CASTRIES, St Lucia — Health professionals from the Caribbean will meet here later this week to discuss the diagnosis and management of the most common and serious rheumatic conditions across the region.

The Caribbean Association for Rheumatology (CAR) says it will host its ninth annual Scientific Symposium from May 3-5, featuring internationally acclaimed speakers, national research presentations and an ultrasound workshop.

The CAR said that the conference is geared towards doctors and all other health care professionals and that participants will get an opportunity to listen and interact with regional and international experts on the diagnosis and management of the most common and serious rheumatic conditions across the region.

Canadian-based Dr Carter Thorne will deliver a public lecture on the topic “A cost effective model of care for people with chronic conditions”.

The CAR is also urging health professionals to take advantage of a special session which is devoted to teaching rheumatology to non-rheumatologists.

“That session will focus on assessment of patients with joint pain, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, inflammatory back pain, osteoporosis, septic arthritis and other emergencies. Health professionals in Trinidad in 2016 and Curacao in 2017 benefitted from this. Now it is St Lucia’s turn,” it said.

Rheumatology is the study of rheumatism, arthritis, and other disorders of the joints, muscles, and ligaments.