The EANA Patient Retreat is your chance to learn and to network with fellow OM community members.

The retreat will combine expert medical information with the 'softer side' of battling OM: chances to interact with and learn from (and lean on!) other patients, leading OM experts from around the country, cancer therapists, and other OM community members. Targeted at patients, their families and friends, the retreat will mirror OMF's ground-breaking 2010 conference in Boston, MA at the Dana-Farber Cancer Center but with a greater emphasis on networking and patient support.

Confirmed speakers include The Honorable Kathleen Blanco, former Governor of Louisana, Agop Bedikian MD, Takami Sato MD, PhD, David Eschelman MD, Susan Walther MD, Colleen Cebulla MD, PhD, Peter Hovland, MD, PhD, Caroline Bosch-Voskens, MD, Janice Allen, MSN and Molly Stoffa, RN.

The conference is being sponsored by Castle Biosciences (headline sponsor), Delcath Systems (headline sponsor), the Ocular Melanoma Foundation (OMF), Vitamin Water, PopChips, Bai, Z Pizza, Merzi and Freshii.

Meeting Venue: OMF has secured the District Architecture Center (DAC) for the main speaking events Saturday and Sunday. The DAC is a gorgeous new venue in the heart of DC's bustling Penn Quarter district, approximately 2 blocks away from the headquarter hotel, the Courtyard Washington Convention Center at 900 F St. NW.

For directions, click here: http://g.co/maps/uw45n

OMF will be providing shuttle service around Penn Quarter during the event for those attendees with mobility issues.

Evening Activities and Networking Options: One of the big pieces of feedback from the first patient retreat in Boston was "we need more time to get to know each other." Well, we've heard you loud and clear! And we've planned an exciting array of evening activities to allow you to grow closer as a community.

On Friday, we have a fantastic "Frank Chat with the Experts" planned with Dr. Takami Sato and Dr. David Eschelman, both of Thomas Jefferson University. This should be an intimate opportunity for you to ask questions in a low pressure environment. Afterwards, you can choose to have dinner with other attendees or stick around the hotel and rest up for the full agenda we have for you Saturday.

On Saturday, after the small group breakout sessions, you can choose whether you would like to attend the Washington Wizards basketball game with the OMF group (all you can eat stadium food!) or go to a more relaxed dinner with other attendees. We'll even match you up with a small group. Both options offer a chance to converse with fellow OM community members and share + support + learn.

Financial Assistance for Travel & Lodging: Due to the generosity of a friend of OMF's in Richmond, VA, OMF is proud to be able to offer financial assistance to attend the Retreat. If you would like to learn more about air travel, train and/or hotel lodging assistance, please email EANA@ocularmelanoma.org.

Questions: EANA@ocularmelanoma.org

OMF's first patient conference, held in October 2010 in Boston, MA with generous support from the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Delcath Systems, Inc, was a glowing success with nearly 100 attendees.

OMF was able to host approximately 80 patients, families and loved ones for a day and a half of learning and collaborative support with the help of trained social workers. Attendees came from as far away as Europe. The event was keynoted by Thomas Sellers, head of the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship, and included FAQ panels featuring some of the field’s leading practitioners, including Dr. Takami Sato of Thomas Jefferson University, Dr. Scott Woodman of MD Anderson Cancer Center, Dr. Stephen Hodi from Dana-Farber Cancer
Institute, and Dr. Charles Nutting of the Swedish Medical Center

To view the 2010 conference agenda, click here.

To view the materials presented by our medical partners at the meeting, click here.

Have additional questions? Email us at info@ocumel.org.

Please email sponsors@ocumel.org if you are interested in sponsoring the EANA retreat.