Dr. Joseph Mikhael:
We are in Boca Raton, Florida at the Patient and Family Seminar where
we have the opportunity to educate patients, their care partners, and their
families about multiple myeloma. Lisa Paik: Patient and Family Seminar is the
IMF's cornerstone program where it's a two-day event where we have
in-depth opportunity for patients to listen to world renowned experts
on the latest myeloma treatments. Dr. Joseph Mikhael:
Patients gain this education, they gain this opportunity to
learn from the
experts in the field what is the latest and greatest in myeloma, and also to learn the
basics if they haven't had an opportunity to do that. With educational lectures from experts,
physicians, nurses, others within the healthcare field where we can really focus on having patients
and their partners and their families understand this disease better so that they can advocate
for themselves to receive the best care possible. Yelak Biru:
The IMF really believe in shared decision
making and ensuring
that patients have a say in deciding what their myeloma treatments needs to be and really
be an invested member of their care team. Dr. James Hoffman:
Think the IMF Patient and Family Seminar is incredibly unique. I see
patients for months leading up to this event, they're talking about it,
they're excited about it. Nick Lenoir:
When I come to something like this, they're support at every
level. It's support. It's information. It's people that know exactly what we're goi
ng through. Diane Hunter:
It's always such a joy to come together with my
IMF family. It's very encouraging. Dr. Joseph Mikhael:
The International Myeloma Foundation really is international. Yelak Biru:
It really is important to bring global key opinion leaders and
experts because research really happens everywhere in the world, and most research are transferable
regardless of where that research is being held. Robin Tuohy:
So when we're looking at research that's happening in Iceland, what w
e're learning there can absolutely be
applied to anywhere you live in the world. Dr. Siguraur Kristinsson:
This is the reason why we are doing these studies, it's for the
patients and their family members. Lisa Paik:
And it's just so critical to do this in person, to have that community
feeling and be able to learn from one another. Michael Tuohy:
I went to my first patient family seminar in 2000. If it wasn't
for the International Myeloma Foundation, I don't think I would be in the
positio
n I am today, a 23 year survivor.
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