The Irish ME/CFS Association have cut a deal with international globetrotter Dr Rosamund Vallings, medical adviser to the Associated New Zealand ME Society (ANZMES), to give four talks in the Republic next month.
Dr Vallings, whose new book on ME/CFS symptoms, diagnosis and management came out last September, will be at meetings in the following venues:
* Tuesday, May 21 – Limerick Strand Hotel, Ennis Road, Limerick City, 11.30am
* Wednesday, May 22 – Westwood Hotel, Dangan, Necastle, Galway City, 7.30pm
* Thursday, May 23 – Bush Hotel, Main Street, Carrick on Shannon, Co Leitrim, 8pm
* Saturday, May 25 – Carlton Hotel Dublin Airport, Old Airport Road, Cloghran (Santry), Dublin Airport, 2.30pm
Admission is E5, on the door, to help towards the costs of organising these four meetings, and Dr. Vallings' trip.
For more information, contact: Irish ME/CFS Association, PO Box 3075, Dublin 2. Tel: (Dublin) 2350965. Email: info@irishmecfs.org Website: www.irishmecfs.org
Dr Vallings has issued the following profile of herself:
Dr Rosamund Vallings MNZM, MB BS (Lond), MRCS LRCP, Dip Clin Hyp, BA (Massey)
I have run a medical practice since 1966, and the practice has become specialised over the past 30 years, with most patients suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME), Fibromyalgia and related conditions. I am closely involved in diagnosing and managing these patients who mostly come on referral from other doctors from all over New Zealand. I participate in regular seminars for these patients, and have produced an education booklet and a number of information sheetsfor patients. I have written a book on the diagnosis and management of CFS/ME which was published in September 2012.
I am medical adviser to the ANZMES – the local national organisation supporting those with CFS/ME. I have been involved in GP and student education at the University of Auckland and have also spoken to medical groups around NZ. I have regularly attended international CFS/ME conferences and presented papers. I always produce a detailed report from these conferences for international distribution. I have visited a number of CFS/ME centres overseas, and maintain contact with many overseas CFS/ME organisations.
I am a board member and secretary of the International Association for CFS/ME (IACFS) and currently write their regular newsletter.
I have been involved in planning and implementing a pilot programme for education of social welfare case workers. I have reviewed the overseas guidelines for the diagnosis and management of CFS/ME for the NZ Guidelines Group, with a view to providing a set of NZ guidelines. I have recently been involved with the IACFS in producing a physicians’ primer to be used internationally, and I have also participated in an international group based in Canada producing a recently published updated consensus definition for the illness.
I have frequently been involved in collaborative research both in NZ and overseas.
In January 2008, I was awarded the Membership of the NZ Order of Merit for services to CFS/ME in the Queen’s New Years Honours.