The mission of IMPACT^TM is to provide gastroenterologists, hepatologists, primary care physicians, and other healthcare providers who manage patients with digestive disorders with a one-day, high- quality, CME-sponsored program that comprehensively addresses five or more clinically relevant therapeutic areas.

Traditionally, medical education programs tend to focus only on one therapeutic area. Based on years of experience in producing CME activities, feedback from program evaluations, and independent surveys, we have found that physicians desire symposia held close to home, which address practical aspects of patient evaluation and treatment in multiple therapeutic areas. Furthermore, physicians overwhelmingly feel that it is extremely valuable to actively participate in “live” meetings that maximize interactions with their peers and the faculty.

IMPACT^TM was developed by Seymour Sabesin, MD, a nationally renowned gastroenterologist who is serving as Program Activity Director, and Philippe Vitat, a medical communications expert who is serving as Medical Editor. The IMPACT^TM conference series is produced by Digestive Diseases Education Company (DDEC), a premier medical education agency headquartered in Chicago, Illinois.

• Focusing on therapeutic areas of utmost clinical relevance to practicing gastroenterologists, primary care physicians, and allied healthcare professionals, including;


• Addressing each therapeutic area in a dedicated 45—120 minute section of the program

• Assigning nationally recognized experts to discuss each therapeutic area

• Orienting the program toward the practical aspects of patient management (eg, diagnostic testing, treatment options)

• Sharing the faculty’s clinical experience rather than solely reviewing the medical literature

• Allocating ample time for case studies, panel discussions, and audience question-and-answer sessions

• Hosting local meetings to minimize participant time, cost and travel commitments