2026 UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Oncology Symposium

August 28, 2026

A multidisciplinary approach to discuss current treatment advances, patient survivorship, and clinician resilience encompassing oncology care.

Target Audience

Advanced practice providers, nurses, social workers, and other health care professionals who work with individuals diagnosed with cancer.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of the session, the learner:

  • Define the clinical trial process and outcomes for the oncology patient.
  • Differentiate BiTE therapy indication for use against traditional antineoplastic therapies for the oncology patient.
  • Identify indications for Daraxonrasib, side effect, and monitoring
  • Recognize the role of grief in shaping patients', families', and clinicians' responses to changes in cancer prognosis.
  • How to use communication techniques that promote empathy, clarity, and compassionate presence during difficult conversations.
  • Identify practical strategies to sustain nursing relationships and support both patient-centered care and personal resilience in the face of repeated loss.
  • Implement newly identified resources within UPMC's Fertility preservation program
  • Identify the impact of chemotherapy and radiation therapy on fertility and the role of risk assessment tools in evaluating reproductive risk
  • Differentiate characteristic between Adaptive (affiliative) Humor and Maladaptive (aggressive) Humor
  • Identify the benefits of adaptive humors

Course summary

Available credit: 
  • 5.75 AAPA Category I CME
  • 5.75 ANCC
    UPMC Provider Unit is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation
  • 5.75 ASWB
  • 5.75 Attendance
Course opens: 
07/15/2026
Course expires: 
09/11/2026
Event starts: 
08/28/2026 - 7:30am EDT
Event ends: 
08/28/2026 - 3:00pm EDT
Cost:
$1.00
Add to calendar: 

7:30 am

Registration and TEAMS login

 

8:00 am

Welcome

John C. Byrd, MD, FACP, FASCO

8:10 am

Impact Speaker

Mary Messinger, RN

8:30 am

Theranostics- A New Era of Targeted Cancer Treatment

Jacqueline Ligorski, CRNP, FNP-BC, AGACNP-BC, AOCNP

9:00 am

Demystifying Clinical Trials

Kristen Bialook, MSN, RN

9:30 am

When Hope Changes: Navigating Difficult Oncology Conversations Through the Lens of Grief

Elizabeth Schandelmeier, LCSW, APHSW-C, FT

10:30 am

Break

Pet Therapy

10:45 am

Patient Panel (moderated)

Natalie McLane, DNP, RN, CPN, OCN

11:30 am

Lunch

 

12:15 pm

Fertility preservation

Janet Scholl, MSN, RN, CNL, CEN

1:15 pm

Harnessing the Immune System: BiTE Therapy and Emerging Treatments for Pancreatic Cancer

Jim Natale, Pharm D

1:45 pm

Break

Pet Therapy

2:00 pm

The Power of Laughter

Nancy Norton, RN, CHP

3:30 pm

Closing Remarks and Adjournment

 

UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
UPMC Herberman Conference Center
Pittsburgh, PA
United States
  • Kristin Bialobok, MSN, RN
  • Susan Gibson, MHA, BSN, RN
  • Jacqueline Ligorski, CRNP, FNP-BC, AGANP-BC, AOCNP
  • Stanley Marks, MD
  • Mary Messenger, RN
  • James Natale, PharmD
  • Nancy Norton, RN, CHP
  • Elizabeth Schandelmeier, LCSW, APHSW-C, FT
  • Janet Scholl, RN 

Conflict of Interest Disclosure:

No members of the planning committee, speakers, presenters, authors, content reviewers and/or anyone else in a position to control the content of this education activity have relevant financial relationships with any companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.


In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

Nursing (CNE)
The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 5.75 contact hours.

Physician Assistant (AAPA)
The University of Pittsburgh has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 5.75 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.  

Social Work (ASWB)
As a Jointly Accredited Organization, the University of Pittsburgh is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved under this program. Regulatory boards are the final authority on courses accepted for continuing education credit. Social workers completing this course receive 5.75 general continuing education credits.

Other Healthcare Professionals: Other health care professionals will receive a certificate of attendance confirming the number of contact hours commensurate with the extent of participation in this activity. 

 

Available Credit

  • 5.75 AAPA Category I CME
  • 5.75 ANCC
    UPMC Provider Unit is accredited as a provider of continuing nursing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation
  • 5.75 ASWB
  • 5.75 Attendance

Price

Cost:
$1.00
Please login or register to take this course.
  • Tuition for all attendees is free.
  • For more information contact Lisa Schlarman at [email protected].
  • Continuing education information will be released via e-mail at the end of the day to those who have completed the registration link provided at the venue and the chat feature of Microsoft TEAMS indicating presence at the event. 

No registration with be accepted after Wednesday, August 26, 2026