First Annual Medicine of Cycling Conference, Colorado Springs, Nov 13th and 14th

Press Release

USA Cycling is pleased to announce the first annual Medicine of Cycling Conference scheduled for November 13-14, 2010 at USA Cycling’s headquarters in Colorado Springs, Colo. The conference, set to run parallel to USA Cycling’s Annual Promoters Summit, is a unique two-day summit offering medical professionals a platform on which to collaborate and establish common standards of care for competitive cyclists. It is accredited by the Office of Continuing Medical Education at the University of California, San Francisco and will offer 11.5 AMA PRA Category 1 credits to attending physicians.

“We’re excited to be able to help move standards of care for our athletes forward,” said USA Cycling Chief Executive Officer Steve Johnson. “We hope the conference will serve as a collaboration point for all medical personnel in the sport to discuss and continually improve practices in treatment and injury prevention amongst cyclists.”

Organized by USA Cycling Board of Directors Vice Chairman Mark Abramson, University of California-San Francisco physician Dr. Anna Abramson, and Harvard-Brigham and Women's Hospital trauma surgeon Dr. James Watkins, the conference aims to give the sport’s medical professionals the opportunity to learn, teach and collaborate with each other.

“One of the most difficult aspects of providing care for this diverse and mobile group of athletes is their variety of medical needs, locations, insurances and circumstances,” said Dr. Abramson. “We recognized the need for collaboration after listening to medical support staff and physicians express a need to form standards of care for cycling patients. The teams and athletes also expressed the desire for reassurance that their physicians understand the needs of professional cyclists and have the credentials to treat them properly.”

Conference participants will hear from several noteworthy speakers during the following sessions:

• Cyclist Health and Injury – MARK GREVE, M.D. (Clinical Assistant Professor, Brown University; Clinical Associate Professor, Tufts University; Medical Director, Team Type 1)

• Spine Injuries and Back Pain in Cyclists – SONNY GILL, M.D. (Orthopedic surgeon specializing in spine surgery at the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo.)

• Traumatic Brain Injury in Athletes – DON GERBER, Psy.D. (Specializes in rehabilitation of patients with spinal cord and brain injuries at Craig Hospital in Englewood, Colo.)

• Hot Topics in the Law of Sports Medicine – STEPHEN HESS, ESQ. (Sherman and Howard, LLC, USA Cycling General Counsel)

• Anti-Doping and the Biological Passport – Representatives from U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA)

• Wounds and Wound Care for Cyclists – JAMES WATKINS, M.D. (Trauma surgeon specializing in burns and wound management at Harvard-Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, Mass.)

• Primary Care and Infectious Disease Management – JASON BRAYLEY, M.D. (Sports medicine physician and team physician for Kenda presented by Gear Grinder)

• Organizing a Safe Race Day – M. RAMIN MODABBER, M.D. (Chief of Surgery, Saint John’s Health Center, Managing Partner at Santa Monica Orthopedic and Sports Medicine Group, race physician Tour of California)

The cost to register for the conference is $295 and space is limited. More details and registration information, including the complete objectives and agenda, can be found at https://www.cme.ucsf.edu/cme/CourseDetail.aspx?coursenumber=MMJ11001.

About USA Cycling

Recognized by the United States Olympic Committee and the Union Cycliste Internationale, USA Cycling is the official governing body for all disciplines of competitive cycling in the United States, including road, track, mountain bike, BMX and cyclo-cross. As a membership-based organization, USA Cycling comprises 66,500+ licensees; 2,200 clubs and teams; and 34 local associations. The national governing body sanctions 2,650 competitive and non-competitive events throughout the U.S. each year and is responsible for the identification, development, and support of American cyclists. To learn more about USA Cycling, visit www.usacycling.org.