When you think that you are the only family faced with this disease, you feel so isolated. Hearing the experiences of all the families, you realize that we are all in the same boat, and thank goodness for the VHL Family Alliance. -- Sue L., Canada

We Need Your Help! -- by Peggy M.
Meet the Board of Directors
Research Report, by Myriam Gorospe, Ph.D., Director of Research
Special Thanks to our Volunteers!
Public Education initiatives -- by Jay Platt
Challenge! -- a corporate donor supports VHLFA and others
Teamwork for Health -- quotes from conference attendees
Let's Cure VHL in this Decade!
Progress -- Annual Report of disbursements

An Integrated Medical Approach to a Multisystem Disorder

The Cleveland Clinic Foundation and the VHL Family Alliance will sponsor a continuing medical education (CME) event for primary care physicians, nurses, and genetic counselors to be held at the Marriott Airport Hotel, October 11-13, 2002. The meeting will be chaired by Dr. Robert Uzzo of the Fox Chase Cancer Center and Dr. Andrew C. Novick of the Cleveland Clinics. Continuing Medical Education credits will be awarded by Cleveland Clinic to physicians and genetic counselors for the sessions they attend.

Because VHL crosses so very many medical specialties, it is a challenge for any health care professional to follow a patient with VHL. Without the cooperation and close collaboration of the patient and the family, it is practically impossible. For this reason we always work to engender a partnership between the families and their health care professionals.

The agenda includes a survey of the medical issues in VHL, diagnostic techniques and treatments, including legal and insurance issues and stress management.

Families are welcome to attend this meeting. If you have not previously attended a VHLFA conference, you are encouraged to attend "VHL 101", an introductory session with Joyce Graff on Friday morning before the formal start of the conference. You will have an opportunity to meet other attendees and VHLFA Board members, and gain an understanding of terms and concepts that may be new to you, in other parts of the body with which you have not dealt before.

For registration information, see http://www.vhl.org/conf2002 For hotel reservations, call Marriott at 1-800-228-9290 or (216) 252-5333

As printed in the VHL Family Forum 9:5, December 2001. For permission to reprint, please contact VHL Family Alliance, editor@vhl.org. Further information is available from the VHL Family Alliance, info@vhl.org.