Keynote Speaker
Jessica Scott PhD
Associate Member, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center; Associate Professor, Weill Cornell Medical CollegeKeynote: Astronauts, Transplant and CAR T-cell Recipients: What Do They Have in Common?
Dr. Scott is an Associate Member at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) and Associate Professor at Weill Cornell Medical College. Her research focuses on studying exercise therapy to prevent and treat the side effects of cancer therapy.
Prior to joining MSK, Dr. Scott spent five years as a Senior Scientist in the Exercise Physiology and Countermeasures Laboratory at Johnson Space Center studying how to optimize exercise training for astronauts on long duration spaceflight.
Workshop Speakers
Nausheen Ahmed MD
Asstistant Director of Cellular Therapeutics Program, Medical Director of Transplant and Cellular Therapy Survivorship Program, The University of Kansas Cancer CenterNausheen Ahmed MD
Workshop: CAR (Chimeric Antigen Receptor) T-cell Therapy in Myeloma: What to Expect, The Process and Late Effects
Dr. Ahmed is a board-certified hematologist-oncologist at The University of Kansas Cancer Center where she serves as the Medical Director of Transplant and Cellular Therapy Survivorship Program. Her primary focus is on providing compassionate and expert care to patients with blood cancers, including lymphoma and myeloma.
Dr. Ahmed is deeply committed to helping patients achieve the best possible outcomes through the use of the latest and most effective treatment options available. Her research interests involve quality and process improvements, care delivery with respect to CAR T-cell therapy and increasing diversity in clinical trials.
Jeffrey Albaugh PhD, APRN, CUCNS
Urology Clinical Nurse Specialist, Jesse Brown VA Medical CenterJeffrey Albaugh PhD, APRN, CUCNS
Workshop: Sexual Health after Transplant: Men
Dr. Albaugh is a board-certified Advanced Practice Urology Clinical Nurse Specialist with over 30 years of experience caring for men and women with sexual problems. He is also a board-certified Sexuality Counselor
Dr. Albaugh currently works serving our nation's veterans at Jesse Brown VA Medical Center in Chicago. Previously, he was the Director of Sexual Health at NorthShore University Health System.
In addition to his many publications in peer-reviewed journals and chapters in books on sexual dysfunction, he is the current Editor for the second edition of the adult version of the Core Curriculum for Urologic Nursing and author of the book Reclaiming Sex and Intimacy after Prostate Cancer Treatment.
Allison Applebaum PhD
Associate Attending Psychologist and Founding Director, Caregivers Clinic, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterAllison Applebaum PhD
Workshop: Stand By Me: Lessons Learned from a Family Caregiver and Caregiving Scientist
Dr. Applebaum is an Associate Attending Psychologist in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) and an Associate Professor of Psychology at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City. She is the Founding Director of the Caregivers Clinic at MSK, providing comprehensive psychosocial care to family members and friends of patients who are in the caregiving role.
Dr. Applebaum’s research focuses on the development and dissemination of psychosocial interventions for cancer caregivers, as well as understanding the impact of caregiver psychosocial wellbeing, prognostic awareness, and communication skills on advance care planning. She has published over 100 articles, reviews, and book chapters on these topics, and is the editor of the textbook Cancer Caregivers (Oxford University Press, 2019). She is also the author of the forthcoming narrative nonfiction book, Stand By Me: A Guide to Navigating Modern, Meaningful Caregiving (Simon Element, 2024).
Chelsea Arakaki PT, DPT
Program Lead, Physical Therapist, Barnes Jewish HospitalChelsea Arakaki PT, DPT
Workshop: Fighting Fatigue: Ways to Save Energy and Build Back Endurance
Ms. Arakaki is a Physical Therapist and Program Lead at Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis Missouri. She is an American Physical Therapy Association credentialed clinical instructor and a mentor for oncology for the Department of Rehabilitation Physical Therapy Geriatric Residency Program.
Ms. Arakaki has clinical experience in the acute care setting with a current focus on oncology, surgery, medicine, and ICU patients. She is a member of the Barnes Jewish Hospital Oncology Fall Committee.
Ms. Arakaki lectures on “Physical Therapy Considerations for the Oncologic Patient” at the Washington University in St. Louis Program in Physical Therapy and presents case studies describing physical therapy’s role, evaluation, and treatment of stem cell transplant patients.
Saro Armenian DO, MPH
Director, Center for Survivorship and Outcomes in the Hematologic Malignancies Research Institute, City of Hope Cancer CenterSaro Armenian DO, MPH
Workshop: New Cancers after Transplant: Steps You Can Take to Reduce Your Risk
Dr. Armenian is the Barron Hilton Chair in Pediatrics and the Director of the Center for Survivorship Outcomes at the City of Hope Cancer Center in Duarte, California. He is an internationally recognized physician-scientist focused on improving the health outcomes of childhood and adult-onset cancer patients.
Dr. Armenian is the immediate past chair of the Children’s Oncology Group Survivorship and Outcomes Committee and has led international efforts to establish research priorities as part of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, International Guidelines Harmonization Group for Cancer Survivors, and NIH HCT Consensus Late Effects Initiative.
Dr. Armenian has also published extensively in high-impact journals, including Lancet Oncology, Journal of Clinical Oncology, Blood, and JAMA Oncology and is an invited member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network Expert Panel for Pediatric Aggressive Mature B-Cell Lymphoma and Pediatric Hodgkin Lymphoma.
Kelsey Barrell MD
Assistant Professor in the Division of Neuromuscular Medicine, University of UtahKelsey Barrell MD
Workshop: Strategies to Manage Neuropathy after Transplant
Dr. Barrell is an Assistant Professor of Neurology in the Division of Neuromuscular Medicine at the University of Utah. She is also the neurologic specialist at the regional Utah Amyloidosis Program at the Huntsman Cancer Institute where she established a comprehensive Neuromuscular Oncology clinic to improve the access and care to those with a wide range of neuromuscular disorders.
Dr. Barrel specializes in amyloidosis, neuropathy, and cancer and chemotherapy related neuromuscular complications.
Thomas Bergquist PhD ABPP, FACRM
Neuropsychologist, Brain Rehabilitation Team, Mayo ClinicThomas Bergquist PhD ABPP, FACRM
Workshop: Addressing Cognitive Challenges after Transplant and CAR T-cell Therapy
Dr. Bergquist is a neuropsychologist, part of the Brain Rehabilitation Team at Mayo Clinic and an Associate Professor of Psychology in the College of Medicine. Board-certified in clinical oncology, he is a co-investigator on an NIDDR-funded study on the use of the internet to deliver cognitive rehabilitation services to rural populations.
His principal research interests include rehabilitation following brain injury and coping with disability. He is a member of the board of directors and chair elect of the Minnesota Brain Injury Alliance, a fellow in the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine (ACRM), former member of the ACRM Board of Governors, co-chair of the Cognitive Rehabilitation Task Force and past chair of the Brain Injury - Interdisciplinary Special Interest Group within ACRM.
Dr. Bergquist has given numerous regional, national, and international presentations in the areas of brain injury rehabilitation and disability and has authored or co-authored 12 book chapters and over 40 journal publications in rehabilitation and medical journals.
He also serves as a clinical supervisor at Compassion Counseling Center which provides mental health services to persons free of charge.
Jose Biller MD FACP, FAAN, FANA, FAHA
Professor of Neurology and Neurological Surgery, Loyola University Medical CenterJose Biller MD FACP, FAAN, FANA, FAHA
Taller: Estrategias para Manejar la Neuropatía después del Trasplante
(Workshop: Strategies to Manage Neuropathy after Transplant)
El Dr. Biller es Profesor de Neurología y Cirugía Neurológica y Presidente de Neurología en la Facultad de Medicina Stritch de la Universidad Loyola de Chicago. Está certificado por la Junta Estadounidense de Psiquiatría y Neurología en Neurología y Neurología Vascular, y en Medicina del Dolor de Cabeza por el Consejo Unido de Subespecialidades Neurológicas.
El Dr. Biller se desempeñó como Director de la Junta Estadounidense de Psiquiatría y Neurología de 1994 a 2001, Presidente en 2001 y actualmente ostenta el título de Director Emérito. Es Editor de la Revista de Accidentes Cerebrovasculares y Enfermedades Cerebrovasculares, reciente Editor en Jefe de Fronteras en Neurología, y miembro del consejo editorial y revisor de una serie de otras revistas y publicaciones nacionales e internacionales. Ha publicado más de 155 capítulos de libros y ha impartido más de 770 conferencias en todo el mundo.
Dr. Biller is Professor of Neurology and Neurological Surgery and Chairperson of Neurology at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine. He is American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology certified in Neurology and Vascular Neurology, and certified in Headache Medicine by the United Council for Neurologic Subspecialties.
Dr. Biller served as Director of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology 1994- 2001, President in 2001 and currently holds the title of Emeritus Director. He is the Editor of the Journal of Stroke and Cerebrovascular Diseases, recent past Chief-Editor of Frontiers in Neurology, and an editorial board member and reviewer for an array of other national and international journals and publications. He has published more than 155 book chapters and given more than 770 lectures around the world.
Natalie Callander MD
Professor Of Medicine, Director, Myeloma Clinical Program, UW Health Carbone Cancer CenterNatalie Callander MD
Workshop: Maintenance Therapy after a Transplant for Multiple Myeloma
Dr. Callander is a Professor in the Department of Medicine at the University of Wisconsin Carbone Cancer Center and Director of the Myeloma Clinical Program.
Dr. Callander’s research focuses on new therapies for all stages of multiple myeloma. She is the Principal Investigator on a national clinical trial looking at preliminary treatment for smoldering myeloma and is currently involved in the development of cellular therapies for multiple myeloma.
Dr. Callender is Vice-Chair of the Myeloma Committee of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network, and Chair of the Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network Myeloma Intergroup Committee.
Hannah Choe MD
GVHD Program Director, Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer CenterHannah Choe MD
Workshop: Graft-versus-Host Disease: Gastrointestinal Tract and Liver
Dr. Choe is an Assistant Professor and Hematologist at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center where she specializes in blood and marrow stem cell transplantation and treating patients with myeloid diseases such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and myeloproliferative diseases.
Dr. Choe is also the Director of the Ohio State University Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD) Program. Her research focuses on new approaches to prevent and better treat GVHD.
Dr. Choe is a member of several national organizations, including the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy, the American Society of Clinical Oncology and the American Society of Hematology. She also serves as a reviewer for scientific publications such as Biology of Blood and Marrow Transplantation and Leukemia and Lymphoma.
Erin Costanzo PhD
Professor, Department of Psychiatry, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public HealthErin Costanzo PhD
Workshop: Living Well After Treatment: Coping with Fatigue
Dr. Costanzo is a clinical health psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry and Psychology at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. She also serves as the primary clinical psychologist for the University of Wisconsin’s stem cell transplant program.
Dr. Costanzo’s research focuses on the contribution of psychological factors to the health and well-being of cancer patients and the mind-body mechanisms that underlie these relationships, with a special focus on blood cancer patients receiving transplant and cellular therapies. She and her team are translating research findings into targeted behavioral interventions to improve the health and quality of life of individuals recovering from a stem cell transplant.
Dr. Costanzo is a Fellow of the American Psychosomatic Society and is current leader of the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy’s biobehavioral research group. Her work has been supported by the National Cancer Institute, the UW Carbone Cancer Center and the Institute for Clinical and Translational Research.
Erik Dubberke MD, MSPH
Professor of Medicine Co-Founder, Transplant Infectious Disease Service, Washington University School of MedicineErik Dubberke MD, MSPH
Workshop: Managing Infections after Transplant and CAR T-cell Therapy
Dr. Dubberke is a Professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, Missouri. He co-founded the Transplant Infectious Diseases Consult Service at Washington University when he joined the faculty in 2005 and currently serves as its Clinical Director.
Dr. Dubberke has a long history of developing and reviewing pre- and post-hematopoietic cell transplant and CAR-T therapy infection prevention and treatment protocols. He is studying ways to safely target antibiotics to bacteria that are infecting patients to both optimize outcomes and minimize the risk of the patient developing antibiotic resistance.
Dr. Dubberke is a co-author of several guidelines on preventing and treatment of infections in HCT recipients, including the Guidelines for Preventing Infectious Complications among Hematopoietic Cell Transplant Recipients.
Patricia Fank PsyD
Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Rush University Medical CenterPatricia Fank PsyD
Workshop: Riding the Emotional Roller Coaster of Survival
Dr. Fank is an Associate Professor in Supportive Oncology with joint appointment in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and Internal Medicine at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago, Illinois. Dr. Fank has specialized in psycho-oncology for the past 12 years, joining Rush in 2020 to focus on the integration of supportive oncology into the Bone Marrow Transplant Program
As a Clinical Psychologist, Dr. Fank provides psychosocial assessment and counseling services to adult survivors of cancer, from diagnosis and treatment through survivorship and end of life. She meets with all patients preparing for autologous and allogeneic transplants and provides supportive care services including individual therapy for concerns such as adjustment to illness, difficulty coping with cancer, grief, and loss, managing mental health conditions impacting cancer care, and caregiver support. She supports patients and caregivers across the transplant and cell therapy continuum.
Rina Fox PhD, MPH
Assistant Professor, University of Arizona School of NursingRina Fox PhD, MPH
Workshop: Don’t Count Sheep. Learn How to Fall and Stay Asleep.
Dr. Rina Fox is a licensed clinical health psychologist and Assistant Professor at the University of Arizona College of Nursing. She is a Member of the Cancer Prevention and Control Program of the University of Arizona Cancer Center.
Her research focuses on how psychosocial processes impact adjustment to and coping with cancer, with an emphasis on symptom management and health related quality of life. Dr. Fox is particularly interested in the role of sleep disturbance and fatigue in quality of life, and the development of interventions to improve sleep outcomes among cancer survivors.
Molly Gallogly MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Associate Director of Clinical Operations, Cell Therapy Program, University Hospitals Seidman Cancer CenterMolly Gallogly MD, PhD
Workshop: Extracorporeal Photopheresis (ECP): A Treatment for some Patients with Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD)
Dr. Gallogly is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Medicine, and a member of the Immune Oncology Program at University Hospitals Seidman Cancer Center in Cleveland, Ohio. Dr. Gallogly spearheaded and serves as the director of a multidisciplinary graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) outpatient clinic which provides focused care and offers clinical trial enrollment to patients with GVHD.
Dr. Gallogly's area of clinical and research focus is the prevention and treatment of GVHD. She investigates the efficacy and mechanisms of two cellular therapies (extracorporeal photopheresis and mesenchymal stem cell infusion) for the treatment of steroid-refractory and high-risk GVHD.
Alexandra Gomez Arteaga MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology, NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical CenterAlexandra Gomez Arteaga MD
Taller: Nuevos Cánceres después del Trasplante: Qué Puede Hacer para Reducir el Riesgo
(Workshop: New Cancers after Transplant: What You Can Do to Reduce the Risk)
La Dra. Alexandra Gómez Arteaga es Profesora Asistente de Medicina en la División de Hematología y Oncología Médica de Weill Cornell Medicine / Hospital Presbiteriano de Nueva York.
Se especializa en la atención de pacientes con cánceres de la sangre y otros trastornos que necesitan un trasplante de células madre de sangre o médula ósea o terapias celulares.
La Dra. Gómez recibió su Doctorado -M.D. (Valedictorian)- de la Universidad de Los Andes en Bogotá, Colombia, en 2011. Completó su residencia en Medicina Interna en la Universidad de Miami / Jackson Memorial Hospital y su beca de investigación en Hematología/Oncología en Weill Cornell Medicine / Hospital Presbiteriano de Nueva York, donde también se desempeñó como Miembro Principal.
Dr. Alexandra Gomez Arteaga is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
She specializes in the care of patients with blood cancers and other disorders who need a blood or bone marrow stem cell transplant or cellular therapies.
Dr. Gomez received her M.D. (Valedictorian) from Los Andes University in Bogota, Colombia, in 2011. She completed her Internal Medicine residency at the University of Miami/Jackson Memorial Hospital and her Hematology/Oncology fellowship at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center, where she also served as Chief Fellow.
Betty Hamilton MD
Associate Professor of Medicine, Cleveland ClinicBetty Hamilton MD
Workshop: Surviving the Cure: Late Effects after a Transplant Using Donor Cells (Allogeneic Transplant)
Dr. Hamilton is an Associate Professor of the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine at Case Western Reserve University. Her clinical and research interests focus on the treatment of hematologic malignancies with allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation, and improving outcomes post-transplant, specifically in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD), survivorship, and late effects.
Dr. Hamilton is an active member of the American Society of Transplant and Cellular Therapy (ASTCT), Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR), Chronic GVHD Consortium, and Blood and Marrow Transplant Clinical Trials Network (BMT CTN).
Robert Jenq MD
Director of MD Anderson Microbiome Core Facility and Associate Professor in the Department of Genomic Medicine, MD Anderson Cancer CenterRobert Jenq MD
Workshop: Gut Biome and Graft-versus-Host-Disease: Do Organisms in the Gut Contribute to GVHD?
Dr. Robert Jenq is an Associate Professor in the Department of Genomic Medicine at the MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas. He is the Director of the MD Anderson Microbiome Core Facility which examines the impact of the microbiome on cancer treatment, focusing in particular on bone marrow transplantation and cancer immunotherapies.
His research focuses on how graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) can be prevented by paying attention to the gut biome, finding better antibiotics that limit the damage to the microbiome, dietary strategies to support the microbiome, re-introduction of healthy microbes to restore the microbiome and identifying bacterial pathways that can generate either beneficial or harmful effects.
Patrick Connor Johnson MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical SchoolPatrick Connor Johnson MD
Workshop: Quality of Life after CAR T-cell Therapy (Chimeric Antigen Receptor)
Dr. Johnson is an Assistant Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School and an attending oncologist at Massachusetts General Hospital. He specializes in cellular therapies such as CAR T-cell therapy and the treatment of patients with lymphoma.
Dr. Johnson's research focuses on addressing the supportive care needs and mitigating the therapy toxicity of patients with lymphoma, patients receiving cellular therapy, and lymphoma survivors.
Patrick Johnston MD, PhD
Blood and Marrow Transplant Fellowship Director, Mayo ClinicPatrick Johnston MD, PhD
Workshop: Strive to Thrive! Protect Your Health after a Transplant Using Your own Cells (Autologous Transplant)
Dr. Johnston is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science and a Consultant in the Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic, where he specializes in stem cell transplant and CAR T-cell therapy.
Dr. Johnston’s research focuses on novel agents to treat lymphoma such as vaccines and biologic therapies.
Sarah Keller MD, MA
Rheumatologist, Assistant Professor at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner School of Medicine.Sarah Keller MD, MA
Workshop: Protect Your Bones after Transplant or CAR T-cell Therapy
Dr. Keller is an Assistant Professor at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner School of Medicine and an Assistant Staff Physician in the Orthopedic and Rheumatology Institute at the Cleveland Clinic. She is board-certified in Rheumatology and Internal Medicine.
Dr. Keller’s current research focuses on osteoporosis and fracture risk following solid organ transplant. Dr. Keller’s clinical focus is osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. She has written numerous academic chapters on topics in metabolic bone disease and gout.
Corinne Kellerman OTD, OTR/L, CLT
Occupational Therapist, Barnes Jewish HospitalCorinne Kellerman OTD, OTR/L, CLT
Workshop: Fighting Fatigue: Ways to Save Energy and Build Back Endurance
Ms. Kellerman is an occupational therapist and certified lymphedema therapist at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, with over five years of experience working in acute care and in inpatient rehabilitation
Her clinical focus is in oncological, surgical, orthopedic, neurological, and generalized populations in acute and critical care units. Ms. Kellerman is a team member of the rehab inpatient lymphedema specialty team at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
She provides care for patients as part of the Washington University LE&RN Comprehensive Network Center of Excellence for lymphedema. She is a fieldwork educator for occupational therapy students and oriented and mentor for occupational therapists in her department.
Todd Margolis MD, PhD
Professor and Chair of Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University School of MedicineTodd Margolis MD, PhD
Workshop: Graft-versus-Host Disease: Eyes
Dr. Margolis is the Albert and Edith Wolff Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at Washington University in St. Louis (WUSM). His areas of specialty include infectious and inflammatory eye diseases, corneal disease, and uveitis.
Dr. Margolis cares for patients with complicated infectious and inflammatory eye disease with a particular clinical expertise in the areas of HSV and VZV eye disease. To support care of patients with severe ocular inflammatory disease he helped create a combined rheumatology/ocular inflammatory disease clinic and an ocular GVHD clinic at WUSM.
Dr. Margolis has served as an investigator on multiple National Institutes of Health (NIH) sponsored clinical trials in the areas of infection, inflammation and HIV.
Cecilia Merrigan APRN, CNP, DNP
Nurse Practitioner, Mayo ClinicCecilia Merrigan APRN, CNP, DNP
Workshop: Strive to Thrive! Protect Your Health after a Transplant Using Your Own Cells (Autologous Transplant)
Dr. Merrigan is a Nurse Practitioner who specializes in the care of patients with lymphoma at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. She works with patients throughout the continuum of care from diagnosis through surveillance.
Dr. Merrigan has a special interest in survivorship including assisting patients in recovery after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation She has been involved in the survivorship program at Mayo Clinic and mentored nursing staff to effectively provide survivorship education. She has also implemented quality improvement measures to ensure consistent utilization of screening and supportive measures for hemopoietic stem cell transplant recipients.
Grace Mooney-Melvin LCSW
Bone Marrow Transplant Social Worker, Rush University Medical CenterGrace Mooney-Melvin LCSW
Workshop: Riding the Emotional Roller Coaster of Survival
Ms. Mooney-Melvin is a licensed Clinical Social Worker with the Rush University Bone Marrow Transplant team in Chicago, Illinois. She provides case management services to patients going through autologous and allogeneic transplants and Cart T-cell Therapy.
Ms. Mooney-Melvin assists patients as they prepare for transplant and help to address patient needs surrounding areas such as lodging, transportation, caregiver planning, navigating disability/work concerns, and connecting patients with financial and supportive resources. In addition, she follows patients after transplant to address a variety of post-transplant needs.
Luke Mountjoy DO
Assistant Member Physician, Colorado Blood Cancer InstituteLuke Mountjoy DO
Workshop: Introduction to Graft-versus-Host Disease (GVHD)
Dr. Mountjoy is an Assistant Member Physician at the Colorado Blood Cancer Institute and part of the Lymphoid Disease Group. He is board certified in internal medicine and board eligible in medical oncology/hematology.
Dr. Mountjoy’s research focuses on stem cell transplantation and the prevention and management of GVHD. He also works closely with the laboratory team to identify novel strategies of testing for drug resistances in patients undergoing treatment for multiple myeloma and is part of a large research team that is actively working to identify genetic risk factors/predispositions in patients and families with newly diagnosed cancers.
Dr. Mountjoy’s interest in medicine began as a teenager when his father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Shortly thereafter, Dr. Mountjoy was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. These life experiences led him to pursue a career in medicine with plans to become a medical oncologist/hematologist.
Javier Munoz MD, MBA
Director, Lymphoma Program, Mayo ClinicJavier Munoz MD, MBA
Teller: Terapia de Células CAR T para el Linfoma
(Workshop: CAR T-cell Therapy for Lymphoma)
El Dr. Javier Muñoz se especializa en el tratamiento de linfomas y es el Director del Programa de Linfoma de la Clínica Mayo en Arizona. Está certificado en Hematología, Oncología Médica y Medicina Interna y ha sido investigador principal en múltiples ensayos de linfoma de vanguardia, incluida la inmunoterapia y las células CAR T.
El Dr. Muñoz ha publicado en revistas de renombre internacional, incluidas New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Reviews, Blood y JAMA. Su objetivo personal es el desarrollo de agentes no quimioterapéuticos, a través de ensayos clínicos novedosos, para atender a los pacientes que padecen cáncer.
Dr. Munoz specializes in treating lymphomas and is the Director of the Lymphoma Program at Mayo Clinic in Arizona. He is board certified in Hematology, Medical Oncology and Internal Medicine and has been principal investigator in multiple cutting-edge lymphoma trials including immunotherapy and CAR T-cells.
Dr. Munoz has published in internationally renowned journals including the New England Journal of Medicine, Nature Reviews, Blood, and JAMA. His personal goal is the development of non-chemotherapy agents, via novel clinical trials, to serve patients suffering with cancer.
Mariam Nawas MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, Director of the Transplant Optimization Program, University of Chicago School of MedicineMariam Nawas MD
Workshop: Transplant and CAR T-cell Therapy for Older Adults
Dr. Nawas is a hematologist/oncologist and an Assistant Professor of Medicine at the University of Chicago School of Medicine where she specializes in bone marrow transplantation and cellular therapies for patients suffering from leukemias and other bone marrow disorders.
Her research focused on better understanding and reducing transplant and cellular therapy-related toxicities and symptom burden, particularly in older adults. She directs the Transplant Optimization Program (TOP), a geriatric-assessment guided clinic dedicated to evaluating and optimizing older adults for transplantation and cellular therapies. Dr. Nawas’ vision is to expand access to cellular therapy and transplantation by examining both a patient’s physiologic age and their ability to tolerate treatment rather than relying on a number to determine whether someone should get transplanted.
Casey O'Brien MOT, OTR/L
Occupational Therapist, Barnes Jewish HospitalCasey O'Brien MOT, OTR/L
Workshop: Fighting Fatigue: Ways to Save Energy and Build Back Endurance
Ms. O’Brien is an Occupational Therapist at Barnes Jewish-Hospital in St Louis, Missouri. With several years of experience at a Level 1 Trauma hospital, her primary specialty focus includes oncology, women's antepartum/postpartum, and ICU/Critical care coverage.
Ms. O’Brien’s main goal is to promote the ability of each patient to access their own care and maximize independence with activities of daily living while in the hospital, as well as, to provide them with the skills they need when they leave the hospital, whether they are returning home or to receive therapy at the next level of care.
Silvina Pugliese MD
Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology, Stanford Cancer InstituteSilvina Pugliese MD
Workshop: How to Protect Your Skin After Transplant
Workshop: Graft-versus-Host Disease: How it Affects Skin, Nails and Hair
Dr. Pugliese is a Clinical Associate Professor of Dermatology and Attending Physician Stanford Hospitals and Clinics and the Stanford Cancer Institute.
Dr. Pugliese specializes in Supportive Dermato-Oncology (SDO) – the management of cutaneous (skin) complications associated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and bone marrow transplantation, with an emphasis on inpatient onco-dermatology, graft-versus- host-disease, and survivorship. She has been treating patients with GVHD since 2014.
Dr. Pugliese also serves as medical director of the Stanford Keratinocyte Carcinoma Interdisciplinary Network, specializing in patients with increased risk of advanced nonmelanoma skin cancers, including cancer survivors.
Iskra Pusic MD, MSCI
Associate Professor of Medicine, Washington University School of MedicineIskra Pusic MD, MSCI
Workshop: Graft-versus-Host Disease: Advances and Challenges in Prevention and Treatment
Dr. Pusic is an Associate Professor in the Division of Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, MO. She specializes in the treatment of hematological malignances and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.
Dr. Pusic’s research focuses on long-term complications after transplantation, particularly graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and survivorship. She is a member of the Chronic GVHD Consortium, Clinical Trials Network and the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research - GVHD and Late Effects Working Committees.
Over the years, Dr. Pusic has been a principal investigator on several institutional investigator-initiated studies and co-investigator on many large multicenter studies focusing on both acute and chronic GVHD.
Tulio Rodriguez MD
Director, Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program, City of HopeTulio Rodriguez MD
Teller: Terapia de Células CAR T para el Mieloma: Qué Implica, Posibles Resultados
(Workshop: CAR T-cell Therapy for Myeloma: What’s Involved, Possible Outcomes)
El Dr. Tulio Rodríguez es Director de Hematología, Trasplante de Médula Ósea y Programa de Terapia Celular en el Centro Oncológico City of Hope de Chicago y Profesor de Medicina en la Universidad de Medicina y Ciencia Rosalind Franklin.
Como hematólogo certificado, se centra especialmente en el tratamiento de pacientes con mieloma múltiple y dedica gran parte de su vida profesional a comprender mejor la enfermedad.
El Dr. Rodríguez se desempeña regularmente como conferenciante invitado sobre innovaciones en hematología y ha obtenido numerosos premios por su investigación, incluido el Premio Héroe de la Esperanza de la Fundación para la Investigación de la Leucemia y el Premio Beca de Oncología Clínica de la Sociedad Estadounidense del Cáncer.
Dr. Rodriguez is the Director of Hematology, Bone Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program at the City of Hope Cancer Center Chicago and a Professor of Medicine at Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science.
A board-certified hematologist, he is particularly focused on treating patients with multiple myeloma, dedicating much of his professional life to better understanding the disease.
Dr. Rodriguez serves regularly as a guest lecturer on innovations in hematology, and has earned numerous awards for his research, including the Leukemia Research Foundation’s Hero of Hope Award and the American Cancer Society’s Clinical Oncology Fellowship Award.
Behrouz Salehian MD
Assistant Professor, Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, City of HopeBehrouz Salehian MD
Workshop: Hormonal Imbalance after Transplant
Dr. Salehian is an Associate Professor in the Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism and Co-Director of the Thyroid Cancer Program at City of Hope in Duarte, California.
In 1994, Dr. Salehian received a National Institutes of Health (NIH) Fellowship Training Award for Fellowship in Endocrinology, Diabetes, and male reproductive endocrinology at Harbor-UCLA.
Dr. Salehian’s research and clinical interests are endocrine problems after stem cell transplantation, donor adipocytes after transplant and their relation to metabolic syndrome, and endocrine tumors.
Gabriela Sanchez Petitto MD
Assistant Professor of Medicine, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer CenterGabriela Sanchez Petitto MD
Teller: Como proteger su Corazón después del trasplante y la Terapia de Células CAR T
(Workshop: How to Protect Your Heart after Transplant and CAR T-cell Therapy)
La Dra. Gabriela Sánchez-Petitto es Profesora Adjunta de Medicina en el Departamento de Trasplante de Sangre y Médula y Terapia Celular del Centro Oncológico Integral de la Universidad Estatal de Ohio. Se especializa en la atención de pacientes con leucemias y síndromes mielodisplásicos que requieren un trasplante de médula ósea o terapia de células CAR T, especialmente aquellos con enfermedades cardiovasculares.
La investigación de la Dra. Sánchez Petitto se centra en cómo la salud cardiovascular afecta los resultados a largo plazo de los pacientes con cáncer de sangre. Su trabajo ha sido ampliamente publicado en revistas revisadas por pares y ha recibido premios de la Sociedad Estadounidense de Hematología y la Sociedad Estadounidense de Trasplantes y Terapia Celular.
Dr. Sanchez-Petitto is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Department of Blood and Marrow Transplant and Cellular Therapy at Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. She specializes in caring for patients with leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes who require a bone marrow transplant or CAR T-cell therapy, especially those with cardiovascular disease.
Dr. Sanchez Petitto’s research focuses on how cardiovascular health impacts long-term outcomes for blood cancer patients. Her work has been widely published in peer-reviewed journals and she has received awards from the American Society of Hematology and the American Society for Transplantation and Cellular Therapy.
Urvi A. Shah MD
Assistant Attending Physician, Myeloma Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterUrvi A. Shah MD
Workshop: Microbiome: What it Is and Why It's Important to Your Health
Dr. Shah is an Assistant Attending Physician on the Myeloma Service at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) and Assistant Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medicine.
Her research studies the effect of modifiable risk factors such as nutrition, obesity, and diabetes on cancer development or progression, and how dietary interventions and supplements influence insulin resistance, body composition, gut biome and the immune system.
Hodgkin lymphoma survivor herself, Dr. Shah has firsthand experience on the other side of the doctor-patient relationship which has helped her relate to patients in a more compassionate and empathic way.
Lisa Thomas-Prince MPH, CYT200
Manager, Mindfulness Center, UW Health Carbone Cancer CenterLisa Thomas-Prince MPH, CYT200
Workshop: Meditation to Support Recovery and Well-Being
Ms. Thomas-Prince is Program Manager of the University of Wisconsin Mindfulness Program and has been teaching with the program since 2014. She has been studying, practicing and integrating mindfulness meditation into her life for nearly 25 years. She has been influenced by long-time study of yoga, martial arts and qigong, and she is a 200hr certified yoga teacher.
Ms. Thomas-Prince’s early career path focused on international public health and world language instruction, including 12 years as a language educator in grades preK-8. Since joining the Mindfulness Program, her activities include curriculum development for the UW Health Mindfulness for Middle Schoolers course, mindfulness training for educators and staff in local school districts and establishment of the Mindfulness-based Childbirth and Parenting (MBCP) program in Madison.
Nathaniel S. Treister DMD, DMSc
Chief of the Division of Oral Medicine and Dentistry, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Dana-Farber Cancer InstituteNathaniel S. Treister DMD, DMSc
Workshop: Graft-versus-Host Disease: Mouth
Dr. Treister is Chief of the Division of Oral Medicine and Dentistry at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the Clinical Director for Oral Medicine and Oral Oncology at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. He is also an Associate Professor at Harvard School of Dental Medicine in the Department of Oral Medicine, Infection and Immunity.
Dr. Treister’s research focuses primarily on oral mucosal diseases, salivary gland diseases, orofacial pain disorders, and oral complications in cancer patients. He has published extensively in the field of oral medicine with an emphasis on oral complications of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation and oral graft-versus-host disease.
Dr. Treister is past president of the American Academy of Oral Medicine. He is co-principal investigator of a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant entitled “Long Term Oral Health Outcomes in the Chronic GVHD Consortium” and serves as site principal investigator for an NIH grant entitled “Clinical Registry of Dental Outcomes in Head and Neck Cancer Patients”.
Jennifer A. Vencill PhD, ABPP, CST
Assistant Professor and Consultant, Division of General Internal Medicine, Department of Psychiatry & Psychology, Mayo ClinicJennifer A. Vencill PhD, ABPP, CST
Workshop: Women’s Sexual Health after Transplant and CAR T-cell Therapy
Dr. Vencill is an assistant professor, board certified clinical health psychologist, and an American Association of Sexual Education, Counseling and Therapy (AASECT) certified sex therapist at the Mayo Clinic. She is dually appointed in the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, as well as the Division of General Internal Medicine, where she spends the bulk of her time providing integrated sexual health care and educating fellows, residents, and medical students about the importance of sexual and gender health.
Dr. Vencill’s research focuses on sexual health, health disparities and minority stress in marginalized sexual and gender communities. She is co-author of the new book Desire: An Inclusive Guide to Navigating Libido Differences in Relationships.
Stephanie Wiese RD, CNSC
Cancer Care Nutrition Supervisor, Colorado Blood Cancer InstituteStephanie Wiese RD, CNSC
Workshop You are What You Eat: How Food Choices Affect Recovery
Ms. Wiese is a registered Dietitian and certified Nutrition Support Clinician at the Colorado Blood Cancer Institute in Denver, Colorado.
She supervises a team of dietitians in the inpatient and outpatient setting, and oversees the care of hematology/oncology, stem cell transplant, critical care and steroid-induced diabetic patients.
Ms. Wiese is treasurer of the Denver Dietetic Association, and member of the Colorado Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics’ Diversity Committee.
Basem William MD, MRCP, FACP
Clinical Director, Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, OhioHealthBasem William MD, MRCP, FACP
Workshop: CAR T-cell Therapy for Lymphoma: What's Involved, Potential Outcomes
Dr. William is the Clinical Director of the OhioHealth Blood and Marrow Transplant Program in Columbus, Ohio. He is board-certified in hematology, oncology, internal medicine and hospice/palliative medicine.
Dr. William’s expertise includes hematological malignancies, lymphoma, drug development, hematopoietic stem cell transplantation and cellular therapy. He has been a principal or co-investigator on over 100 clinical trials in hematological malignancies and cell therapy and has published extensively on these topics.
Dr. William previously led the T-cell lymphoma program at the Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center. He also previously served on the National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s Guidelines expert panel on T-cell Lymphomas.
Gregory Yanik MD
Professor, Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, University of Michigan, Mott Children's HospitalGregory Yanik MD
Workshop: Take a Breath! Managing Breathing Problems after Transplant
Dr. Yanik has been a faculty member in the Blood and Marrow Transplant Program at the University of Michigan since 1992. He is a Professor, Blood and Marrow Transplant Program, at Mott Children's Hospital.
He has made major contributions in two areas of research: a) acute and chronic lung injury post-hematopoietic cell transplant, and b) developing novel transplant trials for patients with high-risk neuroblastoma.
Dr. Yanik has been the recipient of many prestigious awards including the Leland and Elaine Blatt Professorship of Pediatric Oncology, the University of Michigan Pediatric Teacher of the Year Award, and the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Chairman’s Citation for Outstanding Service.
In addition to these many activities, Dr. Yanik makes time to serve on the Executive Committee for Make a Wish Michigan.