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Ruesch Center Symposium

 taking place virtually on November 20 to 21, 2020, will feature sessions that span innovations in gastrointestinal (GI) cancer, advances in nuclear imaging and therapy for neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), precision oncology web educational resource (POWER), and patient symposia, bringing participants together in a forum for discussion, networking, and debate on pressing issues in the field.

“In our 11th year, we focus on the progress we are making in GI cancer research,” said John L. Marshall, MD, chief of the Division of Hematology/Oncology at Medstar Georgetown University Hospital, professor of medicine and oncology, and director of the Otto J. Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancer at Georgetown-Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, in a statement to 

. “By linking our science community, to our oncology practices and our patients, we bring together all the key stakeholders in GI cancers.”

The symposium, which will feature 44 distinguished speakers, will be divided into 3 parts and a special session. Part 1, titled Innovations in GI Cancer, will take place on Friday, from 9:00am to 4:45pm and will provide “a unique forum for discussions on cutting-edge research, and the pipeline of promising new therapies and technologies in GI cancers.” Topics will include innovations in therapeutics, cancer genetics, and targeted therapies.

In the afternoon, Richard M. Goldberg, MD, Director Emeritus of West Virginia University Cancer Institute, will present the Schafer Memorial Lecture, followed by presentations that provide an in-depth look into research sponsored by the GI Cancers Alliance.

“This year we are dedicating the afternoon session to the best new science exclusively funded by our advocacy partners. Without research funding, we will not progress—and our advocacy partners have done an amazing job filling the funding voids left by the NIH [National Institutes of Health] and others,” said Marshall.

The special session, titled Advances in Nuclear Imaging and Therapy for Neuroendocrine Tumors, and presented by the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, will take place on Friday, from 1:30pm to 4:00pm. Topics will include surgical and systemic approaches for NETs, the role of molecular imaging in the evaluation of NETs, and liver-directed treatments for metastatic NETs.

Part 2, titled POWER, will be held on Saturday, from 8:15am to 1:30pm, and will “eliminate practice gaps in oncology and teach physicians to assess the right biomarkers of response to systemic cancer therapy, at the right time, in the right patients.” Topics will include the present and future of precision medicine, report interpretation and evolving practice standards, and applications for oncology nurses and advanced practice providers.

In part 3, the patient symposium, which will take place on Saturday, from 9:00am to 1:00pm will “provide patients and families with disease-specific information, education, and tools for managing their cancer care.” Topics will include adapting to a new cancer care landscape in the midst of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, best practices for engaging advocacy organizations in research, and disease-specific breakout sessions.

During the symposium, the 2020 recipients of the Luminary Awards in GI Cancers will also be honored for their lifetime achievements in improving the lives of those afflicted with GI cancer:

, Director Emeritus of West Virginia University Cancer Institute, presented by John Marshall, MD

, associate clinical investigator and nurse practitioner of HonorHealth Research Institute, presented by Janice Oppenheim, MHA, BSN, RN, OCN

, chief executive officer and founder, Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, presented by Howard Rutman, MD, with Daiichi Sankyo, Inc.

, radiation oncologist, Hampton University Proton Therapy Institute, and Professor Emeritus of University of Virginia, presented by Keith Unger, MD

, Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Professor of Surgery and Pathology director of the Pancreatic Cancer Center, and associate director of translational research at NYU Langone Health’s Perlmutter Cancer Center, presented by Emily Winslow, MD

“There are so many who work so hard to find cures for GI cancers; we could never thank them all. But in recognizing those who have dedicated their entire lives to GI cancer patients, we stop to give our thanks for all their effort,” concluded Marshall.

To register for this event, please visit: 

https://event.onclive.com/event/68a40cae-669f-48df-b9de-09f9c873d73e/summary

2020 Symposium Conference Info. Georgetown University. 2020. https://bit.ly/3pGX1Oe

November 17, 2020 — The 11th Annual Ruesch Center Symposium, taking place virtually on November 20 to 21, 2020, will feature sessions that span innovations in gastrointestinal cancer, advances in nuclear imaging and therapy for neuroendocrine tumors, precision oncology web educational resource, and patient symposia, bringing participants together in a forum for discussion, networking, and debate on pressing issues in the field.

Ruesch Center Symposium to Spotlight Advances, Applications in GI Cancers, Luminary Awards

The Luminary Awards in GI Cancer winners pose with presenters and hosts following the event.

At the 2nd Annual Luminary Awards, hosted by 

 and The Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers, several individuals in the cancer care community were honored for their efforts in improving the lives of patients with gastrointestinal cancers.

“Each of these recipients has made transformative strides in the lives of patients with [gastrointestinal] cancers,” said John L. Marshall, MD, director of the Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. “These individuals have helped propel the field of [gastrointestinal] cancer with their enduring commitment and groundbreaking contributions in treatment, research, and advocacy."

The Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers provides clinical research, education, advocacy, and regional and global alliances in an effort to fight gastrointestinal cancers. The center was established in 2009 by Jeanne Ruesch in honor of her late husband Otto, who lost his fight to pancreatic cancer.

“As one of only a few centers of excellence that focuses exclusively on gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, we are working on advancing science and research, changing lives and outcomes, cultivating innovators of the future, and collaborating and sharing insights,” said Marshall during the ceremony.

John S. Macdonald, MD, the senior advisor at Criterium Inc., was one of the honorees at this year's Luminary Awards. With over 400 publications, Macdonald has previously served as medical director and chief of gastrointestinal oncology at St. Vincent’s Comprehensive Center, chief of medical oncology at St. Vincent’s Hospital and Medical Center, and a professor of medicine at New York Medical College.

Macdonald has pioneered the use of chemoradiation after surgical resection of gastric cancers. This treatment regimen, aptly named the “Macdonald Regimen,” has helped turn the idea of a cure into a reality for thousands of patients with gastric cancers. This has also paved the way for the development of new treatment options for gastric cancers.

“[Macdonald] is a groundbreaking researcher, dedicated educator, and outstanding clinician,” said Sunnie Kim, MD, of the Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers, prior to presenting Macdonald with his award. “He has changed the lives of countless patients with some of the deadliest cancers.”

The second honoree of the night was Daniel D. Von Hoff, MD, FACP, physician-in-chief and distinguished professor at the Translational Genomics Research Institute, chief scientific officer at HonorHealth and US Oncology, and professor of medicine at the Mayo Clinic. His current research efforts have focused largely on targeted therapies for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancers.

Over his time in the oncology space, Von Hoff has played a major role in the development of new drugs for the treatment of patients with pancreatic cancer. He and his colleagues have conducted numerous clinical investigations of agents that have gone on to help countless patients with colorectal, pancreatic, breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers, as well as those with leukemia. He is constantly advocating for new technologies and treatments for patients with GI cancers.

The third honoree was Paul H. Sugarbaker, MD, FACS, FRCS, chief of the peritoneal surface malignancy program and director of the Center for Gastrointestinal Malignancies at Medstar Washington Hospital Center. His work has been published in over 900 publications.

Sugarbaker developed and perfected a surgical procedure that combines cytoreduction with HIPEC. This procedure, known as the “Sugarbaker procedure,” has inspired an entirely new field in GI cancers: peritoneal surface malignancies. His work in the field as a surgical oncologist continues to impact the treatment landscape for these patients.

The fourth recipient of the night was Michael Sapienza, CEO of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance and a member of the Ruesch Center for the Cure of GI Cancer’s advisory board. After Sapienza’s mother passed in 2009 from colon cancer, he founded the Chris4Life Colon Cancer Foundation. In 2015, he merged his foundation with the Colorectal Cancer Alliance to form the largest nonprofit for colorectal cancer in the nation.

“The work that he has done in collaboration with many people in the room has transformed the world of colorectal cancer and I’m forever grateful,” Marshall said as he presented Sapienza with his award.

The final recipient of the Luminary Awards was Richard L. Schilsky, MD, FACP, FASCO, FSCT, senior vice president, chief medical officer, and former president of ASCO. His research is currently focused on new drug development for the treatment of patients with GI cancers.

Schilsky treated patients for over 30 years at the University of Chicago before leading the school’s phase I investigational drug program. Ten years ago, Schilsky became the president of ASCO, then 5 years later, he was named the first-ever chief medical officer of ASCO. Schilsky aimed to further enhance the treatment landscape for these patients from the very start of his career.

“We’ve made progress in treating GI cancers,” Schilsky said. “The median overall survival of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer 40 years ago was 8 months. Today, our most recent CALGB trial has demonstrated a median survival that was up to 30 months. That’s great progress, but not enough.”

Five leaders in the fight against gastrointestinal cancers from academia, the community, and clinic were honored at the 2018 Luminary Awards. 

Luminary Awards in GI Cancers Honor Distinguished Leaders

The inaugural Luminary Awards in GI Cancer, which will be hosted by OncLive® and The Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers, will honor Julie Fleshman, Daniel G. Haller, Henry T. Lynch, Frank McCormick and Andrew L. Warshaw for their dedication to the gastrointestinal (GI) cancers community. The celebratory cocktail reception will be held at The St. Regis Washington, D.C., on Dec. 1. The winners were selected for their tremendous devotion and leadership in research, clinical care and advocacy in GI cancer.

“We are honored to recognize these five individuals for their outstanding work and passion for improving the lives of those impacted by GI cancer. Each of these winners helps propel the field of GI cancer through their commitment and groundbreaking contributions in treatment, research and advocacy,” said John L. Marshall, MD, director of the Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers.

The Luminary Awards in GI Cancers winners are:

Julie Fleshman, J.D., MBA, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

	After losing her father to pancreatic cancer in 1999, Fleshman dedicated herself to making a difference in the lives of others facing similar circumstances. After becoming the president and CEO of Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in 2004, the organization’s revenues grew from $228,000 to $38 million. Under her leadership, the organization has awarded 159 pancreatic cancer research grants and provided assistance for more than 165,000 patients with pancreatic cancer and their families.

Daniel G. Haller, M.D., FACP, FRCP, Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania

	Haller joined the faculty of the University of Pennsylvania in 1980, where his clinical research focused on the management of GI malignancies. In 2009, he was designated the Deenie Greitzer Gastrointestinal Medical Oncology Professor. Haller has also served as the Gastrointestinal Committee Chair for Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and is currently the co-chair of the US NCI GI Intergroup.

Henry T. Lynch, M.D., M.S., FACP, FAACR, Creighton University School of Medicine Lynch’s great discoveries have made vital contributions to the field of oncology.

	Prior to his discovery of Lynch syndrome, cancer was considered an environmentally caused disease. In addition to his clinical career, Dr. Lynch has published over 900 peer-reviewed papers.

Frank McCormick, Ph.D., FRS, University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center

	McCormck is a professor at the UCSF Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center. Previously, he served as the chief scientific officer and founder of Onyx Pharmaceuticals. Under his leadership, Onyx Pharmaceuticals received approval of sorafenib in 2005 for the treatment of renal cell cancer. His current research is focused on the fundamental differences between normal and cancer cells that can allow the discovery of novel therapeutic strategies. Additionally, McCormick holds the David A. Wood Chair of Tumor Biology and Cancer Research at UCSF.

Andrew L. Warshaw, M.D., FACS, FRCSED (HON), Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital

	During his tenure, Warshaw has held many important titles, including president of the Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract, the International Association of Pancreatology, the Massachusetts Chapter of the American College of Surgeons, the New England Surgical Society, the Halsted Society, the Boston Surgical Society, the Society of Surgical Chairs and the American Pancreatic Association. He has made important contributions to the diagnosis, treatment and understanding of the pathogenesis of inflammatory and malignant lesions of the pancreas. Harvard Medical School has established the Warshaw Family Professorship in Surgery, honoring Warshaw’s career and accomplishments as a surgical leader.

“This award reception not only celebrates the five exceptional individuals, it also honors all of the unsung heroes of the GI cancers community. We appreciate their commitment to this field and are pleased to honor them,” said Michael J. Hennessy Jr., president of Michael J. Hennessy Associates Inc., parent company of OncLive®.

Robert Goldsmith, vice president of OncLive® states, “we are honored to collaborate with The Ruesch Center for the inaugural Luminary Awards in GI Cancer. This program allows us to celebrate these dedicated individuals who make a difference every day.”

The Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers, a part of the Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, focuses on personalizing patient care while fighting GI cancers. Ruesch provides the highest standard of care and individualized treatments through clinical trials and research, education and advocacy, and regional and global alliances.

For more information about the reception, visit 

A digital platform of resources for practicing oncologists, OncLive.com offers oncology professionals information they can use to help provide the best patient care. OncLive® is the official website for Michael J. Hennessy Associates’ Oncology Specialty Group, which publishes OncologyLive®, Oncology Nursing News®, Oncology Business Management™ and more. Michael J. Hennessy Associates Inc. is a full-service health care communications company offering education, research and medical media, including curetoday.com and CURE® magazine, the largest U.S. consumer publication focused entirely on cancer. Combining science and humanity to make cancer understandable, CURE® reaches patients, cancer centers and advocacy groups.

The inaugural Luminary Awards in GI Cancer, which will be hosted by OncLive and The Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers, will honor Julie Fleshman, Daniel G. Haller, Henry T. Lynch, Frank McCormick and Andrew L. Warshaw for their dedication to the gastrointestinal cancers community.

OncLive and The Ruesch Center to Honor the Winners of The Luminary Awards in GI Cancers

John L. Marshall, MD, chief, Division of Hematology/Oncology, Medstar Georgetown University Hospital director, Otto J. Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancer, discusses the first annual Luminary Awards in GI Cancers, which is honoring five individuals who have devoted their time, talent and resources to improving the care for patients and families affected by GI cancers.

Julie Fleshman, JD, MBA Pancreatic Cancer Action Network

Daniel G. Haller, MD, FACP, FRCP - Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania

Henry T. Lynch, MD, MS, FACP, FAACR - Creighton University School of Medicine

Frank McCormick, PhD, FRS - University of California, San Francisco Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center

Andrew L. Warshaw, MD, FACS, FRCSED (HON) - Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital

The event will take place at 6 pm on December 1 at The St. Regis Washington DC in Washington, DC. Those who are interested can sign up to attend at 

Ruesch Center Symposium | Conference

Ruesch Center Symposium to Spotlight Advances, Applications in GI Cancers, Luminary Awards

Luminary Awards in GI Cancers Honor Distinguished Leaders

OncLive and The Ruesch Center to Honor the Winners of The Luminary Awards in GI Cancers

Dr. Marshall on the Luminary Awards in GI Cancers