Mohs Surgery Group Hosts Inaugural Regional Meeting
A recent American College of Mohs Surgery conference included a keynote speaker from Scripps College near San Diego and gathered nearly 130 members of the college.
The American College of Mohs Surgery (www.skincancermohssurgery.org) recently held its inaugural regional meeting in San Diego, California. The meeting featured a number of thought-provoking sessions focused on skin cancer treatment, and laid the groundwork for future regional gatherings.
Dr. Scott W. Fosko, president of the American College of Mohs Surgery, says the regional meeting provided the ACMS members a chance to participate in smaller sessions, which can help sharpen their expertise.
"The main goal of this first regional meeting was to cover important educational topics in a more intimate, interactive setting than our annual meetings. We wanted to create an experience similar to the feel of some of the very early Mohs College meetings," Dr. Fosko says.
The American College of Mohs Surgery is the only organization that requires members to complete 1 to 2 years of advanced fellowship training in the Mohs technique of skin cancer surgery. Mohs micrographic surgery is the most effective and advanced treatment for skin cancer today. It offers the highest potential for cure – even if the skin cancer has been previously treated by another method.
Mohs surgery was developed in the 1930s and is named for Dr. Frederic Mohs, who pioneered the technique. It is an outpatient procedure that is designed to ensure the complete removal of cancer cells while minimizing the amount of healthy tissue lost. The procedure is especially useful for removing skin cancer where cosmetic and functional issues are a concern. The outpatient approach delivers more cost effective care, and provides patients and their insurance providers significant cost savings. Additionally, the outpatient environment has been documented to deliver very safe care with minimal risk of complications. Patients consistently provide feedback of their high satisfaction with their Mohs surgery experience and ultimate outcomes.
The specialists who gathered in San Diego for the regional meeting heard guest speaker Dr. Prabhakar Tripuraneni, a radiation oncologist from the Scripps Clinic, share his expertise. This was followed by smaller breakout sessions that focused on problem solving and information exchange.
"I loved the collegiality of the meeting and the more personal feel," Dr. Fosko says. "I also enjoyed the discussion and exchange of ideas that occurred during many of the meeting sessions. To summarize it in one word, interactive. That is where some of the best ideas are discussed and further developed."
Dr. Fosko says the next regional meeting is already scheduled for next November in Charleston, South Carolina.
A graduate of University of Maryland School of Medicine and professor and chairman at the Saint Louis University School of Medicine's Department of Dermatology, Dr. Scott W. Fosko is the current president of the American College of Mohs Surgery (www.skincancermohssurgery.org). Dr. Fosko completed his Mohs Micrographic Surgery fellowship at the University of Pennsylvania after his Dermatology residency at Yale University. He completed an Internal Medicine residency at the University of Virginia. He is board certified in both Dermatology and Internal Medicine. He is a frequent teacher and lecturer at local and national meetings focusing on Mohs surgery, melanoma, and unusual skin cancers.
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Erin O'Krongly
American College of Mohs Surgery
414-347-1103
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