Leading medical specialists will gather with mesothelioma patients, families, friends and advocates at the much-anticipated 2022 International Symposium on Malignant Mesothelioma, July 23, in Chicago. This is an event well worth attending.
The day-long symposium will be held at Summit Chicago, a welcoming venue where a wide range of mesothelioma experts will be speaking on related topics and mixing with all those who attend.
This is the first in-person gathering for the annual event since 2019 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Much of the symposium will be available for viewing virtually, free of charge, for those unable to travel to Chicago.
The symposium is sponsored by the Mesothelioma Applied Research Foundation, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit that includes physicians, researchers and advocates, all collaborating to help patients and families facing this rare cancer.
It is a unique opportunity to hear about the latest mesothelioma treatment options, talk one-on-one with mesothelioma specialists, join support groups and learn about groundbreaking clinical trials.
“This symposium has been a meeting like no other for the mesothelioma community,” said Jose Ortiz, medical outreach liaison for The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com, who attends regularly. “Unlike other conferences or meetings, it is very empowering because it allows actual patients and families who are battling this disease to engage in these important discussions and topics.”
On the schedule for Saturday are numerous presentations by specialists in the field. Each will be followed by a question-and-answer session. Those presentations include:
In-person attendees will also be able to participate in professionally moderated support groups specific to caregivers, patients and those who recently lost a family member to mesothelioma.
Medical attendees will meet in a scientific summit to discuss the future of mesothelioma treatment, then present a panel covering their discussions and conclusions to the patient/caregiver community.
Dr. Marjorie Zauderer of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, chair of the MARF board, will provide opening remarks.
Several members from The Mesothelioma Center at Asbestos.com will be in attendance, including registered nurse Karen Selby, medical outreach liaison Ortiz, oncology patient navigator Vanessa Blanco and Danielle DiPietro, VA-accredited claims agent.
Registration for community members attending the in-person event is $40. Virtual attendance is free, but registration is required.