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ONCOLOGY UPDATE in South Florida ...ONCOLOGY UPDATE in South Florida

Leukemia Patient

Miami Cancer Institute Is Firefighter for a Day

Announces Launch of Inaugural Medical caregivers from Salah
Foundation’s Children’s Hospital’s sur-
Summit of the Americas prised 6-year-old leukemia patient,
Dylan Lindsey, when he arrived at the
pediatric hematology/oncology clinic.
Some of the world’s leading experts from Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Instead of his regular appointment,
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, MD Anderson Cancer Center, University of Chicago, Dylan became an honorary firefighter for
University of Pennsylvania and Florida International University will join Miami the day. Office supervisor Michelle
Cancer Institute on January 24-25 for the inaugural Symposium on Immunotherapies Saldivar and licensed clinical social
for Hematologic Malignancies. worker Melissa Stachowiak came up
Held at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Coconut Grove, the symposium aims to provide with the idea after talking to Dylan’s
updated information about advances in the treatment of leukemia, lymphoma, mul- mom about his dream to become a fire-
tiple myeloma, blood and marrow transplants and immunotherapies. fighter.
Hematologists, oncologists, pathologists, radiation oncologists, palliative care staff, “Every day he passes a fire station by
medical oncologists, hematology nurses, pharmacists and other health care profes- our home and says that’s his future
sionals will partake in the two-day summit, which will provide information on new job,” said Katrice Eason, Dylan’s mom.
immunotherapies and potential treatment combinations. Attendees will also hear Dylan was diagnosed in March 2019
updates on evolving immunologically and molecular-based system therapies, and with acute lymphoblastic leukemia and is undergoing treatment at Salah Foundation
how these therapies can be combined with autologous and allogeneic stem cell trans- Children’s Hospital. Dylan is currently in remission and in the first year of a three-
plants. year treatment.
Sponsored by several top-tier biopharmaceutical and biotech organizations, The staff teamed up with local fire stations and set up the surprise event on
Celgene, Genentech, Janssen, Sanofi, Jazz, Novartis, Atara, EUSA Pharma, Kite, Thursday, November 7. Firefighters from Fort Lauderdale Fire Rescue and Pompano
Medgene, the symposium will provide a wealth of new information from every pres- Beach Fire Rescue, along with physicians, nurses and the Child Life team, surprised
entation. Attendees can expect many presentations that feature primary principle Dylan as he walked into the clinic.
investigators who have immediate insights into the results of clinical trials. In partic- He was given fire rescue gear and a badge. Led by Fort Lauderdale Fire Department
ular, there will be sessions dedicated to the latest approaches using CAR-T cells, as
well as how to use these treatments effectively with stem cell transplantation. Chief Rhoda Mae Kerr, Dylan was given a tour of various fire trucks and rescue vehi-
The Miami Cancer Institute symposium will feature multiple short sessions that cles. To his delight, Dylan was able to spray water using the fire engine’s hose as well
cover all types of hematologic malignancies, allowing attendees to get a full snapshot as get onto a ladder. He was also able to ride in a Pompano Beach Fire Rescue vehicle
of current therapies and clinical trials. and blow the siren.
Visit https://cme.baptisthealth.net for more information about accreditation, regis- “Watching Dylan today was amazing and reminds us why we do what we do and
tration and the summit agenda. Continuing Medical Education (CME) credit is avail- why we are here caring for the patients,” said Saldivar.
able for the summit. “This event meant hope,” said Eason. “It means that this is the beginning for him
and it isn’t the end. It gave him a chance to see that dreams do come true.”

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18 January 2020 southfloridahospitalnews.com South Florida Hospital News