Im on the way home from the Jordan Society of Nephrology annual scientific meeting where I was invited as an ISN-sponsored speaker by Norbert Lameire (from Belgium, and of course chair of the ISN GO CME program) and Patrick Niaudet (pediatric nephrologist in Paris).
The two main themes of the meeting were transplantation (ideal as World Kidney Day was on the second day of the meeting) and GN. Jordans main World Kidney Day event was actually on Sunday March 11th a meeting being hosted by their Health Minister.
As always, I had a very warm welcome from Jordanian colleagues, and it was a very good scientific meeting with a mix of local and international speakers. There was particularly lively case discussion, and I was especially pleased there were contributions from some excellent renal pathologists. We know that in so many parts of the world there is a critical shortage of renal pathologists, so this was good to see.
I was also great that there was good, broad-based attendance. Most of Jordans 75 nephrologists were there, along with all their fellows, and also some residents being given early exposure to nephrology which hopefully will influence their career choice. Also great that the Jordanians are able to support colleagues from nearby countries who face challenging times; most notably I was glad to meet nephrologists there from Iraq, Palestine and Sudan.
And managed to fit in some Saturday relaxation before flying home – sleeping in a Bedouin tent in the middle of the Jordanian desert remarkable absolute silence, and no internet!