Pancreatic Cancer Symposium focuses on care and research

November 8, 2011

UMass Medical School and the UMass Memorial Cancer Center of Excellence will host the third annual Pancreatic Cancer Symposium on Wednesday, Nov. 9, in the Faculty Conference Room on the Worcester campus. Held during national Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month, “Pancreatic Cancer: Expert Care and Research” will offer the latest updates on research and clinical treatment to health care professionals and their patients, and vital support for individuals and families affected by this devastating disease.

This year’s program will feature the Gail Allen Memorial Keynote Address by Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA, president and CEO of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, who will speak about advocacy and the future of pancreatic cancer. Other presenters include Terence R. Flotte, MD, the Celia and Isaac Haidak Professor of Medicine, executive deputy chancellor, provost, dean of the School of Medicine and professor of pediatrics, who will give opening remarks; Giles Whalen, MD, professor of surgery; Suzana Makowski, MD, assistant professor of medicine; and Mary Sullivan, RN, DNP, from Division of Surgical Oncology at UMass Memorial Medical Center.

Audrey Kurlan-Marcy will speak on engaging the community around a cause. UMMS surgery residents Melissa Murphy, MD, MPH, and Jillian Smith, MD, MPH, and Graduate School of Biomedical Science student Brian Quattrochi will give a talk entitled “What’s the Cutting Edge—Pancreatic Research in Lay Terms.”

The program will wrap up with a panel discussion by pancreatic cancer survivors and their family members.

Free and open to the public, the symposium begins at 8:15 a.m. with registration and continental breakfast. The formal program will conclude by 3 p.m.

To learn more about the symposium, the UMass Pancreas Program, the UMass Memorial Cancer Center of Excellence and the Pancreatic Cancer Alliance, visit www.umassmed.edu/pancreas/index.aspx