Congratulations to the Malaysian and Singapore Society of Rheumatology for organising the 9^th MSR-SSR Workshops in Rheumatology. This year, the theme was “From Clinical to Imaging”. The solid scientific programme served to attract more than just the rheumatologists, internists but also radiologists and others interested in joint and related diseases. The event was held in Petaling Jaya Hilton, Selangor Darul Ehsan and was very well attended.

Prof Dr Donald Resnick (Professor of Radiology in Residence at University of California; Chief, Osteoradiology Section in Veterans Adminstration Medical Centre and Clinical Associate, Scripps Clinic, Department of Radiology, San Diego, California) and Prof Dr Fan Peng Thim (Clinical Professor of Medicine in UCLA School of Medicine and also Consultant Rheumatologist and Clinical Immunologist in a private set up in North Hollywood, California) were the very impressive foreign faculty.

Naturally, many of the Malaysian radiologists in the audience were thrilled to meet with Prof Dr Donald Resnick, and took the opportunity to take photographs with him as well. After all, many would have read or own his books on skeletal radiology/bone and joint imaging.

Others in the faculty included Prof Dr Chng Hiok Hee, Senior Consultant at the Department of Rheumatology, Allergy and Immunology, Tan Tock Seng Hospital and also Clinical Professor at the Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore; Prof Dr Chan Siew Pheng, Professor and Senior Consultant Endocrinologist at the University of Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur.

Topics covered included rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritides, imaging of various joint and bone disorders (from conventional radiography to advanced imaging), management of various related conditions, serological testing in autoimmune disorders, osteomyelitis and septic arthritis, metabolic and endocrine arthropathy, practical approaches for example to backache and updates in fibromyalgia.

The meeting was made possible by industry support, with Pfizer (M) Sdn Bhd as the secretariat, major sponsors: Pfizer (M), Schering-Plough, Wyeth (M), Merck Sharp & Dohme (I.A.) Corp, Sanofi Aventis (M) and many others.