome reception, the Women’s Dermatologic Society luncheon, and Saturday’s Fellows-in-Training reception. I also strongly encourage those of you with fellows to send them to the Hands-On Skin Flap Workshop course, which occurs the day before the meeting. My fellow-in-training raved about how great the course was administered.
Hopefully, everyone had a great time in San Antonio! The ACMS hopes to see many of you in Napa at the November Regional Meeting, and definitely mark your calendars for next year’s Annual Meeting in Orlando from April 28 through May 1.