Be an Informed Patient, Part 2: Navigating GIST NCCN Guidelines
In Part Two of our “Be an Informed Patient” series, The Life Raft Group invites all GIST patients and caregivers to register for our NCCN Webinar taking place on April 6th at 12:00 pm ET. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) creates guidelines for different diseases to guide physicians in their clinical practice. Dr. Margaret von Mehren serves as the Chair of the sarcoma NCCN guidelines and has been a valuable player along with her medical colleagues on the evolution of the GIST guidelines over the years. In this webinar, Dr. von Mehren will educate GIST patients and caregivers about these guidelines and provide some case study examples of how guidelines fit into the rubric of patient care. The Life Raft Group will also share insights on real world experiences among the patient community with the guidelines.
About our presenters:
Margaret von Mehren, MD
Fox Chase Cancer Center
Dr. Margaret von Mehren is Chief of Division of Sarcoma Medical Oncology at Fox Chase Cancer Center. Her research interest focuses in developmental therapeutics for sarcomas and gastrointestinal stromal tumors. She has led investigator-initiated trials, collaborated with other investigators, sarcoma clinical trials group, as well as industry sponsored studies in the testing of novel agents in these rare diseases. Collaboration with the Phase I program and basic scientists at Fox Chase Cancer Center and elsewhere is key to identifying potential novel agents which may have a therapeutic benefit in the treatment of sarcomas. Dr. von Mehren’s work in sarcoma therapeutic development informs her role as the Associate Director of Clinical Research, in which she oversees the development of investigator initiated clinical trials, the scientific review and prioritization process of trials as well as conduct of clinical trials at Fox Chase Cancer Center.
Denisse Montoya, MS
Senior Director, Data Mgmt. & Research, The Life Raft Group
Ms. Montoya has a wealth of experience in clinical evaluation projects including development of protocols, case report forms, informed consent, surveys, tissue repositories, and study initiation She is proficient in data management, preparing research for publication, drug development, clinical trial protocols, onco-pathological/genetical dissemination, and formulating research premises. As the Senior Director of Data Management & Research, Denisse is the principal investigator for study protocol design and strategy of Patient Reported Outcomes (PRO). She has expertise in the analysis, reporting, and dissemination of PRO data and present scientific work.
She leads a dedicated staff in both patient support and in the identification of data trends that may lead to actionable information that will help patients coping with Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor. In addition, she takes the lead in collaborative research initiatives, including maintaining relationships with potential partners, contributing ongoing data, and supporting hypothesis generation with the goal of increasing patient survival and advancing GIST research.
Denisse holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Rowan University, and a Master of Science Degree in Biomedical Science from Fairleigh Dickinson University
