IPNA Currents 2/2022

In this issue:

Statement of IPNA
Meet IPNA Members: Dr. Laura Alconcher
IPNA Fellowship Program
Watch the IPNA Teaching Courses Questions & Answers Session
Feedback from the IPNA Teaching Course
Registration for the IPNA Congress is open
2nd IPNA guideline on SSNS
News from IPNA Foundation

Dear IPNA Members,

It is my great pleasure to share with you the current issue of “IPNA Currents”. The newsletter, along with our terrific website, gives us the opportunity to keep you well informed about the extremely productive efforts of so many who regularly contribute to the mission of IPNA. As it should, this issue begins with a heartfelt message from Professor Yap regarding the crisis in Ukraine. You will then be introduced to and get to know several of our colleagues and you will be informed about a recent teaching course and webinar. You will get updated on the upcoming IPNA Congress (along with the dates for early bird registration), as well as on a soon to be published clinical practice guideline. Finally, you will hear about what is sure to be an excellent pre-Congress workshop on guideline development and you will be provided with instructions from the IPNA Foundation on how you can personally help IPNA fellows attend the Congress in Calgary, an opportunity of the utmost value to their careers as pediatric nephrologists.

Between now and the Congress, IPNA will be updating it’s Strategic Plan to build upon our current plan which has proven to be an all important blueprint for our organization. The Council looks forward to obtaining input from a great many of you during the process since it is your goals and perspectives, your energy on behalf of IPNA and the needs of our patients and families that defines our future.

Thank you for your support of IPNA. I hope that you enjoy IPNA Currents and I look forward to seeing you in Calgary for what should be one of our best Congresses ever.

Brad Warady
IPNA Treasurer

Statement of IPNA

It is with grave concern and sadness that we witness the unfolding humanitarian and refugee crisis in Ukraine. Every life lost is precious, all the more when they belong to young and innocent children whose health and wellbeing is the very reason we exist. IPNA stands in solidarity with our medical colleagues in Ukraine as they risk life and limb to save their compatriots. We are also providing resources to the Pediatric Nephrology community in Ukraine to support the ongoing treatment of children with kidney disease. IPNA joins the international community in expressing our sincere hope for peace to be restored.

Hui Kim Yap

IPNA President

Meet the IPNA Members!

Dr. Alconcher is the head of the Pediatric Nephrology Unit at Hospital Interzonal Dr Jose Penna in Bahia Blanca Argentina and Profesor of medicine at Universidad Nacional del Sur in Bahia Blanca. She is part of the IPNA aHUS Guidelines working group and from September she will be a new ALANEPE representative on the IPNA Council.

Dr. Alconcher has responded to our four questions:
1. What led you to the field of pediatric nephrology?
2. Why did you join IPNA?
3. Would you encourage your colleagues to join IPNA?
4. What is your best memory of IPNA?

1. Back in 1987, while I was performing my internship at the Hospital de Niños Sor María Ludovica of La Plata city (Argentina), I discover the fascinating world of Pediatric Nephrology. During this early period of my professional career, I found passion for this field of medical sciences thanks to my mentor, Dr. Francisco Spizzirri (my uncle), who inspired me and gave me the confidence and the energy to face a new challenge: extend this discipline beyond the main medical centers of Argentina, applying my scientific knowledge and practical experience to help children with kidney disease.

2. I became a member of IPNA after getting my Pediatric Nephrologist degree. Being a member of IPNA is very important, because in all countries pediatric nephrologist are a small group and IPNA provide us a form to interact and benefit for the experience of other colleges around the world. I am grateful to IPNA because during all these years, I found support to assist children with kidney disease. I have been nourished from the scientific contributions shared by my colleagues in the Pediatric Nephrology Journal as well as from several scientific meetings that I had the opportunity to participate. Every time I asked for help, I found an expertized colleague committed to provide assistance to make the best decisions according to the resources and facilities available in Argentina.

3. I always encourage young pediatric nephrologists to be part of IPNA because I think it is very important to be up-to date with cutting-edge research studies on this field of medical sciences. IPNA embrace education and research, and is strongly committed to provide equal opportunities worldwide. Aiming at helping young pediatric nephrologists to boost their potential, IPNA provides economic, technical and scientific support for the development of different scientific events that are very important for the exchange of ideas and knowledge between colleagues from different countries.

4. During the course of my career as a Pediatric Nephrologist, IPNA has set different scientific challenges that were an important source of motivation to continue growing as a doctor. Every time that I had the opportunity to participate in an IPNA event, the experience was exponential, definitely a powerful source of inspiration and valuable data that created the ideal settings for the exchange of ideas and knowledge between professionals from different countries. This year, I am going to become a new member of the IPNA council, representing ALANEPE. I am excited about this new challenge, and I will give the best version of myself to help IPNA expanding the frontiers of Pediatric Nephrology in Latin America.

Dr. Bibi Areefa Alladin, the first trained pediatric nephrologist in Guyana

"I expect that children who need dialysis, either in the acute or chronic setting, will have access to such services so that these children stand a chance of living. I would like to see the diagnostic capacity for kidney diseases improve, we need kidney biopsy capability and advanced testing for immune diseases such as complement levels," says Dr. Alladin in the interview.

Read the full interview with Dr. Bibi Alladin

IPNA Teaching Course: PDHANDSON2022 - AIIMS Jodhpur Pediatric Nephrology Workshop

IPNA Teaching course was organized at AIIMS Jodhpur on 27th Feb 2022. It was a Hybrid meeting with an attendance of over 20 faculty and 60 delegates.

The course was attended by trainees in pediatrics, practicing pediatricians as well as adult nephrologists. Rajasthan is a largely rural state, and the availability of Paediatric nephrologists for managing children with AKI requiring dialysis, as well as for chronic illnesses is scarce. It becomes paramount that pediatricians and adult nephrologists, who are the first point of contact for these patients become skilled in correct management of common illnesses and be able to institute Peritoneal dialysis in emergent situations. With this objective, we designed the content of the course that focussed on very common topics like Nephrotic Syndrome, UTI, AKI, etc. We were honored to have in virtual attendance, the stalwarts of pediatric Nephrology in India, Prof. Arvind Bagga, and Prof. Susan Uthup to interact with the audience. The faculty in physical attendance included Prof. Sriram Krishnamurthy, Dr. Girish Bhatt, Dr. Mritunjai Kumar, Dr. Manish Chaturvedy, and Dr. Shilpa Saxena among the speakers, to name a few.

The audience also benefited from a one-on-one interaction with faculty during the Hands-on stations and clarified their doubts on many topics. The main highlight of the course was a hands-on training program in the insertion of a stiff peritoneal dialysis catheter.

All trainees were given ample practice on the insertion of the stiff catheters and prescribe PD in different case scenarios. We also provided the participants with printed course material including all the lectures and PD prescription writing case scenarios in form of a printed booklet and it was greatly appreciated.

It is with the grant from IPNA that the workshop could take place and was lauded by all attendees. We intend to make such training workshops an annual or a bi-annual activity.

Sincere thanks to IPNA for their support and encouragement.

Dr. Aliza Mittal
Associate Professor
Department of Pediatrics
AIIMS Jodhpur

Registration Are Open for the IPNA Congress in Calgary

We warmly invite you to register for the 19^th Congress of the International Pediatric Nephrology Association, to be held at the TELUS Convention Centre in Calgary, Canada, 7-11 September 2022. IPNA is excited to bring the paediatric nephrology community back together again and has planned a comprehensive schedule of events. Highlights are:

2 days of Pre-Congress Courses including a session for nursing and allied health professionals
3 days of scientific presentations (State of the Art talks and multiple Symposia)
3 interactive poster sessions and Q&A opportunities with authors
An Exhibition including Industry Leading Sponsors
An exciting social program providing the perfect opportunity to network with other IPNA 2022 attendees in the stunning city of Calgary

Take advantage of Early Bird Registration rates and save up to $125 USD. Early Bird Rates are available until 24:00 Pacific Time on Monday 6 June 2022. Be sure to review the registration guidelines for the various registration options.

Are you missing live events and networking with your colleagues from all over the world? IPNA 2022 will feature some great opportunities to reconnect and network. In addition to the regular conference breaks, poster sessions and exhibition times there are two IPNA 2022 social events.

IPNA 2022 Congress Opening & Welcome Cocktail – 8 September 2022

Join us for the opening ceremony which will include the usual official welcome speeches, Canadian culture and entertainment, along with the opportunity to kick start your Congress with a welcome cocktail and network with colleagues.

IPNA 2022 Networking Reception – 10 September 2022

To be held in one of the jewels of not only Calgary but Canada, Studio Bell, the home of the Canadian National Music Centre. This a unique opportunity for delegates to experience a fantastic museum whilst enjoying an evening with colleagues. Studio Bell is a performance venue, recording facility, broadcast studio and a museum. Studio Bell is the first facility of its kind in North America.

Julian Midgley
IPNA Congress President

2nd IPNA guideline on SSNS will be available soon

The second IPNA guideline on the "Diagnosis and Management of Children with Steroid Sensitive Nephrotic Syndrome" is almost done and is currently undergoing the Delphi process, i.e. review by representatives of the IPNA regional societies, patient representatives and external experts. The plan is to submit the manuscript to Pediatric Nephrology in May 2022. It will be published as open access.

Dieter Haffner
SSNS Guideline Coordinator

IPNA Training Program: Precongress workshop at IPNA Congress, September 7, 2022

The IPNA Best Practices and Standards Committee cordially invite physicians interested in guideline development and the management of nephrotic syndrome to the hybrid Pre-congress workshop
entitled "Evidence Based Medicine and Guideline Development: IPNA Training Program“. This workshop will give guidance on guideline development and will outline the new IPNA guideline on SSNS. The guideline will be presented by distinguished members of the guideline core group. There will be plenty of time for detailed discussion of this important and challenging topic.

The IPNA Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the International Pediatric Nephology Association. Monies raised by the Foundation support our programs and partnerships. Consider providing a $250 or $500 travel grant for IPNA Fellows to attend the Calgary Congress. Or set up an endowment fund to support Teaching Courses or a Fellowship. One donor, or several donors can collaborate to name a fund in honor of, or in memory of someone special to you.

A “named” Endowment will provide support in perpetuity and 100% of the money is used for the designated program. Please contact hbrehm@theipna.org to review the opportunities and tax benefits. Your contribution will help IPNA increase our capcity to provide support in low resource areas of the world.

Please consider donating to IPNA this year. For general information and to make a direct donation see Ways to Give | IPNA Foundation

ESPN Congress in Ljubljana

It is our great pleasure and privilege to invite you to Ljubljana, the capital of Slovenia in June 2022 for the 54th ESPN Annual meeting.

The scientific committee of the ESPN 2022 is proud to prepare a program of outstanding scientific quality in collaboration with several international societies to stimulate cross-talk between different specialties involved in the treatment of children with kidney and bladder disorders. Experts from our society as well as international speakers will join forces to deliver state-of-the-art lectures, generate debate and identify questions for future research.

Please do not miss the opportunity to be part of this exceptional event and join us in Ljubljana on June 22 - 25, 2022.

We look forward to welcoming you in Ljubljana.

Sincerely yours,

Tanja Kersnik Levart
Congress President

Marina Vivarelli
Chair Scientific Committee

Rezan Topaloğlu
ESPN President

IPNA Teaching Course, San Martín de los Andes - Argentina

October 20-21, 2022

We invite you to save the date and to participate in this important scientific activity that will address the following topics:

urinary infection, congenital malformations of the urinary tract, idiopathic nephrotic syndrome, glomerulopathies, systemic and kidney diseases, hemolytic uremic syndrome, among others.

More information & registration: www.alanepe.org/evento/3157/

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