Experts Gather for 17th Annual Rasco Symposium

By Ben Boulden

 

Rasco Symposium medical director Issam Makhoul, M.D., fourth from right, is joined by several other presenters from UAMS.

March 27, 2014 | Experts from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) gathered March 14 to share information about the latest research and treatment innovations for colorectal cancer and gastrointestinal (GI) malignancies.

The 17th annual Charles William Rasco, III Symposium on Colorectal Cancer and GI Malignancies brought together about 125 physicians, nurses, pharmacists, scientists and other health care professionals to hear from a multidisciplinary field of professionals who are leaders in cancer treatment and research.

The symposium, conducted by the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute, honors the memory of Charles William Rasco III, who lost his battle with the disease in 1994. Issam Makhoul, M.D., director of the Division of Hematology/Oncology in the Department of Internal Medicine in the UAMS College of Medicine, is medical director of the symposium.

“The UAMS Cancer Institute is committed to remaining at the top of our field for treatment of all types of cancer, including colorectal and GI cancers that are so prevalent in our state,” Makhoul said. “This annual symposium is an important vehicle for us to learn about the many advances in research and treatment that we can use to benefit our patients.”

Presenters for the daylong event included health care professionals from several UAMS departments and divisions:

· Mark Jansen, M.D., assistant professor in the UAMS Department of Family and Preventive Medicine on “Screening for Colorectal Cancer in 2014”

 

· Jennifer Laudadio, M.D., assistant professor in the UAMS Department of Pathology, on “Precision Medicine for Colorectal Cancer”

 

· Liudmila Schafer, M.D., assistant professor in the UAMS Division of Hematology/Oncology, on “Adjuvant Treatment for Colon Cancer in the Elderly”

 

· Rangaswamy Govindarajan, M.D., professor in the UAMS Division of Hematology/Oncology, on “Genetic Syndromes of Stomach Cancer”

 

· Mauricio Garcia De Sicilia Saenz, M.D., assistant professor in the UAMS Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, on “Update on Liver-targeted Therapy for Primary and Metastatic Liver Cancer

 

· Frederick Bentley, M.D., professor in the UAMS Department of Surgery, on “Management of Cholangiocarcinoma”

 

· Dan Brown, M.D., assistant professor in the UAMS Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, on “Barrett’s Esophagus: Epidemiology, Surveillance and Management”

 

· Kent McKelvey, M.D., associate professor in the UAMS Division of Genetics, on “Screening for Pancreatic Cancer in Arkansas”

 

· A. Mazin Safar, M.D., associate professor in the UAMS Division of Hematology/Oncology practicing at the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System, on “Non-surgical Management of Esophageal and Gastric Cancer”

 

· Daniel Borja-Cacho, M.D., assistant professor in the UAMS Department of Surgery, on “Management of IPMN”

 

· Jonathan Laryea, M.D., assistant professor in the UAMS Department of Surgery, on “Interactive Case Presentation”