POTS Unmasked
POTS Unmasked, SAHMRI, Adelaide, October 2022
Thank you to all those who attended the first Australian POTS ‘Unmasked’ conference and who made it such a success.
We look forward to bringing more conferences to both the medical and POTS community in the future. Follow our socials to keep up to date on all things conference related.
Living with POTS
Video played at the POTS Unmasked conference
POTS Unmasked Guest Speakers
KEYNOTE SPEAKER: DR ANDREW MAXWELL
DR ANDREW MAXWELL is a Paediatric Cardiologist and Paediatrician. Andrew received his medical degree from Johns Hopkins Medical School in 1989 and subsequently completed a Residency in Paediatrics at The University of California at San Francisco. He followed with training for certification in Paediatric Cardiology at Lucile Salter Packard and Stanford Hospitals in 1996. He pursued additional training in thoracic organ transplantation at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia in 2000. Finally, he returned to Stanford University for additional training in intensive care cardiology, non-invasive and interventional cardiology in 2002. Andrew is a clinical leader in the management of a collection of syndromes now coined “The Pentad Super-Syndrome” (Ehlers Syndrome, Dysautonomia, Mast Cell Activation Syndrome, Autoimmunity, and Gastroparesis.)
DR LAWRENCE AFRIN
After training at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC), Dr. Afrin practiced and researched hematology/oncology at MUSC 1995-2014 while also working in educational administration and medical informatics. Since the mid-’00s, his clinical/research work has come to focus in mast cell disease. Since 2014-17 furthering this work at the University of Minnesota, he has been developing an independent institute (located in the greater New York City area) for advancing care, research, and education in mast cell disease. His publication record includes some of the most highly accessed articles about mast cell activation syndrome and a popular book in the field.
DR FRASER BURLING
Dr Fraser Burling (BHB, MBChB, Dip MSM, FRACP) is a rheumatologist and general physician with a sub-specialisation in musculoskeletal medicine and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). Trained in New Zealand, and graduating in 1993, he has been working in private practice since 2006. Dr Burling studied musculoskeletal medicine under Dr Kenneth Orr and applies the techniques of strengthening injections to EDS patients. He now has many hundreds of patients with EDS and is active within the international EDS community, seeking ways to provide even better care for people affected by this syndrome.
ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR CHRIS O’CALLAGHAN
Associate Professor Chris O’Callaghan is a general physician and clinical pharmacologist with appointments at Austin Health and University of Melbourne. A/Prof O’Callaghan is a clinician researcher. He has undertaken laboratory and clinical studies in diverse areas of cardiovascular medicine. Studies have ranged from cell culture experiments that examined the role of adrenaline in regulating synthesis of collagen, to trials that determined the mechanism of cardiovascular neuro-humoral systems in regulating organ blood flow and drug clearance. Along with his colleague, Dr Min Yin Goh, A/Professor O’Callaghan undertook the pivotal examinations that determined the effects of spinal cord injury on blood pressure control. Goh, O’Callaghan and others also published the first study to link joint hypermobility with anorexia nervosa. A/Professor O’Callaghan has a vast experience caring for patients with disorders of blood pressure control, fatigue syndromes and joint hypermobility such as Ehlers Danlos syndrome. He is author of Faint, Foggy, Fatigued & Adrenaline. It’s not in Your Head.
PROFESSOR DENNIS LAU
Professor Dennis Lau (MBBS, PHD, FRACP, FCSANZ, FHRS) is a Cardiologist and Electrophysiologist who obtained his MBBS from The University of Melbourne. Dennis is recognised both nationally and internationally in the field of Heart Rhythm research. having co-authored more than 230 peer-reviewed publications (including international consensus papers) and book chapters. In addition to his focus on cardiacpacing, electrophysiology and ablation procedures, he is a leading specialist in Australia in the management of patients with dysautonomia and postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. His clinic in Adelaide currently runs the only national POTS patient registry and manages over 300 patients with this complex syndrome.
DR LAURA A. PACE PhD
Dr Laura A. Pace PhD is a Neurogastroenterologist who specialises in diagnosing and treating patients with complex disorders at the interface of gastroenterology, neurology, immunology, and genetics. She is a co-investigator of the NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Network (UDN) and has led a research program investigating autonomic nervous system, connective tissue, and mast cell disorders. She is also investigating the role that the gastrointestinal microbiome plays in the development of neuroimmune disorders.
MARIE-CLAIRE SEELEY
Marie-Claire Seeley (RN, MNurs, PhD Candidate) is a clinical nurse researcher. She works in collaboration with Professor Dennis Lau to provide a multidisciplinary clinic providing holistic assessment and management of Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. Marie-Claire has a passion for reducing time to diagnosis for those with POTS by engaging in research and education of her peers. She is a founding director of the Australian POTS Foundation and is currently involved in PhD research at the University of Adelaide where she is exploring the neuroendocrine aetiology of POTS and Long Covid.
Call For Abstracts
This is an exceptional opportunity to share knowledge and network with national experts in the field.
Help to improve outcomes for those living with this challenging condition All abstracts undergo blinded peer review by a Scientific Committee Great prizes on offer – one lucky abstract submitter will win $200 for the highest scoring oral presentation, and a $100 prize will go to the highest-scoring poster presentation
SUBMISSION CATEGORIES
- Research abstract
- Clinical abstract
Sponsorship Opportunities
This is an exceptional opportunity to share knowledge and network with national experts in the field.
Help to improve outcomes for those living with this challenging condition All abstracts undergo blinded peer review by a Scientific Committee Great prizes on offer – one lucky abstract submitter will win $200 for the highest scoring oral presentation, and a $100 prize will go to the highest-scoring poster presentation
SUBMISSION CATEGORIES
- Research abstract
- Clinical abstract