|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 Confirmed Speakers to Date: Takami Sato, MD, PhD, David Eschelman, MD, Carin Gonsalves, MD (Kimmel Center); Carol Shields, MD (Wills Eye Institute); and OMF Medical Director Peter Hovland, MD, PhD. What's New This Year: OMF's newly formed Patient Steering Committee is creating an agenda reflecting what patients, caregivers and their families most want to experience and learn about. 2013 is also OMF's 10th anniversary so stay tuned for many more announcements! Our Goal: Offer patients, caregivers and families a welcoming and information-packed environment to foster friendships, facilitate interaction and provide no-nonsense education directly from the experts. |
New Horizons: Building on Past Retreats
|
In 2010, OMF hosted the world's first meeting exclusively for OM patients at the Dana-Farber Cancer Center in Boston, MA. This seminal event put nearly 100 patients and caregivers in direct touch with leaders in the OM field and set the stage for the Eye Am Not Alone (EANA) Patient Retreat Series, the latest of which was in Washington, DC.
Held in March 2012, this latest EANA installment brought together an even larger group to hear from Takami Sato; David Eschelman; Colleen Cebulla; and Peter Hovland; among others and has served as a model for other patient retreats. The Hon. Kathleen Blanco, former governor of Louisiana, delivered the keynote address and attendees heard from numerous patients and caregivers.
|
 | |
OMF Medical Director
Peter Hovland, MD, PhD
at the 2012 Patient Retreat
|
For 2013's retreat, OMF is introducing the New Horizons session on Saturday afternoon. New Horizons is designed to speed the translation of new ideas into improved therapies and diagnostics for OM patients. According to OMF Chair and venture capitalist Grant Allen, "No matter how promising a medical concept, financing is required to bring the ideas to fruition. Since my father founded OMF, our dream has been to bring all uveal melanoma stakeholders together to create better solutions for OM patients. New Horizons will help facilitate these collaborations and lead to new treatments, better outcomes, advancing towards a cure."
As we work closely with the doctors and our Patient Committee to fine tune the agenda, we welcome your input! Please send us your session ideas and concerns: [email protected]
|
Patient Steering Committee
|
 Since its inception, the EANA concept has been devoted to OM patients and those caring for them. OMF welcomes input from any past or potential attendee and has established a Patient Steering Committee to inform both the retreat's goals and agenda. Melody Kling, well known in the OM community for her strong, supportive voice on the OM Facebook forums and for her creation of the A Cure In Sight patient support organization, will be chairing this committee.
If you would like to join the Patient Steering Committee or have questions about volunteering or speaking at this year's EANA retreat, please email Coryell Stout. |
OMF 10th Anniversary
|
On March 25th, OMF celebrated the 10th anniversary of its founding by ophthalmologist and OM patient, Dr. Robert Allen. Tania Cabral helped us create a 10th anniversary logo, OMF 10 Years: One Mission One Voice which reflects our goal of supporting patients and eye cancer research until we see a cure. Stay tuned for more information on exciting new advocacy and education programs OMF will be unveiling this year!
|
|
New OMF Brochures Available
|
You can download and print your own copy HERE.
If you'd like bulk printed brochures to distribute, please send us an email at [email protected]. |
|
As always, thank you for all your encouragement and for being a supporter of OMF and our mission. We look forward to a second decade filled with cooperation, coordinated efforts and advances so we finally see a cure.
|
|
|
|
Jenny Mottershead
Executive Director
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
