2008 CALENDAR OF MEETINGS
Saturday, January 12, 2008 - Using the Association of Cancer Resources (ACOR) ListServe for Multiple Myeloma (Link to website) followed by Open Discussion.
Saturday, February 10, 2007 - Dr. Dan Vogel from the Hospital of Univirsity of Pennsylvania will discuss the latest research findings from the American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting held in Atlanta in December 2007. Link to ASH website
Saturday, March 8, 2008 Discussion on financial assistance available for medical expenses and treatment through various organizations and non-profits.
Saturday, April 12, 2008 "American's With Disabilities Act and Employment Discrimination Law" presented by Rodney Warner, Esq. Law and Health Initiative, Magee Rehabilitation Hospital.
Rodney Turner is the project attorney for the Law & Health Initiative for Cancer Survivors at the Legal Clinic for the Disabled, located at Magee Rehabilitation Hospital in Philadelphia. He started practicing law in Connecticut in 1994, specializing mostly in investigating and mediating claims of employment discrimination. He knows firsthand what it feels like to be a cancer patient, as he himself was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Lymphoma in December of 2000, and after undergoing an allogenic bone marrow transplant, has been in remission since 2003. Rodney also has a connection to Multiple Myeloma, as he lost a brother to this disease in December of 2006.
Saturday, May 10 ,2008 "Patient, Not Passive, How to Work as a Team with your Medical Professionals" presented by Debbie Exner and our own Maddie Hunter. Most of us are not prepared for a diagnosis of cancer. The myriad of decisions to be made is mind boggling! Good information is key. But how do you develop the skills you need to get that information -- and in a hurry? In this workshop, Debbie Exner and Maddie Hunter will shine a light on the health advantages that result from assertive action.
Participants will explore tips and techniques for empowered speaking and acting and will practice possible responses to specific situations they may be experiencing. These tips will help them to enrich their relationships with medical professionals, family and friends. Other topics can include learning about your illness, making decisions and effective self-care. Attendees will coach each other into moving away from overwhelm and taking an active role in their care and quality of life. Adopting more active and fulfilling roles will increase feelings of well-being and foster hope for the future.
Debra Exner is a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and she provides structure, feedback and support to help her clients identify and accomplish their goals. Debra started Exner & Associates in 1983, providing training, documentation and consulting services to corporations including Morgan Stanley, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Devereux, Advanta, Schering-Plough, and Citibank.
Maddie Hunter is founder and president of Hunter Unlimited, Inc., a leadership and personal development consulting practice. Maddie has 20 years of experience as an organizational and leadership coach. Her expertise in coaching, leadership development and group facilitation was honed in her role as Team Effectiveness Consultant to the Bell Laboratories R&D community. In her 15-year career at Lucent and Avaya, Maddie was recognized for her capacity to coach individuals to communicate across functional, national, cultural, gender and language differences. She accomplished this through customizing effective coaching strategies for all levels of leadership within the companies.
Saturday, June 14, 2008 Patient/Caregiver Discussion. Special Guest, Robin Tuhey from the IMF will be part of the meeting and update everyone on the IMF and participate in our discussions.
Saturday, July 12, 2008 Dr. Robert VB Emmons, Medical Director of the Temple Bone Marrow Transplant program will discuss preventing and managing bone issues. His clinical specialty includes all forms of hematopoietic malignancy, immunologic disorders, and stem cell transplant.
He is board certified in Hematology and Internal Medicine by the ABIM (American Board of Internal Medicine). Dr. Emmons is a reviewer for a number of publications including Blood, Experimental Hematology, and Bone Marrow Transplantation. He has authored numerous journal articles on the subjects of bone marrow and stem cell transplantation. His work has been published in numerous journals including Blood, Oncology, and Human Gene Therapy.
Dr. Emmons was an Assistant Professor of Medicine and Cell Biology in the Division of Hematology/Oncology at the University of Massachusetts in Worcester, Massachusetts before joining the Fox Chase-Temple BMT Program on October 1, 2003.
Dr. Emmons' clinical and basic science research interests involve hematopoietic stem cell biology, immunoregulatory cells, graft-versus-host disease, and the application of stem cell transplantation to treat cancer and other disorders
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Saturday, August 9, 2008 No Meeting
Saturday, September 8, 2007 Practical Legal Perspectives for MM Patients (including Social Security, Medical Insurance and Living Wills) presented by Spencer Rand, Esq
Saturday, October 11, 2008 Open Discussion
Newcomers are invited to arrive early at 12:45 PM to register and meet with volunteer MM veterans from the group before our regular meeting begins
Philadelphia Multiple Myeloma Networking Group
Saturday, December 13, 2007 - Year End Celebration
Please continue to check back to see updates to the meeting discussion topics.
Saturday, November 8, 2008 Integrative Medicine (in cooperation with the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society), Speaker Caroline Peterson, MA, Director of the Mindfulness-Based Art Therapy (MBAT) program for Cancer Patients from Thomas Jefferson - Myrna Brind Center of Integrative Medicine will present "Creativity,Mindfulness and Cancer"
