Daphne Bechara, President of Fundación Bechara
explains that one of Be Brave main objectives is to hold medical seminars in order to continue educating health professionals, especially primary doctor's on rheumatic conditions and autoimmune disease.
​"It takes an interdisciplinary efforts to get patients the best possible care",  Joseph Merola. MD
Radames Sierra Zorita, MD, Medical director of   Fundación Bechara, speaks about the importance of educating primary doctors in recognizing symptoms of autoimmune diseases since they are often the first encounter with patients and the ones who can refer them to specialists.
Radames Sierra Zorita, MD explains that one of the situations affecting the island today is a lack of doctors due to the exodus of many doctors as a result of Hurricane Maria and other situations. There has been a 20% decline of rheumatologist in the island.   A lot of young doctors are leaving PR  and going  to the US in search of better opportunities. As a result, primary doctors have and  extremely important role in identifying patients who are developing rheumatic conditions. With this in mind, we intend to educate primary doctors so patients with rheumatic conditions or autoimmune diseases have easier access to specialists once they have been diagnosed by the primary doctor. 
 
Dr. Elivette Zanbranas talks about the impact the Be Brave campaign makes on the awareness of autoimmune diseases in the community. As well, as the role it has played in collaborating with other organizations such as the Association of Rheumatologist in PR and the Association of Rheumatic Diseases.
scroll down to view slide shows and read about past medical seminars.     
MEDICAL SEMINARS AGENDAS
Fundación Bechara held it's 8th medical conference virtually by zoom, Be Brave Autoimmunity & Beyond, on 10/31/2020. 
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Fundación Bechara  held its 7th medical conference, ​Be Brave Rheumatology and Dermatology Symposium, on 2/27/2020 at The Vivo Beach Club, in Carolina, P.R.  Speakers for the conferences were Michael Weinblatt, MD, Joseph F. Merola, MD and Peter A. Nigrovic, MD.  Topics discussed were 
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis Therapy updates 2020
  • Psoriatic Arthritis : New Choices and Treatment Options
  • Overview of the Autoinflammatory Disease​
Fundación Bechara's held its 6th medical conference, Optimizing Outcomes in Immunomediated Diseases, on  11/16/2019 at The Vivo Beach Club in Carolina, P.R.  Main speakers,  Jeffrey Curtis,MD, Jose Gonzalez Chavez, MD, Radames Sierra- Zorita, MD, Josefina   Romaguera, MD, Rafael Martin, MD, and Irene Villamil, MD. 
​ The conference covered the following topics,
  • The skin-joint disconnect ( a rheumatologist and dermatologist perspective)
  • Challenges in the management of Hidradenitis Suppurativa
  • Inflammatory Bowel disease and its relation to other autoimmune diseases
  • Safety issues with current anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive drugs
Fundación Bechara held its 5th medical seminar, Rheumatic Updates and Research Trends, on 3/9/2019 at The Fraternidad AFDA. Main speakers,  Michael E. Weinblatt, MD,  Peter A. Nigrovic, MD and Laura L. Tarter, MD. 
The conference covered the following topics:
  • Rheumatoid Arthritis  Updates 2019
  • Systematic JIA & Adult Onset Still's Disease
  • Updates in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Fundación Bechara held its 3rd medical conference, Be Brave: Empowering Primary Physicians in Rheumatology,  on 8/11/2018 at The Vivo Beach club in P.R.  The speakers of the conference were Radames SIerra Zorita, MD, Ana Quintero,MD, Elivette Sanbrana Flores, MD, and Wanda T. Maldonado, Pharma D.   The topics of the conference where the following
  • Early Recognition and Therapy of Inflamatory Arthritides & Early Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • How to Identify Juvenile Idopathic Arthritis 
  • Juvenile Spondyloarthropathies
  • Early Spondyloarthropathies & Psoriatic Arthritis 
Fundación Bechara held its 4th medical conference, Be Brave: Empowering Physicians in Rheumatology Adults & Pediatrics, on 10/6/2018 at Complejo Ferial de Puerto Rico, in Ponce P.R.
Speakers were Radames Sierra Zorita,MD, ELivette Zambrana Flores, MD & Wanda T. Maldonado, PharmaD.  The main topics discussed where the following;
  • Early Recognition and Therapy of Inflamatory Arthritides & Early Rheumatoid Arthritis
  • How to Identify Juvenile Idopathic Arthritis 
  • Juvenile Spondyloarthropathies
  • Early Spondyloarthropathies & Psoriatic Arthritis 
Fundación Bechara, Brigham & Women's Hospital and the Association of Rheumatologist of P.R. held its 2nd medical conference on 2/4/2017 at the Fraternidad AFDA in Condado, P.R.  The main speakers were
  • Michael E. Weinblatt MD, R. Bruce and Joan M. Mickey Distinguished Chair in Rheumatology at BWH, John R. and Eileen K. RIedman Profesor of Medicine at Harvard University.
  • Peter A. Nigrovic, MD Director, Center for Adults with Pediatric Illness at BWH and Associate Profesor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School
  • Bonnie L. Bermas MD, Director, Clinical Lupus Program at BWH and Associate Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
In collaboration with the Rheumatology Association of Puerto Rico and BWH in Boston,  Fundación Bechara held, The Be Brave for Rheumatology Seminar at The Club Naútico de San Juan on ...2016 The Speakers of the seminar were doctors Dr. Michael E. Weinblatt, Dr. Peter A. Nigrovic and Dr. Bonnie L. Bermas from BWH in Boston. 
​The conference covered the following topics;
  • ​ Fundación Bechara supports The Rheumatology Fund for Discovery and Innovation, specifically the research project  Arthritis Triggers in Adults and Children.​
  • Doctors in Puerto Rico who attended the seminar received continuing education credits. 
IT'S ESSENTIAL TO SUPPORT ONGOING EDUCATION OF HEALTH PROFESSIONALS ON RECOGNIZING SYMPTOMS OF AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE!