Lunch & Learn

This month’s call in program will address cGHVD of the lungs. Dr. Carrie Kitko, Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Director of the Pediatric Stem Cell Transplant Program at Vanderbilt University Medical Center will enlighten us on the challenges of diagnosing chronic lung GVHD, the potential novel treatments available and how these newer agents may be able to go beyond stabilization of the disease by targeting fibrosis, the main culprit. Additionally, Whitney Davis will share her experience with lung GVHD and the relief she is experiencing firsthand. 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 Dr. Clifton Mo, Physician and Director of Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation for Multiple Myeloma at Dana-Farber Brigham Cancer Center. Dr. Mo’s clinical interests include novel therapeutics, cellular therapy, innate immunity, and
tumor microenvironment. Dr. Mo will share his expertise, sure to offer hope and more options to those diagnosed
with MM. Additionally, a patient voice will follow offering 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 will address how cancer affects the entire family unit. It will address emotional needs of the “secondary survivors”, both the children and siblings of cancer patients. Dr. Matt De Young, a dad of nine will share how his family supported daughter Lola and how they acknowledged and managed her illness while trying to support and parent the rest of the family. Laura Weinger Housley, an adult survivor will also share how she and her husband parented their children through her cancer journey. This program is a must listen for anyone trying to navigate this challenging part of the diagnosis.

This month’s call in program will focus on focus on nutrition—what to eat, what to skip, relevant information on guidelines and more. Amy Carion, Registered Dietician, Henry Ford Cancer Institute-Stem Cell Transplant and Cellular Therapy Program will share her expertise. Amy is passionate about chronic disease prevention, living a healthy, active lifestyle and sports nutrition. Rhonda Kokot, a long-time survivor will also let us know what she does to stay on track, offering best tips and practices. JenniferGillette, 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 helping cancer survivors better handle family and holiday stressors. Katy LaLone,
MD, Psychiatrist at the Seidman Cancer Center, University Hospitals, Case Western Reserve University will share her
expertise and provide tips to help ensure a more peaceful and joyful holiday season. As well, Diane Raab, a recent stem cell
transplant recipient, will talk about where she was just a year ago, newly diagnosed and how she is today. We’ll cover immunity
concerns as we return indoors, often with both vaccinated and non-vaccinated loved ones. As well, 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 help cancer survivors and their families better understand the COVID vaccine and important need for booster shots (and influenza shots) with the holidays soon upon us. Dr. Laura Connelly-Smith of Seattle Cancer Care Alliance will share her professional expertise and answer all your relevant questions and concerns. Jan Selvar, a thriving breast cancer and AML survivor, will share her story and encouraging thoughts on the vaccine. As well, Jennifer Gillette, our licensed staff social worker will host this call. There will be plenty of time for live questions.

This month’s telephone educational and support program will highlight the story of a donor dad who stopped at nothing to save
his daughter, Kenza, diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) at just nine months old. Dr. Omar Durani of Dallas, Texas will talk
about Kenza’s life-saving clinical trial five years ago, his family today, the need to spread the word to create much needed awareness
through DKMS, and his incredible haplo donor experience. Leah Szumita, MS, RN, CCRN, ACNS-BC, Director, Clinical Trials Support
Center of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society will join Dr. Durani and further emphasize the importance of clinical trials and how to better
understand and navigate them. The nbmtLINK’s licensed staff social worker, Jennifer Gillette, will facilitate the program. There will also be
plenty of time for live questions.

This month, as we recognize Pediatric Cancer and Blood Cancer Awareness Month, this call-in educational support program will focus
on updates and innovative treatments as they relate to blood cancer diagnoses in adults and children. Dr. Maria Luisa Sulis is an oncologist
specializing in lymphomas and leukemias at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center who will share her expertise. As well, a parent to a
pediatric patient will share his/her experience, best tips and coping skills. The nbmtLINK’s licensed staff social worker, Jennifer Gillette
will facilitate the program. There will also be plenty of time for live questions.

This month’s telephone educational and support program will focuson survivor’s guilt, the anxiety you may feel when a peer passes
away as well as how to handle well-intended positivity if you are experiencing negative feelings and despair. Shirley Otis-Green, MSW,
MA, ACSW, LCSW, OSW-CE, FNAP, FAOSW of Collaborative Caring will break it down for us. Two time bone marrow transplant recipient and
survivor Bridget Casey will share her personal experience and some valuable lessons learned along the way. The nbmtLINK’s licensed staff
social worker, Jennifer Gillette, will facilitate the program. There will also be plenty of time for live questions.

This month’s telephone educational and support program will focus on the love/hate of steroids as they relate to chronic GVHD. Dr. Masumi Ueda Oshima, Assistant Professor and Assistant Medical Director for the Inpatient Adult BMT Program at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center and Seattle Cancer Care Alliance/University of Washington will break it down for us and share her expertise. Sharde Fultz, a chronic GVHD survivor, will share her personal experience including details about how she has managed steroid use and GVHD through the years. The nbmtLINK’s licensed staff social worker, Jennifer Gillette, will facilitate the program. There will also be plenty of time for live questions.

This month’s telephone educational and support program will focus on all things CAR T-cell Therapy. Dr. Lawrence E. Morris is a board certified oncologist at both the Northside Hospital Leukemia Program and Northside Hospital Inpatient BMT Unit, and the Apheresis Collection Facility Co-Director of Atlanta Blood Services. Dr. Morris will break it down for us and share his expertise. CAR T-cell patient, Ray Gillespie, an NHL survivor, now in full remission will share his personal experience including details about his life-saving clinical trial. The nbmtLINK’s licensed staff social worker, Jennifer Gillette, will facilitate the program. There will also be plenty of time for live questions.

Jaap Jan Boelens, MD, PhD, Chief, Stem Cell Transplantation, MSKCC and Cellular Therapies and Professor of Pediatrics at Weill Cornell Medical College of Cornell University will break it down for us and help transplant patients learn about factors that influence the immunological situation post-transplant that will result in the best possible outcomes. As well, a young patient’s parent/caregiver will share their personal experience and best tips. The nbmtLINK’s licensed staff social worker, Jennifer Gillette, will facilitate the program. There will also be plenty of time for live questions.