ALL TIMES ARE LISTED IN EASTERN TIME ZONE
Each day will begin with a story from a survivor.
Each story is approximately 10 minutes long.
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Noon
Welcoming Remarks
Welcome: Susan Stewart, Executive Director and Founder, BMT InfoNet
Nancy and Barbara Lowry: The longest living bone marrow transplant survivor, and her twin sister Barb, who was her donor, discuss their history-making bone marrow transplant.
1:15 pm
(Choose one)
Strive to Thrive! Understanding Your Health after a Transplant Using Your Own Cells (Autologous Transplant)
Presenter: Jonathan Lambird MD Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Learn about complications that may persist long-term or develop months or years later after an autologous stem cell transplant and what you can do to prevent and manage them.
Limiting Late Effects Following a Transplant Using Donor Cells (Allogeneic Transplant)
Presenter: John McCarty MD Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Virginia Commonwealth University
Ongoing and late complications after a transplant using donor cells are common. Learn who's at risk, how to prevent them and treatment options.
2:30 pm
After Transplant: Finding Qualified Health Care Providers
Presenter: Paul Carpenter MB, BS, BSc Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Learn about transplant patients' long-term healthcare needs and how to identify qualified healthcare providers.
3:45 pm
How to Navigate the Challenges of Caregiving
Delve into the challenges and silver linings of being a caregiver.
Sunday, May 4, 2025
11:30 am
Survivor Story: Michael Riotto:
Multiple myeloma and stem cell transplant survivor explains his new role as an advocate for patients’ rights.
Noon
Multiple Myeloma: Maintenance Therapy to Prolong Survival and Improve Life after Transplant
Presenter: Lizamarie Bachier-Rodriguez MD The Blood & Marrow Transplant Group of Georgia
Learn which myeloma patients benefit from maintenance therapy after transplant and what the therapy involves.
1:15 pm
Graft-versus-Host Disease: What to Do When It Affects Your Eyes
Presenter: Zhonghui Katie Luo MD, PhD Massachusetts Eye and Ear
Ocular GVHD can cause dryness, pain and vision problems in the eyes. Learn what you can do to prevent and treat it.
2:30 pm
Can a Stem Cell Transplant Cure Autoimmune Diseases?
Presenter: Ernesto Ayala MD Mayo Clinic
Learn which autoimmune diseases can be treated with a stem cell transplant and which patients qualify for a transplant.
3:45 pm
Bone Health and Other Endocrine Issues after Transplant or CAR T-cell Therapy
Presenter: Angeliki Stamatouli MD Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Virginia Commonwealth University
Endocrine problems such as osteoporosis are common after a stem cell transplant. Learn who's at risk for developing endocrine problems and how to prevent, detect, and treat them.
Monday, May 5, 2025
11:30 am
Survivor Story: Michael and Ashlee Cramer:
Mom and son duo reflect on surviving a transplant and managing graft-versus-host disease as a young adult.
Noon
(Choose one)
Graft-versus-Host Disease: What to Know, What to Do
Presenter: Farhad Khimani MD Moffitt Cancer Center
GVHD affects approximately 50% of patients who have a transplant with donor cells. Learn about the different types of GVHD and how they are treated.
The Impact of Gut Microbiome on Transplant or CAR T-cell Therapy
Presenter: Melody Smith MD, MS Stanford Medicine
Learn how the gut microbiome plays a role in fighting cancer and helping with recovery.
1:15 pm
Managing Infections after Transplant and CAR T-cell Therapy
Presenter: Gowri Satyanarayana MD Northside Hospital Cancer Institute
Learn about infections that can emerge early and late after transplant or CAR T-cell therapy, who's at risk, and how to prevent and treat them.
2:30 pm
New Cancers after Transplant or CAR T-cell Therapy: Who's at Risk?
Presenter: Marcelo Pasquini MD, MS Medical College of Wisconsin, CIBMTR
New cancers can occur after a stem cell transplant or CAR T-cell therapy. Learn which cancers occur most often and how to reduce your risk.
3:45 pm
Protecting Your Skin after Transplant
Presenter: Rachel Rosenstein MD, PhD Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine
A variety of skin problems can occur after a transplant. Learn how to treat them and reduce your risk of skin cancer.
Tuesday, May 6, 2025
11:30 am
Survivor Story: Gay Lynn Fox:
Lymphoma survivor describes her journey from diagnosis, through relapse, to transplant and CAR T-cell therapy.
Noon
What to Do When Cancer Comes Back after Transplant or CAR T-cell Therapy
Presenter: Edmund Waller MD, PhD, FACP Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University
Learn how to reduce your risk of relapse after transplant or CAR T-cell therapy, and treatment options available if relapse occurs.
1:15 PM
(Choose one)
Enhancing Intimacy and Sexual Well-Being for Couples after Transplant and CAR T-cell Therapy
Presenter: Catalina Lawsin PhD The Rebirth Collective
Difficulties with sex and intimacy are common after transplant and CART-cell therapy. Learn how couples can regain intimacy after treatment and improve their sexual health.
Oral Graft-versus-Host Disease: From Surviving to Thriving
Presenter: Katharine Ciarrocca DMD, MSEd Duke University Hospital
Learn what to do if GVHD affects your mouth, teeth and/or salivary glands
2:30 pm
(Choose one)
Transplant and CAR T-cell Therapy for Older Adults: Finding the Balance between Benefit and Risk
Presenter: Amelia Langston MD Winship Cancer Institute, Emory University
Can older adults benefit from transplant or CAR T-cell therapy? Learn what's being done to make these therapies safe for older adults.
Staying Safe and Active with Graft-versus-Host Disease
Presenter: Adam Matichak PT, DPT Stanford Medicine
Learn about exercises that can help GVHD patients regain stamina and strength and reduce fatigue.
3:45 pm
Sleep: Why We Need It, How to Get It
Presenter: Rina Fox PhD, MPH University of Arizona College of Nursing
Learn why getting enough sleep is difficult after a transplant and CAR T-cell therapy, and proven strategies for falling and staying asleep.
Wednesday, May 7, 2025
11:30 am
Survivor Story: Eric and Crystal Shaw:
A frank talk about the challenge of caring for a spouse over seven years through three stem cell transplants.
Noon
(Choose one)
Enhancing Survivorship with Exercise
Presenter: Nate Parker PhD, MPH Moffitt Cancer Center
Learn how exercise can improve physical and mental health after transplant or CAR T-cell therapy, and how to find an exercise professional who can address your specific needs.
What is Neuropathy? How Can It Be Managed?
Presenter: Sasha Knowlton MD Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Learn the difference between peripheral and autonomic neuropathy, how to manage the symptoms, including pain, and how to minimize the impact of neuropathy on your daily life.
1:15 pm
CAR T-cell Therapy for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia: Past, Present, and Future Directions
Presenter: Rawan Faramand MD Moffitt Cancer Center
Learn who is a candidate for CAR T-cell therapy, what is involved in the treatment, and potential risks and outcomes.
2:30 pm
Eating Well after Transplant and CAR T-cell Therapy: Why It Matters
Presenter: Layla Silverman RD, CSO, LDN Memorial Cancer Insitute
Are you eating a diet that helps your recovery? Learn the facts and myths about healthy diets.
3:45 pm
New Treatments to Prevent or Treat Graft-versus-Host Disease
Presenter: Trent Wang DO MPH University of Miami/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Much progress has been made in recent years in preventing and treating GVHD. Learn what's on the horizon.
Thursday, May 8, 2025
11:30 am
Survivor Story: Jim Finley:
Firefighter and Iraq War Vet compares his combat and transplant experience.
Noon
From Worn Out to Energized: Tackling Fatigue after Transplant or CAR T-cell Therapy
Presenter: Alexandra Muench PsyD University of Pennsylvania
Learn why chronic fatigue is common after transplant or CAR T-cell therapy and effective strategies to manage it.
1:15 pm
(Choose one)
CAR T-cell Therapy for Patients with Lymphoma: Who Benefits?
Presenter: Jay Spiegel MD University of Miami/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
Learn how CAR T-cell therapy differs from standard cancer therapy and stem cell transplantation for lymphoma patients and who is a candidate.
Graft-versus-Host Disease: What to Do When It Attacks the Lungs
Presenter: Guang-Shing Cheng MD Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Learn how frequently GVHD affects the lungs, risk factors, symptoms, and treatment options.
2:30 pm
CAR-T-cell Therapy for Multiple Myeloma: Who's A Good Candidate?
Presenter: Tara Gregory MD Colorado Blood Cancer Institute @ HCA Healthcare Sarah Cannon Cancer Network
Learn what's involved in undergoing CAR T-cell therapy to treat multiple myeloma, the potential benefits and side effects, and who's a good candidate.
3:45 pm
Survivorship: Managing the Fear of Recurrence
Presenter: Dawn Speckhart Ph.D The Blood & Marrow Transplant Program at Northside Hospital
Learn how fear of cancer recurrence can impact quality of life after transplant or CAR T-cell therapy, and effective strategies to manage it.
Friday, May 9, 2025
11:30 am
Survivor Stories:
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Carolyn Brodginski: therapeutic musician and Zac Mirecki, Acute Myeloid Leukemia and stem cell transplant survivor discuss The Power of Dulcimer Music During Recovery
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Peter Feinberg: The Journey to Recovery after Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia
Noon
Cognitive Challenges after Transplant and CAR T-cell Therapy and Treatment Options
Presenter: Zev Nakamura MD Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Learn strategies to manage common cognitive problems that can occur after transplant or CAR T-cell therapy.
1:15 pm
(Choose one)
Graft-versus-Host Disease: How It Affects Skin
Presenter: Alina Markova MD Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
Learn how GVHD can affect the skin, nails, hair, and fascia, and available treatment and supportive care options.
Clinical Trials 101 - Why They Are Important and What You Should Know
Presenter: Caitlin Guzowski MBA, MHA, CCRC Northside Hospital Cancer Institute
Learn why clinical trials are important, the safeguards in place to protect clinical trial participants, why some trials involve randomization, and how to find an appropriate clinical trial.
2:30 pm
Graft-versus-Host Disease: Gastrointestinal Tract
Presenter: William Clark MD Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Virginia Commonwealth University
The gut and liver are common targets of GVHD. Learn what can be done to prevent and treat GI GVHD.
3:45 pm
Liver Complications after Transplant
Presenter: Manhal Izzy MD Vanderbilt University
Learn who’s at risk of developing liver problems after transplant, how they are detected, and treatment options.