DESCRIPTION / OBJECTIVIES:

– Very brief overview of: Prevalence and burden of migraine, diagnostic criteria, common diagnostic pitfalls (ie – tension, sinus headaches)

-Goals of acute therapy (and importance of effective strategy) 

-Discussion of timing of acute medication 

-Understanding medication overuse patterns 

-Overview of CHS acute treatment algorithm)

-How to optimize acute therapies 

-Clinical considerations/contraindication

-Discussion of new treatment options (Suvexx) 

BIO – CHRISTIE TAIT

Christie Tait obtained a Bachelor of Biological Science from the University of Guelph, a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from the University of Toronto, and her Master of Nursing and Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner Certificate from Ryerson University.

Christie is the Director of the Headache Program at The Neurology Centre of Toronto and a Clinician at the Toronto Headache and Pain Clinic.  Outside of clinical care, she delivers educational programming to healthcare providers with an interest in headache and migraine management and hosts a migraine blog site www.christietait.com.    

Christie’s area of clinical expertise is the diagnosis and management of headaches and concussion.  She uses a holistic approach to patient care that integrates behavioural and lifestyle changes with pharmacological treatments.  She is passionate about improving access to quality care for headache and migraine patients.   

BIO – DR. IAN FINKLESTEIN

Dr. Finkelstein is a duly qualified Medical Practitioner, licensed to practice in Ontario, Canada.  He obtained both Master of Science and Doctor of Medicine degrees from the University of Toronto. He is a Diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management.  Dr. Finkelstein has been the Medical Director of the Toronto Headache and Pain Clinic for the past eighteen years and coordinates the efforts of the clinic’s multidisciplinary team. 

 Dr. Finkelstein has also served as a Pain Consultant for National Defense Canada. He is presently an active member of the American Academy of Pain Management, the American Headache Society, the Canadian Pain Society, the  International Association for the Study of Pain, and the Canadian Headache Society. Dr. Finkelstein is an inspector/assessor for the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (CPSO) in Interventional/Chronic Pain. He serves as the President of the Canadian Society for Neurotoxins in Pain.  Research interests lie in the areas of chronic daily headaches, neuropathic pain and spine biomechanics. He is an ad hoc reviewer for the Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain.