Grant: Meetings, Planning and Dissemination Grant: Circulatory and Respiratory Health

Knowledge translation in medical sciences covers two levels of knowledge transfer: the application of basic research to clinical medicine and the application of clinical sciences to populations. The ACC Lake Louise carries a tradition of excellence in the dissemination of both basic and clinical sciences; knowledge gained from this meeting allows physicians and health care professionals to improve patient care and health. This annual 5-day event is now in its 26th year, attesting to the success of the formula. Through feedback from participants, we ensure that Speakers maintain a level of excellence, objectivity and timely analysis of data. Many Speakers are medical scientists, clinical trialists and have contributed directly to the body of knowledge being presented. The meeting also included a resident competition, allowing the best residents in cardiology or cardiovascular surgery across Canada to present their work first to a jury, then to the audience. The meeting is reviewed, approved, and accredited by the Canadian Cardiovascular Society (CCS) and by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. Through a process of comprehensive annual review, topics and Speakers are selected in great part according to this feedback process. A Steering committee composed of Welsh, Genest, Klinke, Anderson and Gersh ensure that the program reflects contemporary studies. The support of CIHR for the past 2 years attests to the high caliber of the scientific content. The meeting runs for 5 days. Lectures are presented in the morning, each allowing a discussion period. There are no concurrent meetings, allowing participation of the entire audience. Knowledge translation workshops in the afternoon allow delegates to choose specific topics, lead by two experts in an open case-discussion format. The pedagogical value of these workshops for clinical learning is unparalleled. Both the CCS and CIHR offer specific sessions at the meeting.