JEDDAH, 21 December 2005 — “Genetic Diagnostics in Hematology and Oncology” was the topic of a lecture held at the International Medical Center (IMC) auditorium by Dr. Jochen Decker, medical director of the Bioscientia Institute and head of the Center of Human Genetics at Ingelheim, Germany.
Bioscientia is a reference laboratory serving the Middle East that conducts diagnostic and other tests that are not offered in the region. Among these tests are the BRCA tests 1 & 2 that checks for the presence of breast cancer genes in women.
“The BRCA tests can determine whether a woman is likely to develop breast cancer, and if so, genetic counseling and early action can be taken,” said Decker.
Decker has been engaged in cancer research, clinical oncology and tumor-genetics as well as heredity diseases and genetic predispositions to cancer for the past 18 years.
Dr. Ziad Elchami, director of IMC Pain Management Center of Excellence and former physician of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation (CCF), gave the second lecture. Dr. Elchami gave a brief presentation about the comprehensive Pain Management Program developed at the IMC.
The program is modeled after the CCF patient care model and specializes in headaches as well as cancer and diabetic neuropathy pain management.
“Many of us would do their best to help, but only a few will go further to add a special touch; we do,” he said.
The Pain Management Center of Excellence at the IMC is one of six other specialized centers including Diabetes, Women’s Health, Pediatrics and Musculoskeletal centers.
Attending the lectures were physicians and laboratory specialists from different medical institutes including King Abdul Aziz University, King Faisal Specialist Hospital Saudi German Hospital and Noora Laboratories.
The International Medical Center is partners with the Cleveland Clinic Foundation — a leading Medical Institute based in Ohio.
The CCF is ranked by the news weekly US News and World Report as the No. 1 Cardiac institute in the United States for the last 11 consecutive years.
