The University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center partners with the Aplastic Anemia & MDS International Foundation (AAMDSIF), as well as St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Regional One Health, and Baptist Memorial Hospital, to organize the AAMDSIF Patient and Family Conference for the first time in Memphis on July 23rd. AAMDSIF is a patient-focused nonprofit organization committed to supporting patients and families living with aplastic anemia, myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH), and other rare blood cancers and bone marrow failure diseases.
Hosted by Swapna Thota, MD, assistant professor in the Division of Hematology and Oncology, the AAMDSIF Patient and Family Conference will be held virtually and in person at the Mooney Building, 875 Monroe Ave., from 7:30 a.m. at 3:30 a.m. Those who wish to attend virtually, will receive information on how to join, after completing registration. No registration fees required.
“By partnering with local institutions, the AAMDSIF Foundation sets up educational seminars that allow patients suffering from cancers and rare blood diseases to meet and hear from the experts,” said Dr. Thota. “It allows them to learn more about their disease, to understand that they are not alone in this process, to meet other families and to identify resources that would be useful to them.
Founded in 1983, AAMDSIF’s mission is to educate, support and bring hope to patients and families around the world. The foundation hosts annual patient and family conferences across the United States, featuring presentations by leading medical experts in rare blood cancers and bone marrow failure diseases.
The conference includes presentations from local and national speakers, support groups and additional resources. Breakfast and lunch will be provided for those attending in person. About 80 families are currently registered for the event.
“I’m excited to start raising awareness in the community that we have experts here,” Dr. Thota said of whether to bring in doctors from St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Regional One Health, Baptist Memorial Hospital and the University of Tennessee Health Science Center at the conference. “We hope this is one of many steps we are taking to improve outcomes for families with aplastic anemia, PNH and MDS.”
For more information on registration, visit the AAMDSIF website, AAMDSIF.org or call 800.747.2820 or 301.279.7202.
