The speaker will highlight the importance of oncology research over the years, and how advances through research and other scholarly projects have led to improvements in patient care. Following the main speaker, the panel discussion will discuss the implications of participation and collaboration in a clinical research trial from the viewpoints of the clinical team, research team, and patient. The goal is to broadly understand the impact of clinical research for advancing science and improving patient care, while understanding the hope studies give to our patients when faced with life threatening conditions.
5:30-6:00pm CST Networking/Registration (in person only)
6:00-7:00pm CST Presentation/Panel
7:00-8:00pm CST Reception (in person only)
MEET THE SPEAKERS
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Moderator
Ruben Mesa, MD
Dr. Ruben A. Mesa is an international expert in hematologic cancers, who has dedicated his life’s work to research and drug development for a group of chronic leukemias that can cause a host of difficult symptoms, including premature death. Dr. Mesa oversees all efforts related to cancer practice, research, and education across the Atrium Health system, while also serving in leadership roles with several organizations dedicated to cancer research.
Dr. Mesa has over 800 lifetime medical publications, with more than 400 peer-reviewed manuscripts, 15 book chapters and two edited books. He has also led or co-led the development of six drugs that have been FDA approved.
Dr. Mesa is an NCI-funded investigator and has won countless awards for his research. In addition to his extensive research and clinical practice, Mesa is passionate about advancing cancer health equity and increasing minority patients’ participation in cancer clinical trials.
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Speaker/Panelists
Sigrun Hallmeyer, MD
Dr. Sigrun (“Siggy”) Hallmeyer was born in East Berlin, Germany and escaped to West Germany at the age of 18. After studying medicine at Humboldt University in Berlin, she moved to the U.S. in 1999 to begin her clinical training in internal medicine, followed by a fellowship in hematology and medical oncology at the University of Illinois at Chicago. Today, she serves as an attending medical oncologist and hematologist and key teaching faculty member at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital (ALGH). Her clinical practice is focused on breast cancer, melanoma, and immuno-oncology and she has been affiliated with Advocate Health Care for almost 20 years. Dr. Hallmeyer founded and became the medical director of the ALGH Cancer Survivorship Center in 2013 and became the Director of the Cancer Service Line at ALGH in January 2019. She serves as the medical co-director for oncology research within the Advocate Aurora Research Institute and the first vice president of the ALGH Medical Staff
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Panelist
Cheryl Koabik, CRC
I am Cheryl Korabik, Senior Clinical Research Coordinator at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital. I graduated for University of Illinois at Chicago with a BS in Kinesiology and obtained my professional certification from Society of Clinical Research Associated (SOCRA). I started my career as a Clinical Research Coordinator at Hinsdale Hematology Associates (private practice) and then joined AMITA Health Care. I joined Advocate Lutheran General Hospital’s research department in 2017 and have been coordinating clinical trials in hematology and solid tumors, focused on lung and melanoma trials. I currently live in Brookfield, IL with my husband, Joe and have 3 beautiful children.
