Life Fest 2026 took place this year on Friday, July 10th to Sunday, July 12th at the Loews Vanderbilt Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. Over 200 patients, caregivers, doctors, industry experts, friends and family came together to learn, laugh, connect, comfort, and provide hope for one another. Attendees immersed themselves in educational sessions that covered everything from GIST 101 to current research updates to new treatment options; holistic approaches, interactive panels and beyond. Several new Q&A panels were added to this years agenda so that patients and caregivers could have more time to ask questions and discuss issues.
The event continued on Sunday morning with an energizing Walk for Hope across the street from the hotel in the Vanderbilt University courtyard and then several interactive workshops. These workshops were followed by a music session, a session on Artificial Intelligence, an introduction to our new LRG Patient Registry and a closing message from our Executive Director, Sara Rothschild, on the progress of our strategic goals as an organization.
See attached agenda for details.
Follow this link to see presentations & highlights from previous Life Fest conferences.
Life Fest Highlights
Opening Remarks & Award Ceremony
Opening Remarks were delivered by our LRG Board Chair Gary Glasser.
Gary Glasser took a few moments to honor and thank outgoing Board Member Teena Petersohn for her years of service to the LRG.
Board Member (& GIST Mentor & Health Equity Council Member) Rob Taylor returned our emcee for the Life Fest awards ceremony delivering a wonderful motivational speech and facilitating the Volunteer of the Year (Natalie Power), Clinician of the Year (Dr. Neeta Somaiah, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Sarcoma Center of Excellence – Vanderbilt University Medical Center, and the Community Hero Award to long-term member & survivor Alice Sulkowski presentations.
Presentations
CLICK IMAGE TO VIEW AGENDA
GIST 101
Dr. Elizabeth Davis
Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
PDF
SDH-Deficient GIST 101
Dr. Andrew Blakely
NIH, NCI
PDF
GIST sessions
The Grand Ole Update: Latest from the GIST Stage
GIST Drug Development
Dr. Michael Heinrich
OHSU Knight Cancer Institute
PDF
The Grand Ole Update: Latest from the GIST Stage
GIST Therapy/Clinical Trial Development
Dr. Neeta Somaiah
University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
PDF
The Grand Ole Update: Latest from the GIST Stage
Treatment for After Standard Therapy
ctDNA and Novel TKI
Dr. Jonathan Trent
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
PDF
The Trial Journey:
A Conversation Between Nurse & Patient
Amanda Nolen, BSN, RN
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Cynthia Lavo
GIST Advocate
Open Mic with the Oncologists – GIST Panel
Dr. Jonathan Trent (Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center), Dr. Ciara Kelly (Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center), Dr. Breelyn Wilky (University of Colorado Cancer Center Anschutz), Dr. Margaret von Mehren (Fox Chase Cancer Center), Dr. Mauricio Ribeiro (Moffitt Cancer Center)
The Role of Surgery in GIST: An Expert Q&A
Dr. John Mullinax, Moffit Cancer Center
Dr. Andrew Blakely, NIH, NCI
Dr. Elizabeth Lilley, Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Dr. Deepa Magge, Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Side Effect Management
Morgan Lambrecht, DNP, APRN, FNP-C
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
PDF
Women Treating Women – Panel
Dr. Vicky Keedy (Vanderbilt University Medical Center), Morgan Lambrecht, DNP, APRN, FNP-C (Vanderbilt), Dr. Erica Pimenta (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), Dr. Breelyn Wilky (UC Cancer Center Anschutz), Dr. Ciara Kelly (MSKCC), Dr. Margaret von Mehren (Fox Chase Cancer Center), Dr. Neeta Somaiah (MD Anderson Cancer Center), Dr. Elizabeth Lilley (Brigham and Women’s Hospital), Dr. Deepa Magge (Vanderbilt)
Ask the Specialists:
Nephrology
Dr. Hunter Huston
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
PDF
Ask the Specialists:
Cardiovascular Health for Patients
Living with GIST
Dr. Jonathan Heimlich
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
PDF
Ask the Specialists Q&A
(Nephrology & Cardiology)
Dr. Hunter Huston
Dr. Jonathan Heimlich
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
SDH-specific sessions
The Role of Surgery in SDH-Deficient GIST
An Expert Q&A
Dr. Andrew Blakely, NIH, NCI
Dr. Elizabeth Lilley, Brigham & Women’s Hospital,
Dr. John Mullinax, Moffitt Cancer Center
Center Stage: SDH Research & Clinical Trials
Clinical and Translational Research at the NIH for SDH-Deficient GISTs
Dr. Andrew Blakely
NIH, NCI
PDF
Center Stage: SDH Research & Clinical Trials
Selective Internal Radiotherapy for
Liver metastases in SDH-Deficient GISTs
Dr. Ramesh Bulusu
PAWS GIST Clinic UK
PDF
Center Stage: SDH Research & Clinical Trials
Using the awesome power of yeast genetics to remove the uncertainty of VUS
Dr. Michael Heinrich
OHSU Knight Cancer Institute
PDF
Open Mic with the Oncologists – SDH Panel
Dr. Jonathan Trent (Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center), Dr. Ramesh Bulusu (PAWS GIST UK), Dr. Vicky Keedy (Vanderbilt University Medical Center), Dr. Ciara Kelly (MSKCC), Dr. Neeta Somaiah (MD Anderson Cancer Center), Dr. Michael Heinrich (OHSU Knight Cancer Institute), Dr. Margaret von Mehren (Fox Chase Cancer Center).
Additional Topics Presented
Interventional Radiology
Treatment Options for Locoregional Progression of GIST
Dr. Meaghan Dendy Case
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
PDF
Patient Voices: Living with GIST
Robbie Cannon
Karen Dalal
Martha Smart
Caring for the Whole You:
Wellness & Integrative Health
Sara Murawski, PA
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
PDF
Caring for the Whole You:
Wellness & Integrative Health
Loretta Mostofi
Sarcoma Advocate
Caring for the Whole You:
Wellness & Integrative Health Q&A
Sara Murawski, PA
Vanderbilt University Medical Center
Loretta Mostofi
Sarcoma Advocate
The Power of Music
Jess Knoble, MT-BC
Managing Your Care Using AI
Nizar Allibhoy
Founder & CEO, Kerry Care
PDF
Introducing the NEW LRG Patient Registry
Denisse Evans, MS
Senior Director Data Management & Research
The Life Raft Group
Ian Hill. MS
Data & Registry Systems Analyst
The Life Raft Group
Closing Remarks – Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Going
Sara Rothschild, MPH
Executive Director
The Life Raft Group