The Magnifi Group, Inc., a developer of e-learning technology for the medical device industry, has announced that its IEP’s (Spine Interactive Educational Program) annual Spine Fellows Live Course has reached its capacity for medical device sponsors. The course will be conducted November 16 to 18 at the Grand Del Mar Hotel, San Diego, California. CEO Glen Abel projects that this will be the largest gathering ever of spine fellows for an educational event.
According to Magnifi Group data, there are 91 spine fellows in the U.S. who represent 36 spine centers. Of these, Abel expects approximately 50 to attend the fall meeting. One reason for the rapid growth in attendance, according to Abel, is the fact that the material presented covers everything from adult scoliosis to “how to start your own practice;” it helps spine centers “get their fellows out of the classroom and into didactic sessions” and the conference provides medical device companies with an opportunity to present their latest techniques in a group setting.
“Historically, medical device companies have done this on a one-on-one basis with fellows. There is the sense of a potential conflict of interest when a fellow comes to a session at the medical device company’s expense. What this conference does is provide a neutral environment that makes it a lot more comfortable for medical device companies and for the program directors of the spine centers to allow their fellows to attend, ” Abel said.
Andrew Wolpe, Magnifi’s president and chief operating officer, noted that “increased FDA scrutiny is putting a cloud over medical device companies’ exclusive involvement with fellows and major U.S. spine centers.”
Serving as the course director and leader of the conference faculty is Frank Phillips, M.D., professor and spine fellowship co-director of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Rush University Medical Center, who said, “I believe it’s important for fellows to review key subject areas that will be addressed during this two-day course.”
The Annual Spine Fellows Live Course will open with an evening reception and the 2012 IEP Fellow of the Year Awards—recognition of the top case presentations submitted by fellows to the IEP. Additional information on the spine course can be viewed at http://spine-iep.com/sfc/program.html.
