The Life Raft Group

Virtual GIST Patient Support Group
2026-01-06 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-02-03 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-03-03 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-04-07 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-05-05 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
The Patient Support Group meets via Zoom on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM ET (NYC Time).
We will start each group with a “Round Robin” in which anyone who feels like updating the group on how they are doing/feeling can do so. There is no pressure to speak if you prefer to simply listen. Once we complete our updates, the group will have the opportunity for organic conversation to develop in relation to our emotional experiences around GIST, and other challenges that we may be experiencing as a community.
In order to be able to moderate a flowing discussion, the group will be capped at 15 people each month. The first 15 people into the Zoom waiting room will participate. Keep in mind that since the group is now open, you don’t necessarily have to attend each month to participate.
If you wish to attend, please email supportgroups@liferaftgroup.org for the Zoom link for the meeting.

Virtual GIST Caregiver Support Group
2026-01-07 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-02-04 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-03-04 13:00 - 14:00, 2026-04-01 13:00 - 14:00 (America/New_York)
Monthly Virtual Support Group for GIST Caregivers
Held on the first Wednesday of the month
LRG hosts a monthly virtual support group for the caregivers. We will share our stories, if you are comfortable, and speak freely about the new fears and anxieties we might be feeling during this journey as a caregiver. The group will be a safe space not only to feel supported by your fellow caregivers, but also a place to share our own coping mechanisms, concerns, successes and trials. All information shared will be kept confidential.
If you wish to attend, please email supportgroups@liferaftgroup.org for the Zoom link for the meeting.
About the Group Leader:
Marlene Nei, GIST Caregiver
As an active member of The Life Raft Group, Marlene advocates for the needs of the caregiver community because she feels they are an underrepresented group. It is her mission to advocate for the entire GIST community making sure they are equipped with the appropriate resources on their GIST journey.

Virtual Florida Support Group
2026-01-12 18:00, 2026-02-09 18:00, 2026-03-09 18:00, 2026-04-13 18:00 (America/New_York)
Florida Support Group
Zoom, 2nd Monday of the Month – 6pm ET
Our moderator is a fellow GISTER/LRG Member from Florida diagnosed with GIST in late 2016.
If you wish to attend, please email supportgroups@liferaftgroup.org for the Zoom link for the meeting.

SDH Support Group
2026-01-20 15:00, 2026-02-17 15:00, 2026-03-17 15:00, 2026-04-21 15:00 (America/New_York)
We are excited to announce the launch of a dedicated Support Group for SDH-GIST patients, created to offer a welcoming space for connection, understanding, and shared experience. Whether you’re newly diagnosed or have been managing SDH for years, this group is here to support you. Together, we will share our stories and knowledge, discuss challenges, celebrate progress, and offer encouragement to one another in a safe, respectful environment.
What to Expect:

Regular virtual meetings
Peer support and open discussion
Guest speakers and educational sessions
Opportunities to ask questions and share your story

This group will meet the 3rd Tuesdays of the month. Space is limited as we aim to keep the support groups small to allow for sharing & discussion. If interested in the group, please contact Becky Owens at bowens@liferaftgroup.org. A registration link will be sent to those who express interest. You are not alone, and we hope this group becomes a meaningful part of your life.

Virtual GIST Patient Support Group
2026-01-20 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-02-17 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-03-17 18:00 - 19:30, 2026-04-21 18:00 - 19:30 (America/New_York)
The Patient Support Group meets via Zoom on the first and third Tuesday of each month from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM ET (NYC Time).
We will start each group with a “Round Robin” in which anyone who feels like updating the group on how they are doing/feeling can do so. There is no pressure to speak if you prefer to simply listen. Once we complete our updates, the group will have the opportunity for organic conversation to develop in relation to our emotional experiences around GIST, and other challenges that we may be experiencing as a community.
In order to be able to moderate a flowing discussion, the group will be capped at 15 people each month. The first 15 people into the Zoom waiting room will participate. Keep in mind that since the group is now open, you don’t necessarily have to attend each month to participate.
If you wish to attend, please email supportgroups@liferaftgroup.org

Virtual Texas Support Group
2026-01-26 18:00, 2026-02-23 18:00, 2026-03-23 18:00, 2026-04-27 18:00 (America/Chicago)
Texas Support Group Zoom meeting on the 4th Monday of the month @ 6PM Central Time. Jackie Vanderpol will host this zoom meeting.
If you wish to attend, please email supportgroups@liferaftgroup.org for the Zoom link for the meeting.

Virtual North Carolina Patient Support Group
2026-02-24 14:00, 2026-04-28 14:00 (America/New_York)
North Carolina Patient Support Group
Zoom, Last Tuesday of the Month – 2pm ET
February, April, June, August, October, December

If you wish to attend, please email supportgroups@liferaftgroup.org for the Zoom link for the meeting.

Histotripsy Demystified
2026-02-25 12:00 (America/New_York)
REGISTERThe Life Raft Group is proud to present “Histotripsy Demystified: Truths and Misconceptions Explained,” taking place on February 25, 2026, from 12:00–1:30 PM ET.
This webinar features an expert panel moderated by Dr. Elizabeth Lilley of Brigham and Women’s Hospital with Dr. Hop Tran Cao (MD Anderson Cancer Center), Dr. Suzanne George (Dana-Farber Cancer Institute), Dr. Christina Angeles (University of Michigan), Dr. Alicia Gingrich (University of Nevada/Renown Health System) and Dr. Jiping Wang and Dr. Chandrajit Raut (Brigham and Women’s Hospital/Harvard Medical School).
This virtual discussion is open to patient and caregivers of ALL sarcoma types.
Histotripsy is a noninvasive treatment that uses focused ultrasound to mechanically destroy targeted tissue without surgery, incisions, or radiation. The procedure has only recently moved into human clinical trials and clinical use, with the first FDA clearance for treating liver tumors granted in October 2023 and broader study and adoption continuing through the mid-2020s.
This virtual panel discussion will bring together experts from multiple institutions to share diverse perspectives on histotripsy, including how the technology works, where the science currently stands, and common myths and misconceptions. Because histotripsy is being explored across multiple tumor types, the discussion will be relevant and beneficial to all sarcoma patients seeking to better understand emerging treatment approaches and their potential future role in care. A moderated Q&A segment will follow the discussion.
These webinars are for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any treatment or lifestyle changes.
About Our Presenters:

Moderator: Dr. Elizabeth Lilley
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Dr. Elizabeth Lilley is a surgical oncologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital specializing in the management of soft tissue sarcomas, including gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), with a special focus on robotic and minimally invasive surgical techniques. Dr. Lilley is triple board certified in surgical oncology, general surgery, and palliative medicine. Her research focuses on improving the quality of surgical care for patients with metastatic and recurrent cancers by improving communication surrounding the goals and outcomes of surgery.
Dr. Lilley earned a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience from Lafayette College, a master’s of public health from Columbia University, and a medical degree from Rutgers. She completed general surgery residency at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, followed by the Harvard Interdisciplinary Palliative Care Fellowship. Upon completing fellowship training in Complex General Surgical Oncology at MD Anderson Cancer Center, she joined the faculty at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, where she now leads a health services research program centered on the intersection of surgical oncology and palliative care. Her combined expertise in both sarcoma surgery and palliative medicine uniquely positions her to improve the person-centered care of patients with advanced sarcomas.

Dr. Christina Angeles
University of Michigan
Dr. Angeles is an Associate Professor with Tenure of Surgery, Associate Professor of Dermatology, and Faculty Member in the Cancer Biology PhD Program at the University of Michigan in the Division of Surgical Oncology. She earned her medical degree at Tufts University School of Medicine. She completed general surgery residency at New York Presbyterian-Weill Cornell Medical Center. While in residency she completed a two-year basic/translational science Surgical Oncology Research Fellowship at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC) focusing on the molecular biology and novel therapeutics for sarcoma. After residency, Dr. Angeles returned to MSKCC and completed a clinical Complex Surgical Oncology Fellowship. Dr. Angeles is board-certified in both General Surgery and Complex General Surgical Oncology. She is the Director of the Regional Cancer Therapies Clinic at University of Michigan/Rogel Cancer Center.
Dr. Angeles is a nationally recognized surgeon-scientist dedicated to advancing cancer care through innovative research and compassionate patient care. As the lead investigator for multiple clinical trials at the Rogel Cancer Center, she is at the forefront of developing new treatments for melanoma and sarcoma. Her laboratory studies the immune system’s role in fighting cancer, with a special focus on how resident memory T cells can help create long-lasting protection against tumors. By combining basic science and translational research, Dr. Angeles and her team are working to transform discoveries in the lab into effective new therapies for patients. Dr. Angeles’s research has been supported by the American Cancer Society, the Melanoma Research Alliance, the Society of Surgical Oncology, and the National Institutes of Health’s National Cancer Institute (NCI-NIH).

Dr. Suzanne George
Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
Suzanne George, MD is the Division Chief of the Sarcoma Center at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute where leads a team focused on research and clinical care of patients with sarcomas and GIST. She has an extensive research experience in clinical trials and drug development and cares for patient from across New England, the US and internationally.

Dr. Alicia Gingrich
University of Nevada/ Renown Medical Group
Dr. Gingrich is a surgical oncologist at the University of Nevada, Reno. She attended medical school at the University of Kansas prior to completing general surgery residency at the University of California, Davis. She trained at MD Anderson for her complex general surgical oncology fellowship. Dr. Gingrich’s clinical practice focuses on soft tissue sarcoma and GIST as well as hepatobiliary tumors. The University of Nevada, Reno/Renown were one of the early adopters of Histotripsy and have been performing this procedure for 2 years. She utilizes Histotripsy for select patients with liver tumors.

Dr. Chandrajit P. Raut
Chief, Division of Surgical Oncology, Mass General Brigham
Dr. Raut is a dedicated surgical oncologist who specializes in the multidisciplinary care of patients with soft tissue sarcoma. He is a prolific researcher who has received federal funding to investigate sarcoma tumor genetics and identify strategies at reducing sarcoma recurrence rates. Additionally, he has served as co-PI or institutional PI on several US and international phase 2 or phase 3 clinical trials evaluating neoadjuvant or adjuvant therapies in various sarcomas.
Dr. Raut is a graduate of Stanford University, University of Oxford, and Harvard Medical School. He completed his general surgery residency at Massachusetts General Hospital and surgical oncology fellowship at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.
Dr. Raut currently serves as Chair of the AJCC Soft Tissue Sarcoma Staging Panel (9th edition), Co-Chair of the Surgery Committee in the cancer cooperative group Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology, and Treasurer on the Executive Board of the Connective Tissue Oncology Society. In 2013, he co-founded the Transatlantic Australasian Retroperitoneal Sarcoma Working Group. He is the former Program Director of the Mass General Brigham/Dana-Farber Complex General Surgical Oncology Fellowship Program at Harvard Medical School. He serves as Section Editor for sarcoma in the journals Cancer and Surgical Oncology Insights. He has authored over 300 papers and over 30 book chapters.

Dr. Hop Tran Cao
MD Anderson Cancer Center
Dr. Hop Tran Cao is an Associate Professor and Vice-Chair of Clinical Operations in the Department of Surgical Oncology at the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, where he specializes in the management of hepatobiliary tumors. He is an expert in minimally invasive surgical techniques and chairs the Minimally Invasive and New Technology in Oncologic Surgery governing committee at MD Anderson. He also chairs the multidisciplinary Histotripsy Steering Committee.
Dr. Tran Cao’s research focuses on improving cancer care quality and precision. He completed his General Surgery residency at the University of California San Diego and his fellowship in Complex General Surgical Oncology at MD Anderson.

Dr. Jiping Wang
Brigham and Women’s Hospital
Dr. Jiping Wang is a surgical oncologist at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. He specializes in treating gastric, liver, and pancreatic cancer and soft tissue sarcoma. He has a special interest in using minimally invasive platforms to perform cancer surgeries. In this video he explains robotic surgery for patients.

GIST Summit 2026 / GDOL Texas
2026-03-21 08:00 - 16:00 (America/New_York) | MD Anderson Cancer Prevention Center, 1155 Pressler Street 8th Floor, Houston, TX, 77030, United States
REGISTERMD Anderson Cancer Center, GIST Support International and The Life Raft Group are hosting a GIST Summit / GDOL Texas 2026 for GIST patients and caregivers in Houston, Texas in March 21 to showcase recent developments in GIST treatments and therapies.

This free event is being sponsored through educational and other grants and gifts from pharmaceutical companies and individual donors. The program will include numerous presentations on the current state of GIST as well as future treatments and one-on-one conversations with the experts. All meals, refreshments, and parking will be provided.
Please join our community of GIST patients and caregivers for these relevant and informative talks, meet with old friends and new, and catch up on the latest science. Previous GIST Summits and GIST Days of Learning have been great successes, and this year’s program is exciting as ever. Where else can you discuss GIST issues with the experts and ask questions you always wanted to ask? You will also have time to meet with other GIST patients and caregivers and to share experiences.
Have questions? Contact Brian Morello: bmorello@liferaftgroup.org
Click to view Agenda PDF

Thank You To Our Sponsors:

Long-Term Survivor Webinar
2026-04-13 12:00 (America/New_York)
REGISTERHosted by the The Life Raft Group, “What We Wish We’d Known: Advice from Long-Term GIST Survivors” will take place on April 13 at 12 PM ET and features long-term survivors and mentors Kay Stolzer, Dr. John Abrams, Martha Smart, and Piga Fernández. They’ll share what to do after a GIST diagnosis, common mistakes to avoid, and what it’s really like to live with cancer long-term. Join us for practical advice, honest insights, and support from people who have been there.
These webinars are for informational purposes only and should not replace professional medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before making any treatment or lifestyle changes.
About Our Presenters:

Dr. John Abrams
John Abrams has been involved with The Life Raft Group for over eight years and is the state leader for Colorado. He serves as a LRG Board Member and GIST mentor. He practiced dentistry for 35 years with an area of expertise in adult restorative dentistry highlighting esthetic restorations. He was honored by his peers as a Colorado 5280 Top Dentist. John retired from dentistry due to the side effects of Gleevec. In his “retirement” he is an equity partner in real estate investment and serves as a consultant for dental offices focusing on management and clinical skills.
John grew up in St. Louis and has lived in Colorado since 1975. He graduated from Miami University (Oxford Ohio) and the University of Missouri School of Dentistry.
As a long time GISTer and survivor of two other primary cancers, John hopes his story can be at least some inspiration to others on their own journey.

Piga Fernández
As a GIST patient who was diagnosed incorrectly in 1995 with leiomyosarcoma, Piga Fernández understands the importance of correct diagnosis and access to treatment. Piga serves as a GIST Mentor and Global Relations Consultant for The Life Raft Group.
In 2001, she founded and is the Executive Director of Fundación GIST Chile, a nonprofit organization dedicated to support GIST and other gastrointestinal patients through education, information, emotional support and advocacy, with the goal of having them experience a better quality of life.
Additionally, she is the Coordinator of Alianza GIST, a consortium of GIST groups in Latin America. Her advocacy efforts in Chile have led to important changes in her country, impacting both legislative change and raising awareness for rare diseases.

Martha Smart
Martha Smart is a 19-year survivor of high-risk small bowel GIST (12 cm, Exon 11) and has been on Gleevec since her diagnosis in 2007. A former speech pathologist based in Midland, Texas, she is a proud mom, grandmother (“NeeNee”), dog mom, and devoted wife of over 53 years.
Her diagnosis came as a complete shock following emergency surgery, prompting her to take an active role in her care and seek treatment at MD Anderson. Since then, she has taken more than 27,000 Gleevec tablets and become deeply connected to the GIST community through The Life Raft Group and other networks.
With humor, resilience, and compassion, she is passionate about sharing her experience to support and guide others living with GIST.

Kay Stolzer
Kay Stolzer joined the LRG Board in March 2021 and was elected to the role of Secretary/Treasurer in March 2022.
She has been a very active volunteer in our LRG community. Kay is one of the original 8 GIST Mentors, a program that has grown to 32 global mentors, and has mentored over 220 patients and caregivers, since its inception in 2019.
In Kay’s earlier life, she was an administrator for a large physicians’ group. When her children were born, she transitioned to full time homemaker, and was a very active volunteer in her community, in various roles and organizations. Kay enjoys spending time with her husband, Ira, and visiting their children and grandchildren in New Jersey and Tennessee.
Thank You to Our Sponsors:
