Dr. Mark Lewis and Dr. Christos Vaklavas co-chair BTF's officially licensed Best of ASCO Boise, ID
Drs. Christos Vaklavas of Huntsman Cancer Institute and Mark Lewis of Intermountain Health co-chaired the Binaytara Foundation's 2023 Best of ASCO conference in Boise, ID, on July 15th and 16th, 2023. As the conference co-chairs, Dr. Vaklavas & Dr. Lewis played a crucial role in the planning and implementation of this important oncology conference designed to educate local and regional oncology care providers about the updates from the American Society of Clinical Oncology Annual Meeting held in Chicago earlier in June 2023.
As the leader in oncology continuing education, Binaytara Foundation (BTF) organizes local, regional, and national oncology conferences throughout the United States. In 2023, BTF is hosting three officially licensed Best of ASCO conferences, including one in Portland, OR on June 24-25, 2023; another in Boise, ID, on July 15-16, 2023; and the third one in Minneapolis, MN, on August 12-13, 2023.
As an organization dedicated to minimizing cancer health disparities through education, advocacy, and innovation, BTF is committed to bringing high-quality continuing education to cancer care practitioners wherever they live. We want to thank Drs. Vaklavas and Lewis for their role in helping us achieve this goal.
BTF assistant communication coordinator Taylor Sageman sat down with Drs. Lewis and Vaklavas for brief interviews to share their experiences planning and implementing the Best of ASCO Boise.
Dr. Christos Vaklavas
Dr. Vaklavas is a breast oncologist and an associate professor of medical oncology at the University of Utah, Huntsman Cancer Institute. His research focus on translational and new compound discoveries for breast cancer treatment. He serves as the principal investigator for many breast cancer clinical trials at Huntsman.
Watch the video to learn about Dr. Christos Vaklavas' experience organizing this meeting in Boise!
Dr. Mark Lewis
As the Director of Gastrointestinal Oncology at Intermountain Healthcare in Salt Lake City, Utah, Dr. Mark Lewis specializes in cancers of the GI tract and accessory organs. His other areas of research interest include neuroendocrine and hereditary tumors.
In the interview, Dr. Lewis stressed the importance of 'thinking globally, acting locally.' As a self-diagnosed multiple endocrine neoplasia patient with the benefit of physician resources, he highlighted the importance of empathy towards communities with limited resources and referrals.
Dr. Mark Lewis also addressed his long-standing relationship with Binaytara Foundation and recounted his experience at the conference. This was his first conference co-chair role, but he has also attended several other BTF meetings.
Watch the video to learn more about Dr. Mark Lewis and his experience as a conference co-chair of the Best of ASCO Boise!
About Binaytara Foundation
Binaytara Foundation (BTF) is an international global oncology non-profit organization dedicated to improving access to cancer care. Through education, advocacy, and innovations, BTF aims to improve access to cancer care for everyone around the world so that there are minimal to no disparities in cancer health outcomes.
Minimizing Cancer Disparities Through Education and Innovation
Binaytara Foundation is a leader in hematology and oncology continuing education. BTF's multi-channel approach to oncology continuing education includes oncology conferences, The Cancer News, The International Journal of Cancer Care & Delivery, and virtual enduring materials.
A Global Oncology Leader
Binaytara Foundation's global oncology programs include the establishment of a cancer hospital in Janakpurdham, Nepal. BTF's prior global oncology programs include supporting the development of the first bone marrow transplant center in Kathmandu, Nepal, and palliative care initiatives in South Asia.
Please visit the organization's website to learn more about the Binaytara Foundation's impact missions.
BTF's Officially Licensed Annual ASCO update Conferences
Binaytara Foundation has hosted annual updates from the ASCO meeting in the pacific northwest since 2013, including licensed ASCO Direct Highlights and Best of ASCO meetings. BTF organized several other updates on hematology-oncology this year, including those in Alaska, California, Utah, Idaho, and Texas.