Abdominal Wall Reconstruction (AWR) 2025

Friday, June 13, 2025, 6:00 AM - Saturday, June 14, 2025, 4:00 PM, Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner, McLean, VA

MedStar Georgetown University Hospital’s 16th Annual Abdominal Wall Reconstruction (AWR) Conference is a comprehensive two-day symposium that provides an in-depth understanding of the emerging specialty of AWR and hernia surgery. The purpose of this highly interactive meeting is to offer an evidence-based discussion on clinical aspects of AWR through didactic lectures with video education, case presentations, and panel discussions to address the complexities of hernia surgery.

Currently, there are approximately 600,000 ventral hernia repairs performed annually in the United States and the patient population continues to be increasingly complex with significant co-morbidities. Thus, there is a significant complication rate including surgical site morbidity, readmission, and recurrence. The course is comprised of internationally renowned faculty that are a diverse group of experts chosen from the disciplines of general and plastic surgery, based upon their ongoing contributions to the field of abdominal wall reconstruction. The individual sessions will focus on patient selection and optimization, selection of surgical approach and reinforcement material, technical aspects of open and robotic surgery, and management of complications. The conference is designed to give attendees a broad knowledge of abdominal core health required to have a successful AWR practice.

Endorsed by:

1. Identify why preoperative preparation is necessary for optimizing patient outcomes.
2. Summarize the importance of sub-specialty training to be a successful hernia surgeon.
3. Identify the roles and responsibilities of members of the healthcare team involved in the collaborative care of patients with hernias.
4. Recognize how to interpret peer reviewed literature.
5. Identify the indications for biologic, synthetic, bioabsorbable mesh.
6. Utilize patient optimization to reduce the incidence of surgical site occurrences.
7. Recognize the value of botulinum toxin A in large hernia defects.
8. Utilize advanced minimally invasive techniques for optimal patient outcomes.
9. Recognize the value of plastic surgery techniques for advanced abdominal wall reconstruction.
10. Manage entero-cutaneous fistulas in the setting of a hernia.
11. Recognize the nuisances of AWR in specific patient cohorts (e.g. women of childbearing age)
12. Implement appropriate treatment options for infected abdominal wall mesh.
13. Recognize the optimal management of skin and soft tissue during hernia repair.
14. Utilize advanced abdominal wall reconstruction techniques to improve patient outcomes.
15. Evaluate and manage the common complications after component separation procedure.
16. Recognize how to interpret relevant radiology studies when evaluating hernia patients.
17. Recognize the importance of quality of life metrics when defining metrics of success for hernia patient.
18. Recognize abdominal wall anatomy.
19. Integrate a team-based approach in the care of patients with hernias.

February 17 to June 12 (end time 10AM)

• Physician  $675

• Resident or Fellow  $425

• Physician Assistant  $525

• Nurse Practitioner  $525

• Nurse  $525

• Dietitians  $525

• Allied Health Professional  $525

• Medical Student  $425

• Industry Professional  $950

Conference Dates: June 13 to 14, 2025

• Physician  $750

• Resident or Fellow  $500

• Physician Assistant  $600

• Nurse Practitioner  $600

• Nurse  $600

• Pharmacist  $600

• Dietitians  $600

• Allied Health Professional  $600

• Medical Student:   $500

• Industry Professional  $1,000
  
  

Registration Add Ons:

• Cadaver Lab  $95

• Reception Guest  $50

Coming soon! More information on Saturday, June 14 Cadaver Lab. Check back for more information.

Please contact MedStarCPE@MedStar.net or (833) 731-1273 for registration assistance.

 

In support of improving patient care, MedStar Health is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE) and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Credit Designation Statement:

This activity was planned by and for the healthcare team, and learners will receive 13.50 Interprofessional Continuing Education (IPCE) credits for learning and change.

Physicians: MedStar Health designates this Live Activity for a maximum of 13.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

American Board of Internal Medicine MOC Credit:

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the participant to earn up to 13.50 MOC points in the American Board of Internal Medicine’s (ABIM) Maintenance of Certification (MOC) program. It is the CME activity provider’s responsibility to submit participant completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABIM MOC credit.

American Board of Surgery CC Credit:

Successful completion of this CME activity, which includes participation in the evaluation component, enables the learner to earn credit toward the CME and Self-Assessment requirements of the American Board of Surgery’s Continuous Certification program. It is the CME activity provider's responsibility to submit learner completion information to ACCME for the purpose of granting ABS credit.

MOC/CC Participation Threshold: Learner participates by writing a reflective statement and makes a commitment to change or maintain an element of practice.

 

Nurses: This activity is approved for 13.50 ANCC contact hours. Nurses should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Registered Dietitians (RDs) and Dietetic Technicians, Registered (DTRs):

Completion of this IPCE activity awards 13.50 CPEUs.  RDs and DTRs are to select activity type 102 on Professional Development Portfolio (PDP) activity logs.
 

AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ Physician (13.50 hours), ABIM MOC Part 2 (13.50 hours), ABS CC (13.50 hours), Dietetic Technicians, Registered (13.50 hours), IPCE (13.50 hours), Non-Physician Member of the Healthcare Team (13.50 hours), Nurse - ANCC (13.50 hours), Registered Dietitians - CDR (13.50 hours)

The Ritz-Carlton, Tysons Corner
1700 Tysons Blvd
McLean, VA 22102

 Reservation line: 703-744-3947 
 Hotel phone number: 703-506-4300
 Room Block Rate: $239 + applicable tax 
 Be sure to mention “Abdominal Wall Reconstruction” when making your
 room reservations.

Hotel Room Block Cutoff Date: May 12, 2025
Hotel arrangements can be made online at: https://awrconference.com/venue/

This conference offers the opportunity to exhibit at the conference. For more information, please contact Elizabeth Romano at elizabeth.s.romano@medstar.net 

To view the exhibit prospectus please visit the AWR Website.

MedStar Health is pleased to invite you to submit an abstract for presentation at the 15^th Annual Abdominal Wall Reconstruction (AWR) Conference. This is an excellent opportunity for you and your colleagues to share your latest work and research with world-renown experts in the field!

Abstracts will be reviewed and selected on the basis of their scientific merit and content quality. Submitted abstracts meeting the eligibility requirements will be considered for poster presentation from June 13 to 14, 2025. The top abstracts will also be awarded and presented orally in the conference general session on Saturday, June 14.

We invite you to participate by submitting a 250 word abstract, which should describe work with relevance to abdominal wall reconstruction.

All material presented in the abstract must be current, relevant, and free from ethical bias. Company logos of the supporting company are prohibited on any part of the presentation. All abstracts received will be considered to be presented as POSTER ABSTRACTS during the conference.

Submission Deadline: Abstracts must be submitted by April 21, 2025.

Abstract Acceptance

• Acceptance notification will be sent via email by April 29, 2025.
• Abstracts are selected on the basis of scientific merit.
• Expenses associated with the presentation of an abstract are the responsibility of the presenter.
• At least one presenting/submitting author per abstract must be registered.

Abstract Presentation

All accepted abstracts will be poster presentations. Poster size is 4 feet tall x 3.5 feet wide.

Please note the submitting author will receive all correspondence about the abstract so we advise that the submitting author is who you would prefer to receive all communication.

You may submit more than 1 abstract. However, presenters who are accepted for oral presentation will be permitted to give only 1 oral presentation.  Additional accepted abstracts will therefore be poster only.

If you have questions regarding the abstracts, please contact Kia Paige at Kia.n.paige@medstar.net.

Submit your Abstract

View Submitted Abstracts