Experts Gather for Symposium on Lymphoma and Leukemia

By David Robinson

Anne-Marie Maddox, M.D., symposium course director, (center) with presenters Susan M. O’Brien (left) of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Sima Jeha, M.D., of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Anne-Marie Maddox, M.D., symposium course director, (center) with presenters Susan M. O’Brien (left) of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center and Sima Jeha, M.D., of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The Symposium on Lymphoma and Leukemia brought together about 200 doctors, nurses, scientists and others to hear from internationally recognized experts about the most effective approach to managing these diseases.

The event was offered by the UAMS Winthrop P. Rockefeller Cancer Institute. Anne-Marie Maddox, M.D., professor of medicine in the UAMS Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, was the course director.

“We are honored to offer an exceptional program with speakers from the premier research centers across the county,” Maddox said. “The response from our participants was exceptional, and we plan to continue expanding this symposium in the years to come.”

Presenters from UAMS included:

  • Bart Barlogie, M.D., Ph.D., director of the UAMS Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy, on “Total Therapy for Multiple Myeloma: A Discovery Journey to Cure”
    Hagop Kantarjian, M.D., chair of the Department of Leukemia at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, was one of this year’s presenters.

    Hagop Kantarjian, M.D., chair of the Department of Leukemia at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, was one of this year’s presenters.

  • Robert Lorsbach, M.D., Ph.D., director of hematopathology, on “The Role of Flow Cytometry in the Diagnosis and Evaluation of Hematopoietic Disorders”

Additional presenters shared their expertise on a variety of topics related to management of leukemia and lymphoma:

  • James Armitage, M.D., from the University of Nebraska Medical Center, on “How to Improve Therapy for Patients with Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma”
  • Sima Jeha, M.D., from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, on “Pediatric Hematologic Malignancies”
  • Hagop M. Kantarjian, M.D., from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, on “State of the Art Therapy and Monitoring CML – 2010”
  • John C. Byrd, M.D., from The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, on “CLL – New Therapies”
  • Susan O’Brien, M.D., from the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, on “Diagnosis and Treatment of ALL”
  • A. Samer Al-Homsi, M.D., from Roger Williams Medical Center, on “Allogenic Stem Cell Transplantation for Acute Myelogenous Leukemia: Refining Indication and Improving Outcome”
    Participants mingle during a break at the Lymphoma and Leukemia Symposium.

    Participants mingle during a break at the Lymphoma and Leukemia Symposium.