This week's VIP Blog provides updates on various news and events happening in and around the UC Brain Tumor Center:

2010 Brain Tumor Conference is largest yet!
Christa McAlpin, Events Specialist, reports that 227 patients, family members and caregivers attended the 2010 Midwest Brain Tumor Conference at the UC Tangeman Center last Saturday, June 26. The meeting, pictured above, drew attendees from five states and is the largest crowd ever for this conference. The initial feedback on the overall event has been very positive. Team members will now go through the participant surveys and tabulate results for review by the planning committee next month. Planning committee members included Eric Becker, chairman and advisory board member;  Ricki Collins, advisory board member; Christopher McPherson, MD, physician champion; Christa McAlpin, Events Specialist; Tara Stamper, NP; Kimbaird Avant, and Tom Rosenberger.  Congratulations to everyone on a spectacular event!

ANA Leadership plans 2011 National Meeting
Judy Vitucci, Executive Director of the Acoustic Neuroma Association, attended the Midwest Regional Brain Tumor Conference last weekend, to begin plans for next year's national meeting. The UC Brain Tumor Center and the Mayfield Clinic are co-hosting the event, which takes place June 17-19, 2011, in downtown Cincinnati. Drs. Philip Theodospoulos and John Tew are co-chairs of the 2011 event.

Dr. Breneman to Chair RSNA Committee
Congratulations to John Breneman, MD, radiation oncologist for the Brain Tumor Center, who has been reappointed as Chair of the Radiation Oncology Refresher Course Committee for the Radiologic Society of North America (RSNA).  In this position, he will be responsible for organizing the Radiation Oncology educational program for the RSNA's annual meeting. The RSNA annual meeting is the largest medical meeting in the world, attracting approximately 60,000 registrants from around the world.

5k Walk/Run event plans continue to come together
Co-chairs Chris Knueven and Wally Pagan report that plans for our "Walk Ahead for a Brain Tumor Cure" event are coming together nicely. The committee has secured three of the 10 sponsor spots already, and the distribution of promotional materials has begun. The event Web site will be operational by July 12, 2010.  We will have a full report in our next blog posting. Congratulations to this team on great work!

In closing, I would also like to thank everyone who attended our board meeting on Saturday just before the symposium.  It was a great meeting, and it is clear to see that our momentum is building.  Have a great summer everyone!

Sincerely,

Kathy Beechem, Chair
Community Advisory Board