Conference to focus on latest leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma issues

For patients and family The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and UNMC invite patients and their family members to hear about the latest treatments for lymphoma, leukemia, and myeloma, during a free program Feb. 7 in Omaha. “Meet the Doctors on Lymphoma, Leukemia, & Myeloma,” will be presented from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Hilton Omaha, 1001 Cass St., Ballrooms D and E. The program schedule is: 8:45-9:15 a.m. — chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), Paul Shami, M.D., Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah; 9:20-9:50 a.m. — chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), William Wierda, M.D., Ph.D., University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center; 9:55-10:25 a.m. — lymphoma, Phil Bierman, M.D., UNMC; 10:30-11 a.m. — myeloma, Irene Ghobrial, M.D., Harvard Medical School, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston; 11:30 a.m.-noon — myelodysplasia, Azra Raza, M.D., St. Vincent’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York; and 12:05-12:35 p.m. — acute leukemia, Harry Erba, M.D., Ph.D., University of Michigan Health System, Ann Arbor. The patient education program is being held in conjunction with UNMC’s third regional conference of local, national and internationally prominent oncologists and members of the American Society of Hematology. Participants are asked to check in 15 minutes before presentations. Complimentary continental breakfast will be provided. Please pre-register by Jan. 29. Contact Tonya Schroeder in Omaha at (402) 344-2242 or (888) 847-4974 or e-mail tonya.schroeder@lls.org.

Health professionals are invited to attend two events that will shed new light on the latest treatments and management of lymphoma, leukemia, myeloma and myelodysplasia.

The third annual regional conference, which is hosted by UNMC, will feature local and internationally prominent speakers who will review abstracts and clinical research data that was presented during the December 2008 American Society of Hematology annual meeting.

The conference is expected to draw about 150 people and will be held Feb. 7, from 7:15 a.m. to 12:45 p.m. at the Hilton Omaha, 1001 Cass St. The cost to attend is $25 and includes breakfast and continuing education credits. There is no cost to medical residents and fellows.

Represented will be speakers from UNMC, Mayo Clinic, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School in Boston, University of Michigan Health System, University of Utah Huntsman Cancer Institute, and St. Vincent’s Comprehensive Cancer Center, New York.

In addition to the conference, a dinner meeting hosted by the Lymphoma Study Group will be held Friday, Feb. 6, at the Hilton Omaha, from 6 to 8 p.m. Guest speaker, Wendy Stock, M.D., of the University of Chicago Medical School and University Cancer Research Center, will talk about treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukemia in adults. There is no cost for the dinner or continuing education credits.

“We are learning more and more about the basic mechanism of these diseases — including things like targeted therapies that pinpoint specific abnormalities,” said Phil Bierman, M.D., professor in the UNMC section of oncology/hematology, and conference course co-director. “Some of the knowledge coming from these discoveries is vital to help in the development of better drugs to improve and save lives.”

Lori Maness-Harris, M.D., associate professor in the UNMC section of oncology/hematology, also is a course co-director.

Register for the conference no later than Jan. 30 by contacting Joan Husted in UNMC Continuing Education at (402) 559-6235 or jhusted@unmc.edu. Register online at www.unmc.edu/cce.

Register for the dinner meeting no later than Jan. 30 by contacting Brenda Ram at (402) 559-9250 or bram@unmc.edu. Register online at www.unmc.edu/cce.

UNMC, along with its hospital partner, The Nebraska Medical Center, is home to one of the most successful cancer centers in the world, known particularly for its expertise in treatment of leukemia and lymphoma. The cancer team also has led and participated in research that has resulted in better cancer treatments and improved patient care around the world.