Agenda 2025

ALL TIMES ARE LISTED IN EASTERN TIME ZONE

Saturday, May 3, 2025

Noon

Welcoming Remarks

Welcome: Susan Stewart, Executive Director and Founder, BMT InfoNet

 

1:15 PM

(Choose one)

Strive to Thrive! Understanding Your Health after a Transplant Using Your Own Cells (Autologous)

Presenter: Jonathan Lambird MD Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist
Sometimes complications persist or develop later after an autologous transplant. Learn what you can do to prevent and manage them.
 

Limiting Late Effects Following a Transplant Using Donor Cells (Allogeneic )                

Presenter: John McCarty MD Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Virginia Commonwealth University
Ongoing and late complications after an allogeneic transplant 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
Discussion of where long-term survivors receive care and where they should receive care.

3:45 PM

How to Navigate the Challenges of Caregiving

Presenter: Michelle Bishop PhD Coping with Cancer & Caregiving Caregiving LLC
Delve into the challenges and silver linings of being a caregiver.

Sunday, May 4, 2025

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 the risks and rewards of maintenance therapies after transplant.

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 an Autoimmune Disease

Presenter: Ernesto Ayala MD Mayo Clinic
Learn about specific autoimmune diseases that can be treated with transplant and factors that determine whether a patient is a good candidate.

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
Some survivors are at risk of developing osteoporosis (porous bones) after treatment which can lead to fractures. Learn how to minimize your risk.

Monday, May 5, 2025

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 about the role of the gut biome 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 types of infections that can emerge early and late after transplant and CAR T, incidence, risk factors, symptoms, prevention and treatment.

2:30 PM

New Cancer after Transplant or CAR T-cell Therapy: Who's at Risk?

Presenter: Marcelo Pasquini MD, MS Medical College of Wisconsin, CIBMTR
Transplant recipients have a greater risk of developing a second cancer later in life. Learn which types of cancer 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

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 the best strategy for managing relapse and what patients can do to minimize.

1:15 PM

(Choose one)

Enhancing Intimacy & 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 difficult after treatment. Couples can learn how to regain intimacy again.

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 GVHD  

Presenter: Adam Matichak PT, DPT Stanford Medicine
Learn about types of exercises patients can use to 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 effective strategies for falling and staying asleep.

Wednesday, May 7, 2025

Noon

(Choose one)

Enhancing Survivorship with Exercise 

Presenter: Nate Parker PhD, MPH Moffitt Cancer Center
Exercise is key to recovery. learn how an exercise professional can address your needs.

What is Neuropathy and 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 in 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 Hospital and Clinic/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

Noon

From Worn Out to Energized: Tackling Fatigue after Transplant and CAR T-cell therapy 

Presenter: Alexandra Muench PsyD University of Pennsylvania
What causes fatigue in cellular therapy patients, and how you can manage it?

1:15 PM

(Choose one)

CAR T-cell Therapy for Patients with Lymphoma: Who Benefits?

Presenter: Jay Spiegel MD University of Miami Hospital and Clinic/Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
How does CAR T-cell Therapy differ from standard cancer therapy and transplant, 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
Details on how GVHD affects the lungs, incidence, risk factors, symptoms, treatment options and supportive care

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 who's a candidate for CAR T-cell therapy and the potential risks and benefits.

3:45 PM

Survivorship: Managing the Fear of Reoccurrence

Presenter: Dawn Speckhart Ph.D The Blood & Marrow Transplant Program at Northside Hospital 
PTSD Among Survivors, How To Plan For The Future When You Fear Recurrence

Friday, May 9, 2025

Noon

Cognitive Challenges and Treatment Options after Transplant and CAR T-cell Therapy 

Presenter: Zev Nakamura MD Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Understand some common cognitive problems, how long do they last and how to treat them.

1:15 PM

(Choose one)

Graft-versus-Host Disease: How it Affects Skin

Presenter: Alina Markova MD Memorial Sloan Kettering
Details on how GVHD affects the skin, nails, fascia and hair and treatment options and supportive care

Clinical Trials 101 - Why They are Important and What You Should Know.

Presenter:  Caitlin Guzowski MBA, MHA, CCRC Northside Hospital Cancer Institute
Explanation of different types and stages of clinical trials, patients' rights, safety, reason for randomization, 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
What are the risk factors of liver complication? Learn to identify them and understand treatment options.