Every year, mesothelioma patients, caregivers, families, bereaved and professionals from the government, non-profit and medical industries gather together for three days. This expansive set of individuals congregates at the International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma with one common goal: to learn about, discuss and move closer toward a cure for mesothelioma.
Organized by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation (Meso Foundation) with the National Cancer Institute (NCI), the 2017 symposium will take place March 27-29 at the Hyatt Regency in Bethesda, MD. Daytime conference sessions will take place on the campus of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
For the general public, agenda sessions and topics include:
- Screening for mesothelioma
- Immunotherapy 101
- Pleural and peritoneal surgical trials
- Standard and frontline clinical trials
- Healthy eating, exercise and quality of life
- Getting involved – advocating, fundraising, giving
- Coping with cancer
- And more
Medical professionals will also find value in the symposium. A special, two-day session is dedicated to scientists, researchers and medical professionals with a focus on sharing work and speeding up mesothelioma advances. Agenda items for the medical professionals track include:
- Imaging in pleural mesothelioma
- Impact of radiation therapy on the immune system in mesothelioma
- Establishing standards for staging and surgical reporting
- Selected problems in the histologic diagnosis of malignant mesothelioma and new solutions
- And more
Executive Director Mary Hesdorffer will receive the Lifetime Achievement Award during the awards dinner, scheduled for 7 p.m., Monday, March 27. Effective July 2017, Mary will be retiring from her role as the executive director, but will remain connected to the organization in an advisory role.
“Through your fight, you, the members of the mesothelioma community, have shown me the best of humanity,” Mary said in a letter announcing her retirement. “All these years, it has been my privilege to work by your side.”
Diana Stewart, Patricia Dyhrman and Pat Hatley are receiving the Klaus Brauch ‘Above and Beyond’ Award. The group is being honored for their continuous efforts in hosting the WA Memorial Miles for Meso 5K race. This year marks the sixth year the group is hosting a Miles for Meso race on July 4 in Federal Way, WA.
Other award winners include:
- Fred Hirsch, MD, PhD – Hope-Builder Award
- Anna Nowak, MD, PhD – Pioneer Award
- Lee Krug, MD – Special honoree
- Terry Lynch – Special honoree
- Ted Lackner – Special honoree
Simmons Hanly Conroy is a consistent supporter of the mesothelioma and asbestos conference – this year the firm has renewed its support of the Meso Foundation with a $25,000 donation. Members of the Simmons Hanly Conroy team will also be in attendance.
This symposium is an enlightening and powerful event for any person who has been affected by mesothelioma – patient, caregiver, family member, friend, advocate or medical professional. It’s also a wonderful place to gather and network with other people dealing with similar situations. If you have interest in attending the 2017 mesothelioma conference, get more information and register for the event today.
