Skill Matrix 2013 – Bridging Gap between Medicine and Education

Skill Matrix 2013 was organized by Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre from 2nd December, 2013 to 6th December, 2013. This was an initiative undertaken to bridge the gap between medicine and education. Apart from this, it also reinforces Vydehi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre’s commitment to continuous learning. It is conducted once in two years.
Skill Matrix 2013 is conducted to address basic science and clinical practice issues. It clubs the knowledge, technical facilities and best practices from all over the world.

THE KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

The following lists out the eminent speakers present at Skill Matrix 2013:

• • Dr. Ryan H. Kotton MD, Director – High Risk Infant Progress Clinic and Paediatric Rehabilitation Cedars – Sinai Medical Center: Being a part of Cedar -Sinai’s multi disciplinary team, Dr. Ryan focuses in treating children with cerebral palsy as well as children and adults with neurologic and musculoskeletal impairments.

    Topic: Recent advances in Management of Neuromuscular Developmental Disabilities: A multidisciplinary team approach.
    Synopsis: This guest lecture By Dr. Ryan H. Kotton has been very impressive and his way of expression on the above topic has made very clear and easily understandable to the audience. According to him the treatment of such innocent children born with neurological disabilities should be started in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit itself And there should be no delay in starting the effective management right from the early period. There should be no delay in management. The protocol to follow is to identify early the risk factors involved in such children with congenital deformities. Assessment of spasticity. And analyzed what is the clinical significance. Prevent identifiable morbidity by effective treatment.

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• • Dr. Khaled A. Tawansy MD, Founder and Director of Children’s Retina Institute of California and also a prominent retinal surgeon. He is an assistant professor of Ophthalmology at Loma Linda University where he teaches retina surgery.

    Topic: Retinal Implants and Artificial Vision.
    Synopsis: Specified on the clinical presentation on fundus and photography. Microcephaly in 39 weeks child and the presentation of the fundus findings. X Linked Norrin Mutation. Dx Coat’s Disease, Idiopathis – Injection of AVASTIN.

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• • Dr. Anshu Bhatra MD, She is a FAAP Board Certified Developmental and Behavioral Paediatrician. She has been in the paediatric practice since 1994.

    Topic: Early Identification and Diagnosis of ASD. Clinical Management of ASD.

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• • Ms. Diana Dennis MA, ECSE, Director at Children’s Program, Therapeutic Living Centre (TLC). She has been involved in this field for over 18 years ensuring to shower rays of hope in the lives of blind people. For the last 12 years she has been specializing in visual impairment.

    Topic: Educating children with special needs in the least restrictive environment.

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• • Ms. Nancy Dilger MA, having an experience over 30  years with treatment and clinical management in neonatology, paediatric acute care, rehabilitation, habilitation and school and institutional settings, she is a Board Certified Paediatric Clinical Specialist through the American Physical Therapy Association.

    Topic: Developmental Biomechanics: Equipment – Positioning, Seating and Orthotic Intervention.

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• • Dr. Jennifer Kaur Rodriguez Sohal MD, she is a Board Certified Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon in Los Angeles. Her prime focus is in the treatment of myelopathy, lumbar spinal stenosis and neurogenic claudication, spinal instability and radiculopathy, both cervical and lumbar.

    Topic: Spine Surgery in the Aging Population: Part I — Lumbar; Part II — Cervical.

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• • Prof. (Dr.) J.M. Hans, MBBS, DLO, MS, he is a Padmashree Awardee as well as a one of the pioneers in the field of cochlear implant surgery and to set the track he has done above 1000 cochlear implants in his center.

    Topic: Neuro-Plasticity: Development of Hearing.

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• • Dr. Audrey Griesbach, MD, she was a pioneer of Developmental Paediatrics where she still continues to evaluate and treat children with developmental delays, learning disabilities, ADHD and other behavior disorders, autism, genetic disorders and cerebral palsy.

    Topic: Fragile X Syndrome: Complex Neuro-Developmental Disorder in Children and Adult. Identification and Treatment.
    Synopsis: This guest lecture by Ms. Audrey Griesbach has specified that this congenital deformity is the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability. Autism Fragile Primary ovarian insufficiency in women. Mothers(X-X) have 50-50 chances of Passing disorders. 1981 Breakage (Fragile) of X chromosome found at site of gene abnormality using cytogenetic techniques.CGG repeats unaffected individuals have 40 repeats. Grey Zone 1:260 women an 1:800 are estimated to have the prematuration. Normal 5 to 40 CGG repeats Grey Zone 40 to 50. prematuration 55 to 200. Full maturation 200. Frequency of Fragile X Syndrome is 1:3600 to 4000 male are affected. 1:400-600 female are affected. Appearance of affected males normal appearance at birth. Female carriers with prematuration 20-25% have FX primary ovarian insufficiency.

    Carrier male unusual. Early treatment and intervention educational interventions are necessary. Education therapy required. The future of Fragile X neurons affected by mGluR abnormalities are not destroyed. Compounds to dampan mGluR.

    The Mission is divine – it is to address the advancements in managing developmental disabilities.

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• • Ms. Yolanda Gama Moreno MA, ECSE, Director and Founder of Multiple Disability Services for children who are blind and visually impaired with multiple disabilities. She has trained several professionals as well as she holds a track of years of training in vision stimulation.

    Topic: Effective Practices & Early Childhood Special Education.

 

THE EVENT

The event was marked by the presence of honorable members for the inauguration such as, Mr. K.V. Rajanna – Commissioner of Karnataka State Commission for Disabled & Senior Citizen, Dr. H. Veerabhadrappa – President of Karnataka Medical Council, Dr K.S. SriPrakash – Vice chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. Dr. Prabhakara G.N. – Chairman, Karnataka Medical Council as well as Ms. Manasa Devi – Assistant Commissioner of Karnataka State Commission for Disabled and Senior Citizen.

Day 1

Beginning from 9 am, the event followed until 4:45 pm, following the Inauguration, the session 1 was by Dr. Ryan H. Kotton on Recent Advances in Management of Neuromuscular Developmental Disabilities (a multidisciplinary team approach).

The session 2 was by Dr. Audrey Griesbach, where an overview of Fragile X was given. This session was followed by a short tea break. The session 3 was initiated by Dr. Khaled A. Tawansy on Retinal Implants and Artificial Vision. Session 4 was by Dr. Anshu Batra on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). This session was followed by the lunch break.

The session 5 was by Prof. (Dr.) J.M. Hans on Neuro-Plasticity. Session 6 was by Dr. Jennifer Kaur Rodriguez Sohal on Neuromuscular Scoliosis versus Congenital Scoliosis.
The session 7 was on Developmental Biomechanics by Ms. Nancy Dilger.

Day 2

Session 1 was by Ms. Yolanda Gama Moreno on effective practices and early childhood special education. Session 2 was by Ms. Diana Dennis on educating children with special needs in the least restrictive environment. This was followed by a short tea break.

Dr. Ryan H. Kotton presented the 3rd session on Spasticity and the upper motor neuron syndrome. Session 4 was by Dr. Khaled A. Tawansy briefing on the management of Paediatric Retinal Vascular Diseases.

After these session, there was a wonderful performance by the Special School children as well as VKIDS children followed by Vote of Thanks.

The workshop sessions were held post lunch break. This was followed by the Banquet which began at 7:00 pm.