National SAMSA Conference

Come attend SAMSA 1st National Conference!

“Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” 

Registration Form Below

Check out below are speakers for this event!

Neha Vapiwala, MD FACR FASTRO FASCO is Professor and Vice Chair of Education in the Department of Radiation Oncology, and Dean of Admissions at the Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania. She specializes in the management of patients with genitourinary (GU) cancers, serving as the department’s first Chief of GU Oncology. Her research interests focus on biological and technological improvements in radiation therapy. She has led multiple prospective clinical trials and is the national PI of a cooperative group phase III clinical trial investigating PET-guided systemic- and metastasis-directed treatment intensification in patients with biochemically recurrent prostate cancer. Dr. Vapiwala also holds leadership positions in multiple societies, boards and committees, including the NCI Prostate Cancer Task Force, JAMA Oncology editorial board, and American Board of Radiology GU Exam Committee. She is Co-chair of the ECOG-ACRIN GU Early Modality committee, and Immediate Past Chair of the ASTRO Audit & Finance Committee. Dr. Vapiwala is also an elected member of the Nominating Committee of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, and recently concluded a 4-year term on the board of directors of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) as well as 3-year term on the editorial board of the Journal of Clinical Oncology.In addition to her work in GU oncology, Dr. Vapiwala is a recognized leader in undergraduate and graduate medical education, including her current role as a medical school Dean of Admissions. She previously served as President of the Association of Directors of Radiation Oncology Programs and as Chair of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education’s Residency Review Committee for Radiation Oncology.Dr. Vapiwala earned her undergraduate degree with a double major in Biology and Hispanic studies from Johns Hopkins University, then taught high school science and algebra in lieu of her senior year prior to matriculating at University of Pennsylvania’s School of Medicine as a 21st Century Scholar. She completed her residency training at University of Pennsylvania, serving as chief resident before joining the faculty.

Mohummad Minhaj Siddiqui, MD FACS completed training at MIT, Harvard, and the NIH in the field of Urology and subspecialty of Urologic Oncology. He is a Professor of Surgery and Director of Urologic Oncology and Robotic Surgery at the Greenebaum Comprehensive Cancer Center at University of Maryland Medical System. He is the residency program director for the University of Maryland Urology residency program.  His research interests are in the areas of cancer metabolism and how better understanding of metabolic derangements in cancer can lead to improved diagnosis and treatment. Clinically, he is particularly interested in understanding improved integration and utilization of MRI for the diagnosis and management of prostate cancer.

Dr Ranga Krishnan is a Senior Advisor to the Rush University System for Health in Chicago, and Chairman of the National Medical Research Council (NMRC) in Singapore. He was previously Dean of Rush Medical College, and Chief Executive Officer of the Rush University System for Health. Ranga advanced the innovation of care delivery by organizing providers around patients, diseases, and conditions rather than by department or division to enable greater multidisciplinary collaboration. He also remodeled Rush’s innovation and technology strategy, including the Innovation and Technology Transfer Office which manages Rush’s intellectual properties. Prior to Rush, Ranga was Dean of Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Singapore, where he developed a teaching method called Team LEAD (Learn, Engage, Apply, Develop) which has since been adopted by other universities and high schools.

Gayathri:

NMDP is a global nonprofit leader in cell therapy. With our partners, we drive groundbreaking research, treatment and support to cure blood cancer, blood disorders and beyond. Over the decades, we’ve been known by a few names, like Be the Match or the National Marrow Donor Program. But we have always operated with a single purpose: to save lives. That’s why today, we’re uniting every part of our organization under a single brand that is modern and flexible enough to represent our dynamic work—and our mission to to create a world where every patient can receive life-saving cell therapy. The name NMDP acknowledges our evolution: Our impact is no longer just national, but global. Our focus is no longer just marrow transplants, but cell therapies which stand to save many more lives. Our support is no longer limited to donors, but also caregivers, clinicians, partners, benefactors and volunteers. And beyond a single program, we are now leaders across many—like research, advocacy and clinical excellence. Partners like you have been essential and transformative for our organization—and more critically for the patients and families we’ve been able to support together. We are excited to share these efforts to accelerate progress, deliver world-class service and tackle the tough problems—from equity disparities to quality of life for patients. Together, we can advance the cell therapy ecosystem and expand access to these lifesaving therapies.Because our name may have changed, but the mission we share has not: Find cures. Save lives.

Check out our Judges 🔬

Agenda for the Conference 📜