7:00 a.m.

Registration and Continental Breakfast

8:00 a.m.

Welcome and Opening Remarks

8:15 a.m.

Ethical Principles in the Allocation of Organs, R. Mark Ghobrial, MD, PhD, FACS, FRCS (ed), Houston Methodist

Equitable access to the transplant waiting list is the cornerstone of fair organ allocation. The process of placement on the list determines whether ethical principles of allocation are applied in reality. Utility, justice and respect for persons are three foundational ethical principles that create a framework for the equitable allocation of scarce organs for transplantation. This session will provide a brief description of the regulatory framework under which the Organ Procurement and Transplantation Network (OPTN) operates and will discuss factors relevant to access to the transplant waiting list.

Learning objectives:

1. List three ethical principles of primary importance in the allocation of human organs.
2. Describe the regulatory framework under which the OPTN operates.
3. Discuss factors relevant to access to the transplant waiting list.

9:15 a.m.

Blood/Marrow Transplantation (BMT): When Is the Right Time to Transplant? Dennis L. Confer, MD, National Marrow Donor Program^® (NMDP)/Be The Match^®

In general, patients transplanted in earlier disease stages have better outcomes than patients transplanted in more advanced disease stages. Studies on BMT have revealed that transplant success can be highly dependent upon transplant timing. This session will discuss the 2017 referral timing guidelines that were developed jointly by the NMDP/Be The Match and the American Society for Blood and Marrow Transplantation (ASBMT), based on current clinical practice, medical literature, and evidence-based reviews.

Learning objectives:

1. Outline the 2017 referral timing guidelines that were developed jointly by the NMDP/Be The Match and the ASBMT.
2. Discuss how disease stage at the time of transplant and appropriate planning and early donor identification can have significant impacts on patient survival.

10:00 a.m.

Break

10:15 a.m.

Direct-acting Antiviral Agents (DAAs) for the Treatment of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV), Michael Abeccassis, MD, MBA, Northwestern University

Chronic HCV infection is a global epidemic. DAAs provide new opportunities for treatment of HCV recurrence, which has changed the management of both liver and kidney transplant recipients pre- and posttransplant. Treatment of established HCV infection posttransplantation also yields substantial improvements in patients’ (and their grafts’) survival. The key challenge is to ensure that the right patient is receiving the right treatment at the right time. This session will discuss the recent breakthrough in HCV treatment; the importance of timing this treatment; the benefits and its challenges.

Learning objectives:

1. Discuss how DAAs have changed the management of both liver and kidney transplant recipients pre- and posttransplantation.
2. State the importance of receiving the right treatment for the right patient at the right time.
3. Describe the criteria for initiation of DAAs for HCV, including medication adherence and ongoing monitoring, and explain how they have changed the management of both liver and kidney transplant recipients pre- and posttransplantation.
4. Describe the indications, rates of viral eradication and adverse reactions of the latest pharmaceutical interventions for the treatment of HCV.

11:15 a.m.

Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) in the Elderly, Lori S. Muffly, MD, MS, Stanford University Medical Center

Among patients with AML, treatment regimens and outcomes may differ between younger and older adult populations. The management of elderly patients with AML can be a difficult challenge. Elder adults are more likely to have comorbidities that can limit treatment options. Therefore, treatment decisions should be individualized and take into account the age and performance status of the patient. This session will discuss the goals of therapy, the side effects of treatment, and the potential benefits of treatment with regard to both short- and long-term outcomes in the older adult population.

Learning objectives:

1. State key factors when treating AML in an elderly patient.
2. Identify appropriate therapeutic strategies for the elder patient with AML.
3. Discuss potential benefits of treatment for AML with regard to both the short- and long-term outcomes.

12:00 p.m.

Luncheon Presentation — An Overview of Optum^®, Jon R. Friedman, MD, Chief Medical Officer, Complex Medical Conditions, Consumer Solutions Group, Optum (nonaccredited/optional; lunch provided)

1:15 p.m.

Dessert Break — Exhibits Open

1:30 p.m.

Using Telehealth to Enable Patient-centered Care for Transplant, Jennifer M. Kerney, MSN, CRNP, UCSF Medical Center

Telehealth is an emerging technology that has potential to serve the health care needs of individuals. Organ transplant is a highly complex and resource-intensive intervention and, because of the complexity of their medical conditions, recipients require a high level of specialized care. Patients often incur comorbidities of chronic immunosuppression, which leave recipients at high risk for various complications and subsequent rehospitalization, all of which are associated with worse long-term outcomes and significantly reduced patient and graft survival. This session will discuss how telemonitoring may potentially be used to support patients and caregivers to predict and circumvent treatable causes for readmission and improve their communication with health care professionals, thereby improving health care costs, quality of life, and posttransplant survival.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe the role of telehealth and its use in the treatment of transplant recipients.
2. Discuss the benefits and challenges of telehealth.
3. State how telemonitoring may be used to prevent and circumvent treatable causes for posttransplant readmission.

2:15 p.m.

Kidney Transplantation as Primary Therapy for End-stage Renal Disease, Clifford D. Miles, MD, Nebraska Medicine

Kidney transplantation is the most desired and cost-effective modality of renal replacement therapy for patients with irreversible chronic kidney failure. Despite evidence that the best outcomes are achieved by those who receive a transplant early in the course of renal replacement therapy, only a small percentage of patients with end-stage renal disease undergo transplantation as their initial modality of treatment. This session will discuss the importance of timely transplant evaluations, identification of potential living donors, and early transplantation, as well as describe the advantages and barriers to preemptive transplantation.

Learning objectives:

1. Outline the importance of timely transplant evaluations, identification of potential living donors and early transplantation.
2. Discuss advantages of preemptive transplantation.
3. Describe the barriers to preemptive transplantation.

3:15 p.m.

Break — Exhibits Open

3:30 p.m.

The Role of Immunotherapy in Cancer Treatment, Edward A. Stadtmauer, MD, Abramson Cancer Center, Penn Medicine

Immunotherapy is one of the most exciting areas of new discoveries and treatments for many different types of cancer. Understanding how the immune system works is opening the doors to developing new treatments as a promising new strategy to treat cancer. Different types of immunotherapy include monoclonal antibodies, cancer vaccines, chimeric-antigen receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy and immune-checkpoint inhibitors. This session will describe the various types of immunotherapy and outline their clinical applications. In addition, the specific role of immunotherapy in individuals with multiple myeloma will be addressed.

Learning objectives:

1. Explain cytokines, cancer vaccines, CAR T-cell therapy and checkpoint inhibitors, adoptive immunotherapy, and biomarkers, and analyze their recent research and clinical applications.
2. State the role of immunotherapy in multiple myeloma.

4:15 p.m.

Management of Patients Going Through Immunotherapy Cancer Treatment, Patricia Mangan, CRNP, Abramson Cancer Center, Penn Medicine

Cancer treatment often involves multiple options and specialties. Treatments can be toxic, costly, intense, prolonged, and may result in serious long-term complications. In addition, responses to cancer treatments are quite variable, so predicting the potential risks and benefits of various treatment options for individual patients is often difficult. Recognizing the challenges with the complexity of treatments coupled with the life-threatening nature of cancer, this session will discuss the patient experience and the management of patients going through immunotherapy cancer treatment.

Learning objective:

1. Describe the complex management of patients with cancer including the toxicities of their treatment through their recovery.
2. Discuss the experience and challenges that patients face when going through immunotherapy cancer treatment.

5:00–6:30 p.m.

Complimentary Get-Acquainted Reception — Exhibits Open
Join your colleagues for hors d’oeuvres and beverages. You won’t want to miss this opportunity to gather information and ideas from exhibitors regarding the management of complex medical conditions.

7:00 a.m.

Registration and Continental Breakfast — Exhibits Open

8:00 a.m.

Opening Remarks

8:15 a.m.

Is There a Link Between Compliance and Quality Health Care Outcomes? Michael S. Wolf, PhD, MPH, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University

Quality health care outcomes depend upon patients’ compliance to recommended treatment regimens. Patient noncompliance can be a pervasive threat to health and well-being and carry an appreciable economic burden as well. A significant barrier to effective medical treatment is the patient’s failure to follow the recommendations of his or her physician or other health care provider. This session will discuss factors that affect compliance and its impact on clinical outcomes, as well as the economic impact on the health care system.

Learning objectives:

1. Discuss factors that affect patient compliance and their impact on clinical outcomes.
2. Describe the economic impact of patient noncompliance.
3. List strategies for enhancing patient compliance and the thresholds for identifying compliance.

9:15 a.m.

Device Therapy in Heart-failure Patients, Jeffrey Teuteberg, MD, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center

The American Heart Association guidelines state left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) are the standard of care for advanced heart failure. While some patients use LVADs as they are waiting heart transplant surgery — called a bridge to transplantation — other patients may not be eligible for heart transplant surgery but may still benefit from an LVAD — called destination therapy. The limited availability of hearts has remained constant, creating a greater demand for LVADs. Managing patients on LVAD support requires regular patient follow up and multidisciplinary care teams. This session will review management strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality in heart-failure patients supported with LVADs; describe candidate selection, outpatient strategies to optimize device performance, complications that warrant close monitoring, heart-failure management and currently available devices; and include an update on devices available for pediatric patients.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe LVAD candidate selection, outpatient strategies to optimize device performance and complications that warrant close monitoring.
2. Review management strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality in heart-failure patients supported with LVADs.
3. Provide an overview of the current ventricular assist devices available for both adults and pediatrics.
4. Explain the importance of an interprofessional team approach to optimal management of patients with heart failure.

10:00 a.m.

Break — Exhibits Open

10:30 a.m.

Approaches to Cancer Pain Management, Karen J. Stanley, RN, MSN, FAAN, Nursing consultant, Pain and Palliative Care

Pain associated with cancer can affect millions of people with the disease, and it often is not well managed. The assessment of pain and identification of barriers to its adequate control remains critical to pain management. Effective care requires a partnership among the patient, medical specialists, and family members, and it can help patients achieve the best quality of life possible by enhancing communication and treating the symptoms caused by serious illnesses. This session will discuss the elements of a comprehensive pain assessment, barriers to adequate cancer pain management, and best practices for cancer pain management and associated complications.

Learning objectives:

1. Outline the elements of a comprehensive pain assessment for cancer patients, including the importance of ongoing monitoring for optimal pain relief.
2. State the standards, guidelines, barriers and best practices for cancer pain management.
3. Recognize the importance of an effective partnership between the patient, family members, and interprofessional team in effective cancer pain management.

11:30 a.m.

Updates in the Treatment of Breast Cancer, Donald W. Northfelt, MD, Mayo Clinic

Although the exact treatment for breast cancer varies from person to person, treatment guidelines help ensure quality care. These guidelines are based on the latest research and the consensus of experts. A team of experts for comprehensive care is critical to optimal outcomes. This session will discuss which patients will benefit most from a multidisciplinary breast cancer team evaluation and will provide an update on the latest guidelines in breast cancer, as well as review new innovations with surgical treatment and radiation oncology.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe which patients will benefit most from a multidisciplinary breast cancer team evaluation.
2. Discuss new innovations with surgical treatment and radiation oncology.
3. State the latest guidelines in breast cancer management.

12:15 p.m.

Lunch (provided) — Exhibits Open

1:15 p.m.

Psychosocial Impact of Transplant in Children, Tamir Miloh, MD, Texas Children’s Hospital

Solid organ transplantation has become the first line of treatment for a growing number of life-threatening pediatric illnesses. Transitioning the adolescent who has been a recipient of a transplant may have long-term psychosocial sequelae. Crucial to successful transitioning is the ongoing development of a sense of autonomy and responsibility for one’s own care. This session will address the barriers to transitioning that occur with long-term survival in pediatric solid-organ transplantation and will discuss evidence-based models and strategies utilized for a successful transition.

Learning objectives:

1. State factors affecting psychosocial development and readiness for transition in adolescent transplant recipients including self management of medications.
2. Discuss different care transition models and how they impact adolescents’ quality of life.
3. Recognize the impact of effective transition of care and an interprofessional team model on improving health outcomes and reducing health care costs.
4. Address the barriers to adolescent transitioning that occur with long-term survival in pediatric solid-organ transplantation.

2:00 p.m.

Improving Health Through Medication Management, Theodore M. Sievers, PharmD, UCLA ronald Reagan Medical Center

Medications are involved in 80 percent of all treatments and impact every aspect of patients’ lives. Commonly identified drug therapy issues in patients receiving comprehensive medication management services include the need for additional drug therapy for preventive or palliative care. These drug therapy issues can add substantial costs to the health care system. This session will discuss the importance of using pharmacist specialists who are experts in transplant and oncology medication management, as well as the need for proactive management and improved monitoring of patients’ complex needs.

Learning objectives:

1. Identify common drug therapy issues in patients with complex medication needs.
2. Discuss best-practice strategies for improvement of medication management.
3. Describe the role of specialized pharmacists in a variety of practice settings.

2:45 p.m.

Stem Cell Transplantation (SCT) for Children and Adults with Nonmalignant Blood Diseases — A Growing Indication, John M. Cunningham, MD, The University of Chicago Medicine

SCT is a standard treatment strategy for children and adults with refractory or relapsed hematologic malignancies. In contrast, patients with nonmalignant hematologic diseases such as sickle cell disease, congenital cytopenias, and immunodeficiencies have previously not been transplant-eligible, or receive the procedure only at an advanced disease stage. Improvements in patient selection, donor availability, and peritransplant morbidity and mortality have provided a new paradigm. Chronic symptom management is replaced with effective curative SCT therapy. This session will discuss the emerging standards of care for transplantation for nonmalignant hematologic diseases, donor selection strategies that allow access for all patients who require a transplant, and the importance of follow-up care for prevention of complications that are unique to these populations.

Learning objectives:

1. Describe the emergence of effective transplant strategies for all patients who require a SCT for nonmalignant hematologic disease.
2. State the varying approaches to transplant determined by stem cell donor type.
3. Identify the unique complications in long-term survivors of transplantation for patients with nonmalignant diseases.
4. Discuss the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in the management of this population pre- and post-SCT.

3:30 p.m.

Adjourn