UMANA holds spring conference and family ski vacation (05/22/05)

UMANA holds spring conference and family ski vacation

by George G. Kuritza

CRESTED BUTTE, Colo. - The Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA) - Illinois Chapter held a Spring Scientific Conference and Family Ski vacation at the Crested Butte Club Med resort from Saturday, March 26, through Saturday, April 2, in association with the Ukrainian Ski Club (USC), and sponsored by Lesia Kozicky, owner of Dunwoodie Travel Agency of Yonkers, N.Y. Seventy-four people took part in this ski trip, of which 40 were UMANA members, families and/or associates.

The purpose of this scientific assembly and ski vacation was to draw members of the Ukrainian medical and scientific communities, their families, associates and friends for a week of an accredited scientific conference, as well as an enjoyable ski holiday. Early morning (7-9 a.m.) scientific sessions left ample time for skiing and other winter-related activities with family, friends and colleagues. The educational format included large group lectures, which were followed by discussions with the course faculty.

This scientific conference was designed to provide a broad overview of various medical and scientific topics for the medical practitioner and other health care professionals, who have a primary interest in general medicine, its various subspecialties, as well as medical science.

Course attendees had the opportunity to listen and learn from medical and scientific experts in various fields of medicine. In-depth lectures on various medical and scientific topics served to stimulate an open forum for discussion, and enhance clinical and diagnostic skills. Ample time was scheduled for questions in order to encourage dialogue between the participating faculty and course attendees.

Through its multifaceted curriculum of activities for participants, this premier educational event served to foster professional development through education, and collegiality across multiple medical and scientific specialties. An outstanding faculty was selected based on their individual areas of expertise, their ability to communicate first-hand knowledge of their areas of specialty to others, and their commitment to address issues of current concern to attendees. Various interdisciplinary conference topics were chosen because of their general interest to the general cross-section of medical and scientific participants.

Club Med Crested Butte is America's only totally all-inclusive family ski vacation with world-class skiing. It is a large and modern resort at the base of Crested Butte Mountain with ski-in/ski-out facilities, located in south-central Colorado just north of Gunnison. Attendees enjoyed: a full week of lift tickets, ski or snowboarding lessons for all from beginners to experts, all world class meals and beverages served in a large buffet-style lodging, and a full schedule of extracurricular activities for adults and kids, such as: NASTAR-style ski races, mountain barbecues, evening in-house entertainment, etc.

The daytime weather was postcard perfect, with many days of cloudless skiing, warm temperatures (upper 40's); cool evenings with many nights of snowfall. Many families with children utilized the Club Med Kid's Club for 9 a.m.-4 p.m. ski lessons and/or baby sitting/supervision. Evenings were filled with camaraderie and nightly in-house entertainment, such as cabarets, musicals and various talent shows.

With the tremendous success of this year's conference and family ski vacation, the organizers and the UMANA Illinois chapter have vowed to continue this tradition, and to hold another scientific meeting next spring, probably from March 25 through April 1, 2006. Further information will be forthcoming.

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