Drs. Alan Wein and Diane Newman of Penn Urology Bring International Continence Society Meeting to Philadelphia after Nine-Year U.S. Hiatus

After a successful bid from Alan Wein, MD, PhD and Diane K. Newman, DNP, CRNP of Penn Urology, the International Continence Society (ICS) Meeting will return to the United States, for the first time in nearly a decade, in Philadelphia.

Drs. Wein and Newman, of the Division of Urology, Department of Surgery at Penn Medicine, will Co-Chair the meeting, which takes place August 28 – 31 in Philadelphia.

“Having the ICS come to Philadelphia is a big coup for us and a big win for the national continence community,” Newman said, noting with Wein that the meeting would not have been possible without the support of the Division of Urology Chief, Thomas Guzzo, MD, MPH.

The ICS meeting will feature will feature a wide-ranging scientific program for urologists, gynecologists, neurologists, nurses, physical therapists and basic scientists. Topics will include the pathophysiology, diagnosis and treatment of urinary incontinence and lower urinary tract and pelvic floor dysfunction; prevention-science methodology; rehabilitation; medical, non-medical and surgical treatments; and basic and translational research.

Penn Urology at ICS 2018

Meeting highlights include:

• Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (PLUS) Consortium –  A collaboration between principal investigator Newman and co-investigators Ariana Smith, MD and Penn psychiatrist C. Neill Epperson MD at the University of Pennsylvania Site, the objective of PLUS is to carry out epidemiologic studies to determine biological and behavioral factors that can lead to lower urinary tract symptoms and related illnesses, and to find ways to prevent progression to clinical symptoms and more serious complications. The PLUS consortium will be represented in a keynote panel (“National Institutes of Health: Innovation in LUTS Clinical Research”) chaired by NIH Scientific Officer urologist Tamara Bavendam. 
  
   
• ESTEEM Trial – Newman co-authored the ESTEEM Trial with Smith and urogynecologist Lily Arya MD, MS. A large, multi-center randomized trial, ESTEEM investigated outcomes for women with mixed urinary incontinence seeking surgical treatment, and was awarded the 2018 “Conservative Management Prize” from ICS.

• Featured Clinical Research – Newman will be presenting results of additional clinical research, including studies of intermittent catheter choice impact on quality of life; safety and preference of single vs. reuse catheters; patient characteristics associated with clinically important treatment response in women undergoing non-surgical therapy for fecal incontinence; and the enduring impact of childhood adversity on lower urinary tract symptoms in adult women. The latter was co-authored by Smith, Epperson and urology research coordinators Ally Magno and Hanna Stambakio.

Clinical Directions in Continence Care 

In addition to bringing the International Continence Society (ICS) Meeting back to the United States for its annual meeting in Philadelphia, Wein and Newman of Penn Urology will host a featured educational event on August 28: Clinical Directions in Continence Care. 

"Clinical Directions in Continence Care will present a wide-ranging schedule of topics for a local audience of nurses, nurse practitioners and physical therapists," Newman explained. The event has attracted a number of experts, including Penn faculty, who will be presenting their research and leading panels. 

Shannon Novosad, MD, MPH, Epidemic Intelligence Service Officer, Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, will give the keynote address on current prevalence of catheter-associated Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs).

Highlights include:

• Dr. Ariana Smith (Director, Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery and Associate Professor of Urology in Surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Pennsylvania Hospital) will present on current management of recurrent UTIs in women. 

• Penn Nursing will have a robust presence across several specialties, with three speakers, including Christine Bradway, PhD, CRNP, FAAN, AGSF, Associate Professor of Gerontological Nursing BHS Department; Donna Thompson, MSN, CRNP, FNP-BC, CCCN-AP, Certified AP Continence Nurse, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Division of Urogynecology; and Jason Brown, MS, RN, Doctoral Student, Hillman Scholar in Innovation at University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing.

Learn more

Learn more about the agenda and attendance information for the ICS 2018 meeting on ICS.org. The Clinical Directions in Continence Care meeting will be held August 28, 2018, and is open to all interested clinicians for CEU credit.