Congratulations Felicity!

I attended Felicity Tompkin's 8th annual Sjogren's Syndrome Meeting here in Auckland, on Saturday, 17th November 2001. I represented Arthritis New Zealand although I normally correspond with Felicity and swap Fibro news for Sjogrens news to help maintain her links within the Arthritis field. It is what she achieves with her Sjogren's Syndrome Group, that originally gave me the idea to do the same with Fibro - another lesser-known condition which was being poorly represented in medical circles at the time. Felicity is my mentor in this business!

I originally attended one of Felicity's annual gatherings about four years ago and these are always excellent meetings, mainly because they are a rare public interdisciplinary or multidisciplinary clinic with top people who are giving up a Saturday morning and out to provide light entertainment as well as information. You can imagine the stimulation with five medical specialists having fun on a Saturday morning!

Usually about 60-70 people attend but this year, seats were provided for 110 & they were all full with 101 prior registrations. We were told from the top table, this was because "they (the specialist team speaking) were becoming famous!" - this was the type of humour prevailing.

Prof. Randall Moreton, Gastroenterologist and David Hay, Oral Health Specialist from Greenlane are always present, with Randall always being encouraged to give a successful and well-received demonstration of massage on non-functioning Salivary glands. This year Felicity added flavour with Rheumatologist, Peter Gow from Manukau Superclinic, Peter Ring - Ophthalmologist, and Andrew Veale - Respiratory, Diving & Sleep specialist, to handle questions about the symptoms of Sjogrens Syndrome in a 90-minute panel discussion with the audience.

The panel discussion was the highlight and followed Felicity's introduction about Sjogren's history in New Zealand and how she came to be in her role in 1990 as a N.Z. resource person. Then we listened to a explanation of 'The Role of the Lungs in the Body' from Andrew Veale and heard the results of Studies which have been conducted by David Hay in conjunction with various people including Prof. Randall Moreton over the last three years. These studies were linked to casein derivatives being used in the production of usable products to assist people with Sjogrens Syndrome. A break ensured we could all look at the latest products available in New Zealand and in many cases take home generous samples from manufacturers.

This is a rare syndrome associated with arthritis and In the ten years since Felicity has started her group, she has sent 911 information packs throughout New Zealand. Felicity was expecting her first person to attend from Sydney this time. I am unsure if she finally arrived. However, people come from as far away as Invercargill but predominantly from throughout the North Island. I always learn something new and with the light humour throughout, it is instructive and fun - a great blend! Everyone stays on their toes. The enjoyment is immense and the stimulation to absorb new information is enormous.

Congratulations Felicity on another successful meeting. We look forward to next Novmber.

Written by: Jacqui Leeden

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