On Thursday, June 27, the School of Medicine will sponsor a free public symposium on osteoporosis, a major public health problem due to fragile bones that leads to increased risk of fractures. An estimated 30 million Americans, primarily women and the elderly, suffer from this disease.
"The past few years have witnessed dramatic advances in our ability to diagnose, prevent and treat osteoporosis. People need to be aware of these developments and the options they provide for a healthy skeleton," says Dr. Karl Insogna, director of the Yale Bone Center and associate professor of medicine.
WTNH-TV anchorwoman Ann Nyberg will welcome individuals attending the public symposium, to be held 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the New Haven Country Club, 160 Hartford Tpke., Hamden. Refreshments will be served.
Dr. Insogna will present an overview of osteoporosis, addressing such current topics as new and different treatment methods for osteoporosis and the effectiveness of hormone replacement therapy for older women. Both men and women are susceptible to osteoporosis, but the condition more commonly occurs in postmenopausal women.
Other topics and speakers include: "Diagnosing Osteoporosis," Dr. John Wysolmerski, assistant professor of medicine; "The Role of Exercise in Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis," Gail Dalsky, assistant professor of medicine and director of the Osteoporosis Center Exercise Laboratory, University of Connecticut; "The Role of Diet in the Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis," Linda Gay, registered dietitian, Yale-New Haven Hospital; "The Use of Hormone Replacement Therapy in Prevention and Treatment of Osteoporosis: Practical Considerations," Dr. Marybeth Gillette, assistant clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology; and "Alternatives to Hormone Replacement Therapy for Osteoporosis," Dr. John Orloff, associate professor of medicine.
For more information about the free program, call the medical school's Office of Continuing Medical Education, 785-4578.