Lunch & Learn

This month Melissa Logue, a Nurse Practitioner (NP) at Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center who works with hematologic patients, will focus on isolation, beating the winter blues, diet, nutrition, exercise, interaction through social media and more. As well, DeAnn Miller, a vibrant survivor of Myelodysplastic Syndrome with Excess Blasts (MDS-EB2) was transplanted in 2019 and will share the many ways she stays busy, sharp and actively embraces her new normal. The nbmtLINK’s licensed staff social worker, Jennifer Gillette, will facilitate the program. There will also be plenty of time for live questions.

Dr. Phuong Vo, an Assistant Professor at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center will help the newly transplanted and their loved ones better understand the potential complications that can take place in the first 100 days post-transplant focusing on acute GVHD. Dr. Vo will cover the common symptoms, how to diagnose, how to treat and what you need to do to prevent this complication. As well, Lisa Loutzenhiser, an AML survivor since early 2020 will share her personal experience and valuable tips regarding acute issues.

Dr. Felicity Harper will share her expertise and provide tools to cope with the pressure and stress that can sometimes come with the holiday season. Learn more about developing resilience and adjusting your mindset as you create a game plan that will result in restful, peaceful and happy holidays. Nancy Dana, a very recent survivor of mantle cell lymphoma and her husband and caregiver Tom, will share their newfound feelings on managing expectations and adjusting their mindset together this season.

This month, we will focus on food and how it relates to fatigue, how to avoid empty calories, how sugar affects our bodies, anti-inflammatory dietary suggestions and much more. Zach Gossman, MS, RD, dietitian at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center will share his expertise and best tips for good nutrition in survivorship. As well, Donald Long, a survivor will share his personal experiences 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.

This month, we will focus on resources you need to know about— financial, emotional, mental, and more. Stephanie Samolovitch, MSW, the Founder and Executive Director of Young Adult Survivors United (YASU) will share her vast knowledge about apps, websites and organizations that will make a difference as you navigate the transplant journey. As well, Britta Wolfarth, a survivor of AML will share her personal experience and valuable tips regarding worthwhile resources. 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 children. Dr. Rayne Rouce is physician at Texas Children’s
Cancer Center where she is a member of the Bone Marrow Transplant/Stem Cell Transplant Program. Her clinical time is spent seeing leukemia and lymphoma patients. As well, the nbmtLINK’s licensed staff social worker and program facilitator, Jennifer Gillette will share coping skills and best tips from parents. There will also be plenty of time for live questions.

This month’s call in program will focus on the many emotional needs of cancer survivors—how to ask for help, including therapy and support from friends and family. Hailey Hassel, is a Senior BMT Social Worker at Be The Match who will share how integral this support is to your survivorship and quality of life. Additionally, Kate Arnold, a survivor will share her personal experiences and reinforce the importance of getting the help you need to thrive. 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 liver graft-versus-host disease. Dr. Theo Heller and Dr. Alexander Yang, hepatologists of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) will discuss liver dysfunction after hematopoietic stem cell transplant with a focus on the importance and difficulty of diagnosing liver GVHD. Angie Kuhlman, acute myeloid leukemia and liver GVHD survivor will share how she coped and what she found helpful on her journey. Jennifer Gillette, our license staff social worker will host this call.

This month’s call in program will address financial toxicity, understanding your medical bills and explanation of benefits, addressing insurance denials, reviewing financial bills for accuracy and more. Nicole Jolicoeur, Staff Attorney for Triage Cancer will help us all break it all down and feel more empowered to reduce stress and avoid financial toxicity. Additionally, Tina Masters Odum, a caregiver to her husband, will share what she has learned along the way—practical experiences sure to help listeners navigate the financial journey. 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 focus on the latest and greatest updates regarding CAR T-cell therapy. Dr. David G. Maloney, MD, PhD, Professor, Clinical Research Division, Medical Director, Cellular Immunotherapy at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, will share which disease states are using CAR-T cell therapy, what is evolving and the latest approvals for this life-saving treatment. Kristin Kleinhofer, a leukemia survivor, will share her personal experience and details regarding her success with a CAR-T cell 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.

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.