Lunch & Learn

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.

This month’s call-in program, in recognition of November, National Marrow Awareness Month, will feature Raegan Bell, a Donor Recruitment Coordinator for DKMS from Dallas, Texas. Raegan will share her incredible altruistic donor story, her volunteer efforts with DKMS for nine years post donation and her decision to work for DKMS today. Raegan will inspire listeners with details regarding being a lifesaving donor and sharing the gift of life in 2014. Learn more about the importance of getting swabbed, being educated about becoming a donor (it is easier than you think) and the small and big ways you can give back at any age. Help us honor those who embody the essence of hope through their selfless donations, advancing stem cell and bone marrow transplantation. 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. Rupin Shah of the Adult Bone Marrow & Cellular Therapy Program at Corewell Health West will focus on the importance of post-transplant health—getting up to date on immunizations, a colonoscopy, dermatology appts, prostate screenings, a mammogram, and more to stay healthy and to screen for secondary cancers caused by cancer treatment. Dental needs as well as vision screenings should be maintained, especially if GVHD is a possibility. Angela Keith, a survivor, will share her story and experiences, offering tips 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 recognize Blood Cancer Awareness Month with a focus on the practical needs before, during and after a bone marrow/stem cell transplant. This conversation will be helpful to both survivors and caregivers. Julie Larson, LCSW a psychotherapist and speaker-educator who has spent the entirety of her career working with survivors and family members will join us to share strategies for sharpening self-awareness, normalizing the understandable stressors felt along the way and tips for finding calm and clarity. Stephenie Perry, a survivor of Hodgkin lymphoma, who underwent both an auto and allogeneic transplant will share her story and best tips. 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 skin issues related to chronic Graft Versus Host Disease (cGVHD). Dr. Rachel Rosenstein, a physician-scientist at Hackensack Meridian School of Medicine with a clinical and research interest in chronic skin GVHD will discuss skin related issues, and treatment options, sharing her expertise and best practices. Additionally, Anne Fitzpatrick, a survivor of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) with a myelofibrosis overlay, who knows all about skin related cGVHD, will share her transplant story 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, Kathryn M. Smolinski, MSW, JD Director, Legal Advocacy for People with Cancer Clinic, Associate Clinical Professor, Wayne State University Law School, will focus on what benefits, leave, accommodations and rights you have as you navigate a bone marrow or stem cell transplant and the recovery process. Jennifer Leal, Board Certified Patient Advocate, AML/Stem Cell Transplant Survivor, and Clinical Data Scientist, will share her personal experience and how she advocates to improve health equity for patients needing life-saving therapies. Jennifer Gillette, LMSW, Staff Social Worker at nbmtLINK will host this program.

This month, Sandra N. Gurrola, Financial Counselor, UCLA Health Bowyer Oncology Center will share her expertise regarding financial issues and considerations that surround a bone marrow/stem cell transplant. Sandra recently authored a new nbmtLINK book which focuses on all things finance, including insurance, unique costs related to transplant and a vast list of valuable resources. A transplant patient will also share their financial experiences and how they managed and navigated it all. Jennifer Gillette, LMSW, Staff Social Worker at nbmtLINK will host this program. There will be time for live questions.

This month, Dr. Annie Im of the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center in Pittsburgh will focus on how to navigate chronic Graft Versus Host Disease (cGVHD) and updates on treatment options. As clinical trials and treatments advance, we want to be sure you have everything needed to manage it all and get busy enjoying life. Lew Christie, a two-time AML transplant survivor with an extraordinary story, will share how he gets through the tough days as he manages his GVHD on a daily basis. Jennifer Gillette, LMSW, Staff Social Worker at nbmtLINK will host this program. There will be time for live questions.

This month’s program will focus on caregiver needs before, during and after a bone marrow/stem cell transplant. Dawn Speckhart, Ph.D., Clinical Health Psychologist, Cellular Therapy and Leukemia Program for Northside Hospital Cancer Institute will share her expertise, focusing on following instructions, including dietary and caregiver needs. She will also focus on minimizing stress post-transplant by having plans in place, frank communication, knowing when to call and “not sweating the small stuff.” Jennifer Gillette, LMSW, Staff Social Worker at nbmtLINK will share many seasoned caregiver tips and tricks conveyed to the LINK. There will also be time for live questions.