Symposium

PURPOSE

To create an intimate and inspirational day of education by bringing together clinicians, researchers, physicians, survivors, patients and their families.

ABOUT THE SYMPOSIUM

Our annual Symposium, held at UCLA, has become an educational and inspirational patient centered program that has integrated nearly 200 researchers, clinicians, patients, survivors and families to learn and discuss developments, personalized medicine, cutting-edge treatments and the progression of finding a cure for pancreatic cancer. Past Symposium topics include surgery, psychosocial management, nutrition, integrative medicine, gastroenterology, genetics, clinical trials, and more. The programs include a patient panel where patients and caregivers share their story and answer questions about living with pancreatic cancer. There is no fee for attending this event.

HISTORY

Started in 2005, the symposium was designed to showcase various pancreatic cancer research efforts underway and as a space for Seed Grant recipients to present their final data and posters of their projects. Beginning in 2008, the symposium was broken into two parts: a full day session for medical professionals and a shortened program geared toward patients and families. In 2013 the medical Symposium joined the American Pancreas Association Meetings and the latest research continues to be presented there. Since then, the symposium has been a day focused on patients, families and caretakers. Presented in the same intimate format where the physicians talk with patients and explain the latest research in accessible terms, the addition of the patient and caregiver panel brings inspiration to all that attend. The focus of our symposiums continues to be providing patients, survivors, caregivers and families affected by pancreatic cancer the most current treatment and prevention information in an educational, encouraging, and engaging environment. The goal of the day is to provide hope and community for all.

PAST SYMPOSIUM PRESENTATIONS

Year
Topic
Presenter
Link

2025
Welcome and Opening Remarks at the 19th Annual Hirshberg Symposium
Agi Hirshberg & Lisa Manheim
Hirshberg Foundation for Pancreatic Cancer Research
2025
Navigating Your Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Right From The Start
Emily Martin, MD
University of California, Los Angeles
2025
Pancreatic Cancer Progress Report 2025
Tim Donahue, MD
University of California, Los Angeles
2025
Surgical Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer: A Moving Target
Jon King, MD
University of California, Los Angeles
2025
Staying Strong Through Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Nutrition and Movement Matter!
Shelby D. Yaceczko, DCN, RDN-AP, CNSC
University of California, Los Angeles
2025
Empowering Pancreatic Cancer Patients With Mindfulness
Barbara Demman, MSN, RN, ACNP, CNS
University of California, Los Angeles
2025
Cannabis and Oncology: What Pancreatic Cancer Patients Should Know
Ziva Cooper, PhD
University of California, Los Angeles
2025
Panel Discussion: Perspectives from Pancreatic Cancer Survivors and Caregivers
Annette Stanton, PhD
University of California, Los Angeles
2024
Pancreatic Cancer Progress Report 2024
Eileen M. O’Reilly, MD
Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center
2024
Pancreatic Cancer Early Detection Consortium: PRECEDE
Diane M. Simeone, MD
UC San Diego Health
2024
Improving Pancreatic Cancer Patient Care: Canopy Cancer Collective
Joseph Herman, MD
Canopy Cancer Collective
2024
Genetic Testing for Pancreatic Cancer
Mariana S. Niell-Swiller, MS
University of California, Los Angeles
2024
Pancreatic Enzyme Education
Shelby Yaceczko, MS, RDN-AP, CNSC, CSSD
University of California, Los Angeles
2024
Survivorship in Pancreatic Cancer
Eden Brauer, PhD, RN
University of California, Los Angeles
2024
Panel Discussion: Perspectives from Survivors and Caregivers
Jenny Tran, PhD
Simms/Mann – UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology
2023
Turning Down the Volume on Worry: Managing Cancer
Related Anxiety
Jenny Tran, PhD
Simms/Mann – UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology
2023
Dietary Management Post-Diagnosis
Shelby Yaceczko, MS, RDN-AP, CNSC
University of California, Los Angeles
2023
Pancreatic Cysts: Diagnosing and Treatment in 2023
V. Raman Muthusamy, MD, MAS
University of California, Los Angeles
2023
Integrative East-West Medicine to Optimize Health &
Wellness
KaKit P. Hui, MD
University of California, Los Angeles
2023
Should I Participate in a Clinical Trial?
Randall Brand, MD
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center
2023
Palliative Care – It’s Not Hospice!
Sandra H. Sacks, MD, MEd
University of California, Los Angeles
2023
Panel Discussion: Perspectives from Survivors and Caregivers
Moderator: Jenny Tran, PhD
Simms/Mann – UCLA Center for Integrative Oncology
2022
Pancreatic Cancer Progress Report: Where are we?
Mark D. Girgis, MD
University of California, Los Angeles
2022
Pancreatic Cancer Screening and Surveillance in High-Risk Individuals
Marcia (Mimi) Canto, MD, MHS
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine
2022
Nutritional Myths with Pancreatic Cancer
Zhaoping Li, MD
University of California, Los Angeles
2022
Understanding the Gut and Tumor Connection in Pancreatic Cancer
Vikas Dudeja, MD
University of Alabama at Birmingham
2022
Precision Medicine vs. Standard of Care for Treatment
O. Joe Hines, MD & J. Randolph Hecht, MD
University of California, Los Angeles
2022
UC Pancreatic Cancer Consortium: Collaboration at Work
Timothy Donahue, MD
University of California, Los Angeles
2022
Panel Discussion: Perspectives from Survivors and Caregivers
Judy Fortin
Executive Director of Communications
UCLA Health
2019
Clues to Early Diagnosis
Dr. Suresh Chari

2019
New Drug Therapies For Pancreatic Cancer
Ashok K. Saluja, PhD – Univerisity of Miami Miller School of Medicine

2019
Personalized Medicine and Tumor Testing
Joe Hines, MD – UCLA
2019
Personalized Medicine and Tumor Testing
Timothy Donahue, MD – UCLA

2019
Why Should I See A Genetic Counselor?
Wendy Conlon, MS – UCLA

2019
Medicinal Cannabis and Cancer
Jeffrey Chen, MD/MBA

2019
Nutrition and Pancreatic Cancer…Food Matters!
Zhaoping Li, MD, PhD – UCLA

2019
Panel Discussion: Perspectives From Survivors and Caregivers
Howard A. Reber, MD & Annette Stanton, PhD – UCLA

2018
How Global Collaboration is Making a Difference
Stephen Pandol, MD – Cedars Sinai Medical Center

2018
Navigating from Diagnosis to Treatment
Margaret A. Tempero, MD – University of California, San Francisco

2018
Team Approach for the Management of Pancreatic Cancer
Joe Hines, MD & Timothy Donahue, MD – UCLA

2018
Managing the Emotional Journey
Annette Stanton, PhD – UCLA

2018
Chemo Patients take Control
Matt Lashey – chemoWave

2017
Why is Pancreatic Cancer So Hard to Treat and What Can We Do About it?
Anirban Maitra, MBBS – MD Anderson Cancer Center

2017
Advances in Chemotherapy
Zev Wainberg, MD.- UCLA

2017
Advances in Pancreatic Surgery
Joe Hines, MD – UCLA

2017
Advances in Pancreatic Surgery
Jon King, MD – UCLA

2017
Advances in Pancreatic Surgery
Mark Girgis, MD – UCLA

2017
Is it all in the Genes?
Randall E. Brand, MD – University of Pittsburgh

2017
Optimal Nutrition
Zhaoping Li, MD – UCLA

Watch the Patient & Caregiver Panel Discussions »