Free Brain Tumor Conference Spotlights Treatment, Offers Consults

CINCINNATI—The 2011 Midwest Regional Brain Tumor Conference, a free educational event for patients, caregivers and family members, will be held from 8 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 1, at Westin Cincinnati downtown. The conference, titled "Hope, Innovation, Progress, Support,"is presented by the Brain Tumor Center at the University of Cincinnati Neuroscience Institute, in partnership with the National Brain Tumor Society.

A team of nationally recognized faculty members will provide patients, survivors and caregivers with the latest information about treatment and maximizing quality of life. Topics will include the origins of brain tumors, surgery and radiation therapy, the future of brain tumor treatment, nutrition and exercise and financial and emotional resources.

Breakout sessions will focus on brain tumor types, including pituitary adenoma, acoustic neuroma, meningioma, glioma and metastatic.

Fifteen-minute physician consults also will be available. Patients wishing a consult should contact Nancy McMahon at (513) 475-8646. All scans must be received before Wednesday, Sept. 21, to allow time for preparation.

Featured speakers and breakout session leaders include the following members of the UC faculty and UC Brain Tumor Center:

• Ronald Warnick, MD, Director of the UC Brain Tumor Center.
• John M. Tew, MD, Clinical Director of the UC Neuroscience Institute.
• John Breneman, MD, Professor of Radiation Oncology and Neurosurgery.
• Tania Carreón-Valencia, MS, PhD, Assistant Professor of Environmental Health.
• Mary Gaskill-Shipley, MD, Associate Professor of Radiology.
• Jessica Guarnaschelli, MD, Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology.
• Christopher McPherson, MD, Director of the Division of Surgical Neuro-Oncology.
• Myles Pensak, MD, H. B. Broidy Professor and Chair of the UC Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
• Olivier Rixe, MD, PhD, Professor of Hematology/Oncology.
• Ravi Samy, MD, Assistant Professor of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery.
• Philip Theodosopoulos, MD, Director, Division of Skull Base Surgery.
• Lee Zimmer, MD, PhD, Director, Endoscopic Cranial Base Center, Division of Sinus Surgery.

The program director is McPherson.

The conference, which is free, includes a continental breakfast and lunch. Participants are asked to register in advance by calling (513) 558-8642 or by registering online at www.ucbraintumorcenter.com. An event brochure is available online and can be downloaded as a PDF.

The UC Neuroscience Institute, a regional center of excellence at UC and University Hospital, is dedicated to patient care, research, education and the development of new treatments for stroke, brain and spinal tumors, epilepsy, traumatic brain and spinal injury, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, neuromuscular disorders, multiple sclerosis, disorders of the senses (swallowing, voice, hearing, pain, taste and smell) and psychiatric conditions (bipolar disorder, schizophrenia and depression).