The Hirshberg Foundation is thrilled to announce Diane M. Simeone, MD will be joining us at the 18th Annual Symposium on Pancreatic Cancer to discuss the significance and importance of the Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Consortium: PRECEDE.

Early detection has the potential to dramatically change the trajectory of pancreatic cancer. The Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection (PRECEDE) Consortium is an international, multi-institutional collaborative group of experts working to increase survival for pancreatic cancer patients by improving early detection, screening, risk modeling and prevention for those with a heritable risk for pancreatic cancer, through a novel model of collaboration and data sharing. Dr. Simeone will discuss the current state of clinical surveillance for pancreatic cancer in high-risk individuals, and the role of large-scale collaborative research to accelerate progress toward meaningful improvement in survival.

Dr. Diane Simeone assumes the role of Director at Moores Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of California San Diego Health, effective April 1, 2024. As director, she will spearhead the National Cancer Institute (NCI)-sponsored Cancer Center Support Grant as the principal investigator, while providing strategic intellectual guidance for the center’s research programs, administrative structure and multidisciplinary clinical service line. Under her leadership, MCC will have a significant impact on cancer treatment, detection, and prevention in the coming era. Previously, the Laura and Isaac Perlmutter Professor of Surgery and Pathology at New York University, Dr. Simeone was Director of the Pancreatic Cancer Center, concurrently as the Associate Director for Translational Research. She is an internationally renowned pancreatic surgeon and a researcher with a long-standing career focus on the treatment of pancreatic neoplasms. With a remarkable record of accomplishment of continuous NIH funding spanning 25 years, investigating the molecular mechanisms driving pancreatic metastasis and the development of novel, more effective therapeutic strategies to treat pancreatic cancer patients. She has a large clinical practice taking care of patients with pancreatic neoplasms and those at elevated risk of the disease. She first discovered pancreatic cancer stem cells, identified ATDC as a novel oncogene in human cancers, and defined for the first-time unique populations of cancer associated fibroblasts in pancreatic cancer. She has been an innovator in the development of therapeutic clinical trials for pancreatic cancer, and is the Principal Investigator of Precision Promise, a national adaptive phase 2/3 platform clinical trial consortium focused on next-generation clinical trials for patients with pancreatic cancer. Dr. Simeone established and leads the Precede Consortium, an international collaboration of 50 centers dedicated to studying a large longitudinal cohort of individuals at heritable risk for pancreatic cancer. Her leadership extends beyond the laboratory, she is a member of the Scientific Advisory Board for the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research and has chaired the scientific and medical advisory board of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, served as president of the Society of University Surgeons, the American Pancreatic Association, and National Cancer Institute’s Pancreatic Cancer Task Force. Recognized for her contributions, Dr. Simeone is a member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences, setting her position as a leader in cancer research and clinical practice.

A critical piece of the early detection puzzle, we are excited to have Diane M. Simeone MD present Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Consortium: PRECEDE at the 18th Annual Symposium.

The Hirshberg Foundation is happy to announce Eileen O’Reilly, MD will be joining us at the 18th Annual Symposium on Pancreatic Cancer to share up-to-date information in a Pancreatic Cancer Progress Report 2024.

Dr. O’Reilly will review current state of the art treatments for pancreas cancer as well as the genetics of this disease. She will also discuss emerging targets, immunotherapy and vaccine approaches that are in development.

Eileen M. O’Reilly holds the Winthrop Rockefeller Endowed Chair in Medical Oncology at Memorial Sloan Kettering (MSK). She serves as the Section Head for Hepatopancreaticobiliary/ Neuroendocrine Cancers, Gastrointestinal Oncology Service, Co-Director for Medical Initiatives at the David M. Rubenstein Center for Pancreatic Cancer and is an attending physician and member at MSK and Professor of Medicine at Weill Cornell Medical College.

Dr. O’Reilly received her medical degree at Trinity College in Ireland. She completed her postgraduate training in Ireland and subsequent Hematology/Oncology Fellowship training at MSK. Dr. O’Reilly is a clinical scientist whose research focus involves integration of molecular and genetic-based therapies for pancreas cancer along with development of adjuvant and neoadjuvant treatments and identification of biomarkers for therapy selection. Dr. O’Reilly teaches and mentors junior faculty, oncology fellows, residents and medical/other students and has received numerous teaching and other awards. Dr. O’Reilly is the Principal Investigator of multiple phase I, II, III trials in pancreas cancer and has authored/co-authored over 375 articles, editorials, and book chapters and has an H-index of 89. She serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Clinical Oncology and Senior Editor for several other journals and has served on multiple grant review panels including, for the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), American Association of Cancer Research (AACR), NIH, DOD, and various international entities. She is the PI of the MSK Pancreas Specialized Program in Oncology Research Excellence (SPORE), an NCI funded team science grant. Dr. O’Reilly is the recipient of numerous awards including the Burkitt Medal (TCD) in 2022, and Giants of Cancer Care GI Oncology, 2023.

Dr. O’Reilly’s other responsibilities include Chair of the Human Research Protection Program and Institutional Review & Privacy Board (IRB). Nationally, Dr. O’Reilly is Co-Chair of the NCI Alliance Co-Operative Group Gastrointestinal Cancers Committee and serves on the NCI Gastrointestinal Cancers Steering Committee (GISC). She serves in leadership roles in several advocacy organizations including National Pancreas Foundation, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and is on the Scientific Advisory Board for the Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research.

An important update for our pancreatic cancer community, we are so happy to have Dr. Eileen O’Reilly present Pancreatic Cancer Progress Report 2024 at the 18th Annual Symposium.

Held in collaboration with the UCLA Agi Hirshberg Center for Pancreatic Diseases at the Luskin Conference Center
March 11, 2023
8:30 am – 3:00 pm

Schedule

The Hirshberg Foundation is happy to share that Shelby Yaceczko, MS, RDN-AP, CNSC will be joining us at the 17th Annual Symposium on Pancreatic Cancer to discuss nutrition management post-diagnosis.

This interactive discussion will explore nutrition principles after a diagnosis of pancreatic cancer and what both patients and caregivers should know. We will review the importance of diet and wellness at every phase of the pancreatic cancer journey including meal planning and symptom management as it relates to food.

Shelby Yaceczko works with the Integrated Practice Unit (IPU) at UCLA leading the Nutrition for Safer Surgeries Program, funded through the Hirshberg Foundation. This program aims to provide early nutrition assessment and intervention for any patient with a new or existing gastrointestinal cancer diagnosis, with a special focus on pancreatic cancer. Shelby provides medical nutrition therapy services covering a range of areas such as preventing or correcting nutritional deficiencies, enhancing quality of life during cancer treatment, minimizing side effects from cancer treatments, and providing personalized nutrition prescriptions and goals to both patients and caregivers. She knows how important nutrition is before, during, and after cancer treatment and its related surgeries, and this new program aims to support patients and their caregivers throughout the process.

Shelby Yaceczko is one of few advanced practice registered dietitian nutritionists in California. She holds a master’s degree in Exercise Physiology and is currently finishing her Doctor of Clinical Nutrition studies. Additionally, she is board certified in sport nutrition, transplant nutrition, and nutrition support. Shelby focuses her efforts on providing personalized nutrition therapy in the treatment of complex disease states at UCLA Health including nutrition for cancer, gastrointestinal surgeries, and improving the general wellness of patients through diet and lifestyle changes. She understands that good nutrition is a catalyst to help you thrive and reach life potential. Shelby is described as passionate and innovative, while firmly believing in the mind-body connection. Throughout her career, she has worked to empower people of all ages to better understand the power of nutrition and its impact on overall well-being and disease management.

Nutrition plays an important role at all stages of treatment and it is one of the most requested topics at our annual Symposiums. We look forward to hearing Shelby Yaceczko’s, MS, RDN-AP, CNSC presentation on Dietary Management Post-Diagnosis.

The Hirshberg Foundation is pleased to welcome Sandra H. Sacks, MD, MEd to the 17th Annual Symposium on Pancreatic Cancer to discuss Palliative Care – It’s Not Hospice!

There is clear evidence that patients living with serious illnesses can benefit greatly from early palliative care. Palliative care is not hospice care. It does not replace any cancer-directed treatment. Instead, palliative care teams work together with oncology teams to decrease pain, relieve symptom burden, and improve the quality of life in patients living with serious illnesses and their families.

Dr. Sacks is a triple board-certified physician in Anesthesiology, Palliative Medicine, and Pain Medicine. She serves as the current Chair of the Committee on Palliative Medicine for the American Society of Anesthesia (ASA). She is a cancer pain specialist at UCLA, and is committed to delivering compassionate and quality palliative care to patients and their families. Her clinical focus is on managing oncologic pain through multimodal medical management and minimally-invasive interventions.

We are thrilled to have Dr. Sacks present on this ever-important topic Palliative Care – It’s Not Hospice!

The Hirshberg Foundation is delighted to announce that Randall Brand, MD will be joining the 17th Annual Symposium on Pancreatic Cancer to present Should I Participate in a Clinical Trial?

Dr. Brand will describe the importance of clinical trials for pancreatic cancer early detection and treatment. He will also discuss how to get involved in a clinical trial and review how to determine if participating in a particular clinical trial is the right step for a treatment plan.

Randall Brand, MD, is a gastroenterologist and Professor of Medicine at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine. He is the academic director for the GI Division at UPMC Shadyside Hospital. Dr. Brand also directs the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center’s GI Malignancy Early Detection, Diagnosis and Prevention Program and leads UPMC’s Hereditary GI Tumor Clinic.

Dr. Brand’s clinical interests include the early detection of pancreatic cancer, evaluating and caring for family members from pancreatic cancer-prone families, hereditary GI cancers, and evaluation of pancreatic cystic lesions. He participates in multiple NCI-, NIH- and DoD-funded research projects focused on the early diagnosis of pancreatic cancer.

We are excited to welcome back Dr. Brand to our Symposium to present Should I Participate in a Clinical Trial?