The Kimmel Cancer Center will host the inaugural “Eyes on a Cure: Patient and Caregiver Symposium”  on June 16 and 17.

The symposium will bring uveal melanoma patients, caregivers, and researchers from around the world together to offer educational sessions, support groups led by oncology social workers, sessions on complementary therapies, as well as informal time for networking.

Uveal melanoma, also known as ocular melanoma (OM), is diagnosed in about 2,000 people a year in this country. Though rare, it is the most common eye cancer in adults.

The Community United for Research and Education of Ocular Melanoma, or CURE OM, was created by the Melanoma Research Foundation (MRF).

Over 100 patients, along with their families, are expected to attend the event.

The Kimmel Cancer Center at Jefferson is a major center for the treatment of OM. Medical oncologist Takami Sato, MD, PhD, one of the leading specialists in the disease,has seen more than 100 new patients with metastatic uveal melanoma every year since 1999.

David Eschelman, MD, and Carin F. Gonsalves, MD of the Division of Cardio-Interventional Radiology at Jefferson, have performed more than 300 embolization procedures for the liver metastases from uveal melanoma last year.

And the Jefferson team works closely with Jerry Shields, M., and Carol Shields, MD, of Wills Eye Institute in Philadelphia, who see more than 500 patients with primary uveal melanoma every year.

All are scheduled to speak over the course of the two days.

“Not many patients know about the disease and many have struggled with finding an appropriate treatment,” says Dr. Sato. “This is an opportunity to educate, as well as provide patients with support from both social workers and doctors—and hopefully foster research collaborations and funding opportunities. We are very honored to be hosting it.”

Director of CURE OM Sara Selig, Timothy Turnham, Ph.D., the Executive Director of the Melanoma Research Foundation, Daniel Brown, MD, of the Department of Interventional Radiology, and Rani Anne, M.D., of the Department of Radiation Oncology will also speak.

To learn more about the CURE OM Conference at the Kimmel Cancer Center click here.

To read the blog post about Sara Selig and her husband’s battle with OM and their efforts to bring more attention to the disease, click here.

May is Melanoma Awareness Month. Kelly Kroll of Ambler PA has set up the “Bonnie Kroll Melanoma Memorial Fund” in honor of her mother who died in 2001 from uveal melanoma. The fund has raised over $150,000 to support research at the the Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and the Kimmel Cancer Center of Thomas Jefferson University. Kelly marked the 10th anniversary of the fund by organizing a special Melanoma Awareness night with the Philadelphia Phillies. Jefferson Doctors participated in the attached video and also were present to throw out the first pitch.

Below are some photos of the event at Citizens Bank Park and the check presentation prior to the game. The photos from Citizens Bank Park were provided by photo: Sarah F Wimberley / www.flickfoto.com

Dr. Takami Sato, Mrs. Alison Weinzerl, Mr. Mark Weinzerl, Dr. Richard Pestell

Benefactors Mark and Alison Weinzierl pose with Kimmel Cancer Center Director Dr. Richard G. Pestell (R) and Dr. Takami Sato (L), Professor of Medical Oncology and director of the Uveal Melanoma research program at the KCC.  The Weinzierls (from the Dallas, Texas, area) are providing $1 million in support of Dr. Sato’s work.