Mentoring in IBD began with an enthusiastically received educational symposium in January 2000. The success of that program was duplicated by Mentoring in IBD II: Extending the benefits of maintenance therapy, expanded by Mentoring in IBD III: Optimizing therapy and promoting health for advanced IBD management and continued with subsequent annual courses. Each symposium has provided Canadian gastroenterologists with a new opportunity to update their knowledge, share their experience with colleagues and expand their clinical expertise.

With each new topic, the annual Mentoring in IBD course has become increasingly popular among Canadian specialists. One reason for this steadily increasing popularity is the consistent, practical and clinically relevant objectives governing the development of each course:

• Increase awareness of current developments and best practices in IBD management
• Promote collaboration among Canadian gastroenterologists
• Optimize treatment of inflammatory bowel disease

This comprehensive internet IBD resource provides Canadian and international gastroenterologists with a complete archive of materials generated from all Mentoring in IBD courses. Among other features, the site allows registered users to obtain educational credits, correspond with peers and international experts and download a variety of publications.

IBD Dialogue, a bimonthly newsletter launched in 2004, communicates current developments and best practices in IBD management, as it captures the participant consensus of each case-based workshop. All participants of Mentoring in IBD VI and the regional sessions will automatically receive IBD Dialogue via email as part of the post-program learning requirements.

Sincerely,

Richard Fedorak, MD
Chair, Mentoring in IBD