Columbus, OH,
23
May
2016
|
18:46 PM
Europe/Amsterdam

OhioHealth to Hold Community Cancer Conference with National Reach

COLUMBUS, Ohio – OhioHealth and MD Anderson Cancer Center, the global leader in cancer care, are bringing physicians, patients, survivors, caregivers, family and friends together on Saturday, June 11, 2016 for a first of-its-kind event – United in the Fight Against Cancer: A Community Conference, Presented by OhioHealth. OhioHealth is a certified member of MD Anderson Cancer Network®, a program of MD Anderson Cancer Center.

This will be a unique, educational outreach event that will be shared with cancer communities across the country. A portion of the event will be simulcast live to MD Anderson Cancer Network member communities in 10 states.

During this time, participants will learn about MD Anderson’s groundbreaking Moon Shots Program. In 2012, MD Anderson launched this comprehensive and ambitious effort, which now includes 12 areas of focus. The goal is to dramatically reduce the incidence and mortality of cancer, looking at all aspects of prevention, early detection and treatment, as well as health policy and education. A panel of world renowned MD Anderson physicians and experts will share their vision and work during this live event.

A second panel will follow, highlighting MD Anderson’s Lung Cancer Moon Shots program called “Lung Cancer: EndTobacco®. The talk will focus on:

  • Preventing tobacco use in children and youth
  • Reducing non-smokers’ exposure to secondhand smoke
  • Increasing quit attempts
  • Enhancing cessation counseling

Keynote Speaker

Prior to the panel discussions, physicians and community members will join together for lunch and to hear from keynote speaker and cancer survivor, Joan Lunden. An award-winning journalist, bestselling author, motivational speaker, woman’s health & wellness advocate and mom of seven – she continues to be one of America’s most recognized and trusted personalities.

With her career focused on health, wellness, and inspiration, Lunden has continued to be a reassuring and informative presence in American homes for more than 30 years. In June of 2014, Lunden was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer, which required chemotherapy, surgery and radiation. Lunden made a decision to take her battle public and has since shared her journey through cancer treatment with the world, becoming a prominent voice in the breast cancer community.

From her consistent journaling throughout her breast cancer journey, Lunden wrote a book entitled Had I Known, which documents her battle with cancer as well as takes a reflective look back on her life and career. As an advocate Joan seeks out ways to promote change on Capitol Hill, is a special correspondent for the TODAY Show and actively communicates with women daily both through her social media and on her website, JoanLunden.com.

Community Sessions

Earlier in the day, patients and survivors will have the opportunity to connect with others who are on the same journey and share in a morning of support and empowerment. They’ll have the opportunity to attend their choice of two informative sessions, including:

  • Finding your new normal
  • Symptom management
  • Long-term care planning
  • Relationships and intimacy

Family members, caregivers and friends will find helpful resources on what to expect if a loved one is fighting cancer. Topics include:

  • Peer and emotional support
  • Stress management/Making time for yourself

There will also be sessions on cancer prevention and screening; genetics; and wellness and nutrition. In addition to these topics, participants will have the opportunity to attend a cancer expo and view interactive demonstrations.

“Our objective for the conference is to unite the entire cancer community – survivors, patients, leading physicians – anyone whose life has been affected by cancer,” said Mike Bianchi, OhioHealth System VP, Cancer Services. “Our team has conducted focus groups with survivors to ensure that every session at the conference will be informative and beneficial.”

MD Anderson Cancer Network ®

OhioHealth is a certified member of MD Anderson Cancer Network, which is designed to advance the institution’s mission of eliminating cancer by delivering MD Anderson expertise to community health providers. The network includes mission-aligned hospitals and healthcare systems across the United States. Hospitals have direct access to MD Anderson clinical guidelines and best practices through this affiliation. OhioHealth became the first system in the state of Ohio to be a certified member of the network in 2014. Now, Dayton’s Premier Health is also a member, as is nearby Community Health Network in Indianapolis, IN.

“Having a relationship with MD Anderson allows us to hold such an important event that will have national reach,” said Praveen Dubey, MD, OhioHealth radiation oncologist and chair of the OhioHealth Oncology Clinical Guidance Council. “MD Anderson Cancer Network aims to advance MD Anderson’s mission of eliminating cancer by collaborating with hospitals and health systems to elevate cancer care in their own communities. This conference is an extension of that. Other members of the network will be holding their own conferences surrounding these MD Anderson panels, helping to spread hope and important information to the cancer community throughout the country.”

“One of MD Anderson’s primary mission areas is education, and this event is an ideal opportunity for us to bring our experts to OhioHealth and share new research and prevention information with thousands of individuals through the power of technology,” said Bill Hyslop, president and chief executive officer of MD Anderson Physicians Network. “We want everyone who participates in this event to walk away feeling like an ‘insider’ in the world of cancer research. That’s our world in Houston, and we want to share it with our certified members and their communities. It’s yet another way we work together to end cancer.”

Details and Registration Information

United in the Fight Against Cancer: A Community Conference, Presented by OhioHealth will take place at the Greater Columbus Convention Center on Saturday, June 11, 2016 from 8:00 am – 3:00 pm. The cost for community members is $10 (includes link to register for free parking). Community members may register for the event by visiting OhioHealth.com/UnitedWeFightCancer.

About OhioHealth

OhioHealth is a nationally recognized, not-for-profit, charitable, healthcare organization with Methodist roots. Based in Columbus, Ohio, OhioHealth is currently recognized as one of the top five large health systems in America by Truven Health Analytics, an honor it has received six times. It is also recognized by FORTUNE Magazine as one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” and has been for 10 years in a row, 2007-2016.

Serving its communities since 1891, it is a family of 28,000 associates, physicians and volunteers, and a network of 11 hospitals, 50+ ambulatory sites, hospice, home-health, medical equipment and other health services spanning a 40-county area.

OhioHealth hospitals include OhioHealth Riverside Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth Grant Medical Center, OhioHealth Doctors Hospital, OhioHealth Grady Memorial Hospital, OhioHealth Dublin Methodist Hospital, OhioHealth Hardin Memorial Hospital, OhioHealth Marion General Hospital, OhioHealth O’Bleness Hospital, OhioHealth Mansfield Hospital, OhioHealth Shelby Hospital and OhioHealth Rehabilitation Hospital. For more information, please visit our website at www.ohiohealth.com.