Lunch & Learn

November 19, 2025

In recognition of National Family Caregiver’s Month, November’s Lunch & Learn will focus on the adjustment to life after transplant, with a special emphasis on the perspective of the family/spouse caregiver and the impact on the couple. Michelle Bishop, PhD, a licensed psychologist and founder of Coping with Cancer & Caregiving, LLC will describe some of the challenges common after transplant as the survivor, the caregiver, and the couple adjust to the new reality of survivorship. These include learning to live with fear of recurrence, navigating physical, emotional, and role changes, and negotiating changes to lifestyle and quality of life. Sue Stanek, a caregiver to her husband Stan, who was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) and received a transplant in February 2018, will share her experiences as a caregiver and best tips for how she and her husband have navigated survivorship.

This month’s call-in program will feature Courtney Bush, a Physical Therapist and Certified Lymphedema Therapist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle, Washington. Courtney is a Board-Certified Clinical Specialist in Oncologic Physical Therapy and currently serves on the Board of Directors for the American Physical Therapy Association’s Academy of Oncology Physical Therapy. Courtney works with patients receiving stem cell and bone marrow transplantation, both inpatient and outpatient. Courtney sees patients both pre- and post-transplant, helping them optimize functional mobility, independence and physical recovery. Courtney will focus on rebuilding and regaining stamina and physical challenges such as fatigue, steroid myopathy, and chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy. Laurie Perkins, a recent multiple myeloma survivor will share her story, and how she implemented physical therapy before and after transplant and how she is enjoying life today with extensive travel plans, energy, and strength.

This month, in recognition of Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month and Blood Cancer Awareness Month, our call-in program will focus on life post-transplant, specifically changing and evolving relationships with loved ones and friends. Mara Solomon, a three-time leukemia and two-time stem cell transplant survivor and author of “Third Floor Summer, A Mother’s Memoir of her Journey Battling Cancer” will share her story and experiences. As well, Angie Giallourakis PhD, parent of a four-time cancer survivor, co- founder of the Steven G. Cancer Foundation and Elephants and Tea, and volunteer parent mentor, will speak on the value of communication and mutual respect between parent and child as a means of supporting your loved one through their cancer survivorship experience. Jennifer Gillette, our licensed staff social worker and host, will give tips on coping with the emotional toll and unexpected challenges of cancer survivorship.

This month’s call-in program will feature Dr. Emily Limerick, Assistant Research Physician, Cellular and Molecular Therapeutics Branch, NHLBI of the National Institutes of Health who will discuss the currently available curative therapy options, including allogeneic transplant and gene therapy for sickle cell disease. Our second speaker, Genesis Jones, a resilient voice in rare disease and mental health advocacy, is a sickle cell warrior, a post-transplant survivor, and founder of Rare Resilience Alliance. Genesis will share her story and efforts to help others.

This month’s call-in program will feature Melissa Baker, DNP, Adult Blood and Marrow Transplantation Program at Hackensack Meridian Health, who will educate and empower listeners about Bronchiolitis Obliterans Syndrome (BOS). Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome is a serious, increasingly recognized complication after stem cell transplant. Affecting 5-6% of all allogeneic transplant recipients and up to 15% of those with chronic GVHD, BOS involves fibrosis of the small airways, leading to obstructive lung disease. Melissa will cover risk factors, screening, diagnosis, symptoms, treatment, management, prognosis and supportive care. Meredith Cowden, a survivor from Cleveland who has dealt with chronic GVHD for more than two decades, will share her story and how she has manages BOS posttransplant. Jennifer Gillette, our licensed staff social worker, will host this call. There will be plenty of time for live questions.

This month’s call-in program will feature Laura Beilke, Esq., a Staff Attorney for Triage Cancer, who will educate and empower listeners to better manage their finances and avoid the financial toxicity a cancer diagnosis can bring. Laura will share her expertise regarding medical bills and debt, paying for prescriptions, finding financial help, budgeting, and the Medicare changes happening now. JR and Deb Brandt of Bozeman, Montana, will also share their story and how they have advocated for themselves and continue to juggle it all post-transplant. Jennifer Gillette, our licensed staff social worker, will host this call. There will be plenty of time for live questions.

This month’s call-in program will focus on ways to feel like yourself after transplant. Jeannie Wiarda is a LMSW at Corewell Health BMT. Jeannie will talk about holistic recovery, focusing on strategies to improve physical and emotional health. Ellie Lenarduzzi, an AML survivor who received a transplant in March of 2024, from California, will also share her story and how she has learned to regain her life. Jennifer Gillette, our licensed staff social worker, will host this call. There will be plenty of time for live questions.

This month’s call-in program will focus on dealing with post-transplant isolation, including the timeline for doctor/clinic visits and common complications survivors can expect. Dawn Speckhart, Ph.D. Clinical Health Psychologist, Cellular Therapy and Leukemia Program at Northside Hospital will offer coping skills and strategies to manage the frustration experienced in waiting to get back to real life. As well, Kathleen Stewart, of Portland, Oregon, a long time AML survivor, will share her personal experience, coping techniques and lessons learned, offering hope and inspiration. Jennifer Gillette, our licensed staff social worker, will host this call. There will be plenty of time for live questions.

This month’s call-in program will focus on Multiple Myeloma featuring Christy Donovan, DNP, RN and Blood Cancer Coordinator from the Blood and Marrow Transplant/ Leukemia Program at the Northside Hospital Cancer Institute. Christy will cover the benefits of a multi-disciplinary approach, the latest options available for treatment as one size does not fit all, and the many resources available. Additionally, Kenny Capps, a Multiple Myeloma survivor and founding director of Cancer Active, will share his story, including his relapse post-transplant and life today—offering inspiration, insight and coping strategies. Jennifer Gillette, our licensed staff social worker will host this call. There will be plenty of time for live questions.

This month’s call-in program featuring Dr Farhadfar, a transplant and cellular therapy physician at Sarah Cannon Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program at Methodist Hospital, San Antonio, where she also serves as the director of research. Dr. Farhadfar is a nationally recognized expert in chronic GVHD and has a distinguished career in the transplant space. She completed both her hematology fellowship at NYU/Winthrop University and a blood and marrow fellowship at Mayo Clinic. Prior to that, she joined the University of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville and launched the BMT Survivorship/GVHD Clinic in 2018 and served as its director. Dr. Farhadfar focuses on better understand the long-term complications of allogeneic transplant, and tests interventions to lessen the effects of complications and optimize quality of life.

Dr. Farhadfar will share updates and her expertise as it relates to what is on the horizon, research findings and how to be proactive and on the lookout when chronic GVHD shows up in multiple manifestations. Additionally, long time survivor Steve Hodges will share his story and the creative ways he copes with cGVHD. Steve’s upbeat attitude is sure to inspire listeners. Jennifer Gillette, our licensed staff social worker, will host this call. There will be plenty of time for live questions.

This month’s call-in program will focus on how to find your way, despite great loss and life altering diagnoses. Ashlee Cramer, a widow and caregiver to her young adult son Michael knows plenty about loss, grit and resilience. Ashlee will share her personal story and how she manages it all. Ashlee is a certified Happy for No Reason Trainer (trained by Marci Shimoff herself) and has studied all about happiness and how it can be achieved even when life gets really tough. Ashlee will share and reference the book, “Happy for No Reason, 7 Steps to Being Happy from the Inside Out” written by Marci Shimoff, NY Times bestselling coauthor of Chicken Soup for the Woman’s Soul and a featured teacher in The Secret.” Jennifer Gillette, our licensed staff social worker, will host this call. There will be plenty of time for live questions.

The Holidays are Approaching: Tips to Get Through it All
This month’s call-in program, featuring Michelle Bishop, PhD, Clinical Health Psychologist will focus on how survivors handle well-meaning friends and family, especially during the holiday season, who want them to get over their illness and “get back to normal.” How do you try to share how you really feel without offending those you know and love? Michelle will also share her expertise regarding fatigue, isolation and more. Janice Chabros, an acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) survivor, will share her story and how she manages these types of situations. Jennifer Gillette, our licensed staff social worker, will host this call. There will be plenty of time for live questions.