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ABC Travelling Fellows 2008 Diary Seventh stop: Los Angeles 14 May to 17 May Wednesday 14 May The fellows were pretty excited to be travelling to LA without having to do the usual queue at the airport thing. After three hours jammed into the shuttle bus, those opinions were being revised, and there plenty of groans as limbs were unfolded on arrival at the hotel. Opportunities for exercise are too valuable to pass up, and the gym down the road witnessed sweaty fellows working off the last meal and beer. Refreshed and washed, we were picked up by Drs Eckardt, McAllister and Sandobal to be taken to Dr Finerman’s home in Beverly Hills. Dr Finerman (ABC 1977) and his partner hosted an informal dinner, along with UCLA faculty and residents. Plans were made for the next two days and then it was back to the hotel. Thursday 15 May A lie in! Picked up at 0800! The fellows headed to the UCLA Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center for a morning of basic science on Vitamin D (Dr Hewison), Polyethylene wear (Dr McKellop), and the possible role of Vitamin D in wear particle induced osteolysis (Dr Benya). This was followed by presentations from two of the fellows, and then a talk on skeletal tissue regeneration from Dr Ting.
The fellows and their expectant audience For lunch we were swept up to Dr Finerman’s golf club, where the fellows committed four dress code violations before getting through the door! Appropriately attired, lunch was enjoyed before heading out into the hills of Santa Monica for a hike with three of the fellows – thanks Alex, Miguel and Frank. A team night out on Sunset Strip followed, visiting several tourist hot-spots.
How many dress code violations? Friday 16th May. Several of the fellows made it to the post-office to get excess luggage home – there is little need for those warm jackets now! Duly lightened, we were taken up to the Getty Museum by George and Lucy, residents at UCLA. After an interesting guided tour of the architecture of the building by a former primary schoolteacher, we examined the exhibits and enjoyed lunch. Then we were taken to the UCLA medical centre for an afternoon clinical research session. Two of the fellows presented, and we heard talks on radiosynovectomy (Dr Silva), surgery for neurogenic claudication (Dr Shamie), endoprostheses in limb salvage (Dr Eckardt), and trabecular metal in TKR revision (Dr Oakes).
The fellows ignoring their tour guide
It doesn't look like rain Back to the hotel and dress for dinner, which was held at the California Club. A very pleasant evening was had by all, in spite of the fellows trying out some of their jokes. From there we moved to Dr Eckardt’s home for a drink and then home via a few beers. It was a slightly foggy group that gathered the next morning to be seen off by Dr Finerman, and away to join another few airport queues. |
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