Join MitoAction and the International Network for Fatty Acid Oxidation Research and Management (INFORM) for the 4th Annual International Metabolic Conference for Fatty Acid Oxidation Disorders (FAODs) in Denver, CO on July 21, 22, & 23, 2023.
International Metabolic Conference
In partnership with Dr. Jerry Vockley and INFORM, MitoAction will assemble leading experts to present to families, caregivers, family members and clinicians. The focus of the International Metabolic Conference is for families to learn more about disease management, current clinical trials, nutrition and the social needs of caring for those with a rare metabolic disorder. This is a great opportunity for families to meet one another in person, spend some time networking and have the opportunity to interact with professionals who specialize in metabolic disorders.
We will hear from a variety speakers: medical professionals, dietitians, social workers, advocates and genetic counselors.
Everyone in your entire family will have a meaningful way to connect, engage and learn!
There is no cost to attend for patients, caregivers and family members. We encourage medical professionals to join the conference for a small fee of $25.
Registration includes Friday evening reception, breakfast & lunch on Saturday & Sunday.
Conference Hotel offers free cancellation before 11:59 PM local hotel time on July 19, 2023. Credit card is required for booking.
Please use the following link to access the discounted room rate for the conference hotel.
2023 Speakers and Discussion Topics
Speaker Schedule
Saturday, July 22
10:30am – Main Presentation: FAOD Through the Ages: Focusing on the Teen Years: The teen years are an important time of transition between childhood, where disease management is parentally directed, to adulthood, where (hopefully) it is self-directed. This presentation will focus on the unique concerns in transitioning into adulthood with a FAOD.
2:30pm – Alternate Session Presentation: Understanding MCADD: This session will seek to de-mystify MCADD, and update on the latest findings and recommendations
4:30pm – Clinician Panel
Speaker Schedule
Saturday, July 23
9:30am – Ketones: for All FAODs: Ketones are an alternative source of energy generated during periods of fasting from fatty acid oxidation in the liver. Patients with all FAODs have low ketones during fasting because of the block in FAO in the liver. Consuming ketones orally might be a treatment strategy that would be effective for all patients with FAODs. We conducted a study of the effects of oral ketones on exercise performance and the results of that study will be presented.
3:30pm – Teen Roundtable: Join us as we discuss challenges and strategies to manage a low fat healthy diet with teens attending the conference.
4:30pm – Clinician Panel
Sunday, July 23
1:15pm – FAODs through the ages: Learning from our adult FAODs: This session will be a moderated question and answer time with our young adult/adult FAOD patients. Dr. Vockley and Dr. Gillingham will moderate this session together to provide insights and stories, together with our young adult/ adult FAODs, about life tips, thoughts and experiances of living with an FAOD.
3:00pm – Clinician Panel
Speaker Schedule
Saturday, July 23
1:30pm – Main Session Presentation: A Visit to the Hospital by an FAOD Patient: An Annotated Analysis: Patients with acute metabolic disorders (such as fatty acid oxidation defects) may experience episodic clinical and biochemical
decompensation, triggering a visit to the hospital emergency department and possible admission to hospital. The many chapters of this journey are annotated with pathophysiological perspectives and practical ED care perspectives and analyzed. Suggestions and recommendations will be provided during this presentation to address the medical and social-operational challenges.
Speaker Schedule
Saturday, July 22
3:30pm – Roundtable: GA II/Undiagnosed: Unique battles: Dr. Larson and Dr. McGuire will discuss cases in which patients have been identified due to abnormal acylcarnitine profiles suggestive of glutaric acidemia type 2, also known as multiple acyl coA dehydrogenase deficiency.
Sunday, July 23
10:15am – Main Presentation: Infection
3:00pm – Clinician Panel
Speaker Schedule
Saturday, July 22
3:30pm – Roundtable: How Physical Therapy can help FAODs: Join Dr. Pamela Tucker in a discussion of what you do in PT, why/how it can be helpful, various approaches, and how to work with your/your child’s physical therapist to make sure that you are not doing too much and end up in rhabdo.
Sunday, July 23
8:30am – Main Session Presentation: Rhabdo Protocol
3:00pm – Clinician Panel
Speaker Schedule
Friday, July 21
4:15pm – Main Session Presentation: Community Updates and INFORM: Understanding the Big Picture: A discussion of the interactions of community interactions with clinicians and researchers in fatty acid oxidation, including the International Network on Fatty Acid Oxidation Research and Management
5:45pm – Teen Roundtable: Sit with Dr. Jerry Vockley and enjoy the opportunity to ask questions about living with your FAOD.
Saturday, July 22
4:30pm – Clinician Panel
Sunday, July 23
1:15pm – FAODs through the ages: Learning from our adult FAODs: This session will be a moderated question and answer time with our young adult/adult FAOD patients. Dr. Vockley and Dr. Gillingham will moderate this session together to provide insights and stories, together with our young adult/ adult FAODs, about life tips, thoughts and experiances of living with an FAOD.
3:00pm – Clinician Panel
Speaker Schedule
Saturday, July 22
10:30am – Alternate Session Roundtable: Navigating a New Diagnosis: Join Metabolic Dietitian Sommer Gaughen, Certified Genetic Counselor Leighann Sermba and other parents of newly diagnosed patients for an open, back and forth discussion about navigating daily life with a new diagnosis. This open forum provides an opportunity to learn from others while gaining support from each other.
3:30pm – Roundtable: Barriers to Following a Medical Care Plan: Join a Metabolic Dietitian to discuss the ups and downs of following a medical care plan everyday. Learn strategies, tips and tricks from other parents and caregivers who have overcome these barriers.
Sunday, July 23
9:30am – Alternate Session Roundtable: Exploring Healthy Eating for MCAD Deficiency and Your Family: Join a Metabolic Dietitian for an open discussion about what a “heart healthy” diet means. Learn tips and tricks for incorporating heart healthy foods into your family’s daily diet.
3:00pm – Clinician Panel
Speaker Schedule
Saturday, July 22
2:30pm – Cardiac Implications and LC-FAODs
4:30pm – Clinician Panel
Speaker Schedule
Saturday, July 22
8:30am – Main Session Presentation: FAOD Through the Ages: Focusing on Infancy through elementary School
Speaker Schedule
Saturday, July 22
Roundtable Discussion: GAII/Undiagnosed: Unique battles: Dr. Larson and Dr. McGuire will discuss cases in which patients have been identified due to abnormal acylcarnitine profiles suggestive of glutaric acidemia type 2, also known as multiple acyl coA dehydrogenase deficiency.
Sunday, July 23
9:30am – Main Session Presentation: FAOD: Alternative Management Therapies: Dr. Larson will discuss the rationale for adjunctive management strategies for fatty acid oxidation disorders such as dietary
considerations, use of exogenous ketones and exercise strategies.
3:00pm – Clinician Panel
Speaker Schedule
Saturday, July 22
11:30am – Main Session Presentation: More than a Massage Self-care for the Long Haul: Living with an FAOD is doable, but not simple. Like any chronic condition, it often keeps the patient and caregiver on a physical and emotional roller coaster, which can be draining. What keeps you going when the simplistic suggestions for self-care are not enough? Here is a chance to create your own nourishing self-care recipe.
3:30pm – Roundtable Discussion: Putting Self-Care to Work: Catchy phrases and clever concepts are entertaining at a conference, but how do we put that material to work when we get home?
4:30pm – Clinician Panel
Speaker Schedule
Saturday, July 22
1:30pm – Main Session Presentation: A Visit to the Hospital by an FAOD Patient: An Annotated Analysis: Patients with acute metabolic disorders (such as fatty acid oxidation defects) may experience episodic clinical and biochemical decompensation, triggering a visit to the hospital emergency department and possible admission to hospital. The many chapters of this journey are annotated with pathophysiological perspectives and practical ED care perspectives and analyzed. Suggestions and recommendations will be provided during this presentation to address the medical and social-operational challenges.
As we prepare for the International Metabolic Conference in July, we would like your help putting together a cookbook filled with heart-healthy and /or low-fat recipes for individuals with fatty acid oxidation disorders!
Thank You to Our 2022 Sponsors!
Co-Host
Presenting Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Exhibitors
To receive information on the conference, please complete this form. To stay connected to MitoAction, please join our MitoAction FAOD Families Facebook Group and “like” the International Metabolic Conference Facebook Page.