Dr. Alan Hoffman

Specialty:

Sleep Medicine

About The Speaker

Dr. Alan Hoffman is a Vancouver Island-based Sleep Disorders Consultant, and Assistant Clinical Prof. of Medicine at the University of British Columbia. Currently, he works with the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC as a consultant in the QC Diagnostic Accreditation Program for polysomnography and home sleep apnea testing (HSAT). Previously, he was the medical director of several accredited sleep laboratories in the province of British Columbia, with a background in Internal Medicine, Critical Care and Chest Medicine. He is a frequent lecturer on a variety of sleep medicine related topics.

He was recently a key driver of new province-wide guidelines certifying and accrediting HSAT facilities in British Columbia & Alberta, and also in developing new physician guidelines for the management of obstructive sleep apnea.

He has practiced in many locales including the USA, Middle East and the UK, as well as in several Provinces. He started out in the late 1960’s as a hospital based respiratory therapist, then became a biochemist, eventually running his own lipid biochemistry and mass spectroscopy laboratory at the National Institutes of Health in Bethesda, as a Fogarty Visiting Scientist. His focus now is devoted to the education, science and medicine of sleep disorders.

He lives with his wife in Maple Bay in the Cowichan valley, where they have a photography studio, custom picture framing workshop and bookbindery.

Dr. Nathan Roth

Specialty:

About The Speaker

Dr. Nathan Roth has been active in Women’s Health Care Leadership, Obstetrics, Gynecology and Infertility for over 30 years. He has organized, participated, and chaired local, regional, and national committees.

 

He has a Master of Law Degree from Osgoode Law School and a Black Belt in Lean Six Sigma from McGill. He is the current Chair of the American Congress of Obstetrics and Gynecology Section.

 

Dr. Roth is an invited Lecturer and assistant professor at the University of Toronto and has been an educator at New York University and Bellevue Hospitals. A graduate of McGill University, he was awarded the BMO Making a Difference Award. He is a graduate of the National Leadership Institute at the Kenan-Flagler Business School at the University of North Carolina. He has a Masters’s Certification in the Physician Leadership Development Program at the Schulich and the Quality Improvement and Patient Safety Program at the University of Toronto.

 

He was a past Medical Advisor at the College of Physicians and Surgeons and provides independent expert opinions throughout the country. Dr. Roth has been involved in leadership at The Scarborough Hospital Network as the president of the Medical Staff Association, board member of the Medical Advisory Council, and program leader. He is the Medical Director of Hope Fertility.

 

His special interests are dispute resolution, organizational governance, and creating enhanced value through a transformative framework for patient-centred quality outcomes. He is currently the Cancer Care Ontario Regional Lead for Cervical Screening and Colposcopy, creating innovation in health equity that has expanded to Africa.

 

CME Topics

Sleep Medicine & Gynecology

Dr. Alan Hoffman -

• What is sleep medicine? What is a sleep disorder? How sleep disorders are diagnosed
  • Understand the plethora of sleep disorders
  • Know when to use home testing and went to send patients to a sleep laboratory/sleep specialist
• Insomnia
  • Understand what insomnia is, how it develops and what the 3P’s are
  • Develop a management approach to the different types of insomnia
• Obstructive sleep apnea
  • Understand the types of sleep apnea and how they differ from each other
  • Update knowledge in the modern treatment of OSA, including oral appliances

• Disorders of excessive daytime sleepiness
  • Recognize and understand the causes of excessive daytime sleepiness
  • Know the basics of treatment of EDS; be able to discuss the issue of driving and licenses with patients
• New Sleep/Wake Medications and What They Target
  • Understand new wake medications such as Pitolisant, XWave and orexin agonists
  • Introduction to the DORAs - the new “goto” medications for chronic insomnia
• Sleep In Older Adults - An Increasing Problem
  • Understand the wide range of behavioral, pharmacological and medical interferences in the quantity and quality of sleep
  • Provide a solid approach to managing this conundrum and improving sleep in the elderly
• Parasomnias – Things that go Bump in the Night
  • Provide a solid understanding of both non-REM and REM based parasomnias
  • Provide a framework for the diagnosis and management of these conditions, particularly with the aim to reduce patient and bed partner injuries and harm

Dr. Nathan Roth-

• Increase awareness among healthcare professionals about the latest advancements in HPV testing technologies.
• Educate the audience on the significance of immunization in preventing HPV-related cervical cancers.
• Provide practical insights into effective communication strategies for promoting HPV testing and vaccination in clinical settings.

• Enhance the understanding of PCOS among healthcare providers by comprehensively presenting its symptoms, diagnostic criteria, and available treatments.
• Facilitate discussions on the importance of early diagnosis and patient-centred management of PCOS.
• Share evidence-based approaches for educating patients about lifestyle modifications and treatment options for PCOS.

• Provide an overview of the physiological changes during menopause and the role of hormonal therapy in managing symptoms.
• Address concerns and misconceptions surrounding menopausal hormonal therapy through evidence-based information.
• Equip healthcare professionals with communication skills to engage in informed discussions with menopausal individuals about treatment options.

• Discuss advanced techniques in infertility evaluation and their significance in clinical practice.
• Explore standardized protocols for infertility management to ensure consistent and high-quality care.
• Advocate for improved access to fertility treatments and support services.

• Provide an overview of evidence-based practices in managing abnormal uterine bleeding.
• Discuss patient education strategies regarding available treatment options and their potential outcomes.
• Foster interdisciplinary collaboration for comprehensive, patient-centered care in managing abnormal uterine bleeding.

• Equip healthcare professionals with communication skills for navigating emotionally charged discussions.
• Provide practical guidance on addressing challenging conversations with patients and their families.
• Foster a supportive culture encouraging professionals to seek assistance and continuous improvement in managing difficult discussions.