International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery World Congress 2020 to go virtual

Adding to the list of live events-turned-virtual-experiences due to the current COVID-19 pandemic, the International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery (ISHRS) has announced the decision to move their 2020 World Congress online. The Virtual World Congress is scheduled for Oct. 17-25. The in-person World Congress was originally set to take place in Panama.

"In transitioning to a virtual meeting format, we have spread our content over nine days with a well-designed schedule to allow attendees to participate in more sessions and workshops than usual while keeping up with their normal work and home life," says Bradley R. Wolf, M.D., FISHRS, program chair. "The ISHRS World Congress has a strong tradition of hosting the best education from the top minds in the field of hair restoration surgery, and this virtual meeting is no exception."

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The ISHRS Virtual World Congress plans to feature eight live general sessions, nine live focused sessions with follow-up “Fireside Chats,” more than 60 on-demand presentations, and live discussion groups with presenters. The virtual event will include thought leader symposia through which attendees can listen and learn from multiple hair transplantation-related companies about their products, as well as a virtual exhibit hall and awards ceremony.

Some of the highlighted presentations include a regenerative hair symposium featuring Angela Christiano, Ph.D., department of dermatology, Columbia University, New York, discussing hair follicle bioengineering utilizing 3D printing; Maksim Plikus, Ph.D., department of developmental & cell biology, University of California Irvine, on cell coordination and organ regeneration; Alexey Terskikh, Ph.D., developmental biology and aging program, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, San Diego, Calif., on hair regeneration utilizing induced pluripotent stem cells derived from dermal papilla cells with a 3D biodegradable scaffold; And, Danielle Ofri, M.D., Ph.D., New York School of Medicine, on the importance of facilitating a positive doctor-patient relationship to develop proper clinical care and better outcomes.

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Three ancillary courses will be offered during the virtual congress, such as the ISHRS Basics Course in Hair Restoration Surgery, the ISHRS Advanced/Board Review Course for physicians planning on taking the American Board of Hair Restoration Surgery (ABHRS) exams and the ISHRS Surgical Assistants Program

“This will not be a typical Zoom meeting. We are building an experience to remember,” says Victoria Ceh, MPA, ISHRS executive director. “This pandemic has affected all of our lives, but we are not letting it stop us from connecting and learning from each other as we always do. On the positive side, we are thrilled that our congress is more accessible this year to even more physicians on a global scale.”

More information on the ISHRS Virtual World Congress 2020 and how to register can be found at 28thannual.org.

References:

International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery. (2020, August 13). International Society of Hair Restoration Surgery Hosts Virtual World Congress 2020. Retrieved August 19, 2020, from https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/international-society-of-hair-restoration-surgery-hosts-virtual-world-congress-2020-301111438.html