2007 Las Vegas Patient & Family Conference Recap

{links to child pages, once we go live}
Summary of Presentations
Videos of Speaker Presentations
Photos
Thanks to Our Sponsors

The 2007 Patient & Family Conference was a huge achievement! We were pleased this year to have over 250 participants and more than 25 nurses and the feedback on our conference surveys shows how very successful this program was.

Download the 2007 Agenda & Program Guide for abstracts from each presenter and a variety of information on the conference.  

Patients and caregivers listened to some of the country's most renowned hematologists, specializing in aplastic anemia, paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), iron overload, pediatric issues, and bone marrow transplant. They participated in Support & Coping Workshops and Roundtable Discussions with physicians specialized in their disease.  They gained valuable information in our Expo Hall from pharmaceutical company staff and other organizations, and helped spread awareness by purchasing the AA&MDSIF's new Ribbon Magnets, along with Bravery Bracelets. They enjoyed meals and receptions together, most importantly, because it offered time to make one-of-a-kind, long-lasting friends!

Also, conference attendees were happy to receive AA&MDSIF notebooks donated by 4Imprint, Robin Grapa's company.  Robin and her mother Patty were the first mother-daughter team to hike the American Discovery Trail last year, and they spoke about the hike at the conference.  Robin and Patty raised incredible awareness about bone marrow failure along the way, and many thanks are offered to 4Imprint for providing our conference attendees with such a wonderful way to take notes!  You can still donate to support Our Hike's goal to raise $1 million to fund research into bone marrow failure diseases!  Just visit http://ourhike.com/donate.html to help Robin and Patty reach their goal!

In 2008 our Patient & Family Conference will be held in Washington, D.C., allowing our group to advocate to fund additional research into bone marrow failure, and to raise awareness of our rare diseases.  We hope to see you all there!