Tune in as the IMF brings myeloma support group leaders, patients, care partners, and health care professionals to the hybrid 66th American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting and Exposition; an exciting convergence of over 30,000 health care professionals from around the world. Start following the IMF Myeloma Voices at ASH team members now on social media as they ramp up to share the latest clinical updates in myeloma research, therapies, and practice strategies via X (formerly Twitter) (#ASH24 and #IMFASH24), Facebook, blogs, and videos.
The IMF’s utmost concern is always focused on patient’s health. With this year’s ASH meeting being hybrid, the IMF provided the option to attend ASH in person or virtually. The #IMFASH24 team will consist of ten members attending in person and five members attending virtually as indicated below their photos.
We thank these Myeloma Voices at ASH for their care and commitment in sharing their experience with the global myeloma community. We encourage you to read and follow them for their unique perspectives.
Social Media Team
Sheri Baker
Since being diagnosed in 2011, Sheri had a desire to help other patients & caregivers. She started the Treasure Valley Multiple Myeloma support group in Boise, Idaho in 2017. Sheri will be attending the ASH Annual Meeting for the second time.
Sheri Baker
(in-person)
Follow Sheri on X:
@blondie1746
Read Blog Posts
Yelak Biru
IMF CEO Yelak Biru, diagnosed with multiple myeloma at 25, leads the organization’s mission to improve patients’ lives and find a cure. Having lived with the disease for 20+ years, he envisions a world where no one dies from myeloma by 2035.
Yelak Biru
(in-person)
Follow Yelak on LinkedIn:
@YelakBiru
Read Blog Posts
Becky Bosley
Becky is the proud facilitator of the Mid Atlantic Myeloma Support and Information Group, based out of the Baltimore, Maryland area. Becky has spent her entire professional career as an oncology nurse, achieving her OCN certification in 2015, working as an inpatient oncology nurse, and most recently, serving as a Cellular Therapy and Transplant Nurse Coordinator at University of Maryland Medical Center. She is excited to attend ASH for the first time as a correspondent with the IMF.
Becky Bosley
(virtual)
Follow Becky on X:
@MidAtlanticMSG
Read Blog Posts
Barbara Davies
Barbara Davis
(virtual)
Follow Barbara on X:
@bkinoglu
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Jessie Daw
Jessie was diagnosed with smoldering multiple myeloma in 2016, after several frequent bouts of respiratory infections. She has considered clinical trials, but thus far, has stayed with a “watch and wait” approach. She is a co-founder and leader of the Eastern South Dakota Multiple Myeloma Support Group. This is Jessie’s first time attending ASH.
Jessie Daw
(virtual)
Follow Jessie on X:
@Daw6Jessie
Read Blog Posts
Oya Gilbert
Oya Gilbert
(in-person)
Follow Oya on X:
@HHHHFoundation
Read Blog Posts
Terry Glassman
Terry Glassman
(in-person)
Follow Terry on X:
@TerryGlassman
Read Blog Posts
Linda Huguelet
Diagnosed with multiple myeloma in April 2010 at the young age of 46, Linda Huguelet has been co-leading the Chattanooga Multiple Myeloma Networking group alongside her husband since February 2011. Excited to learn of the latest developments in myeloma care, Linda will be attending ASH for the eighth time with the IMF.
Linda Huguelet
(virtual)
Follow Linda on X:
@LindaMYELOMA
Read Blog Posts
Teresa Miceli
Ms. Miceli is a 28-year nurse veteran in the area of Blood and Marrow Transplantation. Her current role is that of a BMT RN Care Coordinator for the Adult Program at Mayo Clinic-Rochester, MN. Ms. Miceli is a charter member of the Nurse Leadership Board of the International Myeloma Foundation. She is the facilitator of the Multiple Myeloma Sharing Sessions in Rochester, MN, a support group for myeloma survivors and caregivers.
Teresa Miceli
(in-person)
Follow Teresa on X:
@IMFnurseMYELOMA
Read Blog Posts
Rob Salmon
Rob Salmon
(in-person)
Follow Rob on X:
@Salmon_Rob
Read Blog Posts
Jim Shoemaker
Jim Shoemaker
(in-person)
Follow Jim on X:
@JimJhs17
Read Blog Posts
Michael Tuohy
Michael Tuohy was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2000 when he was 36 years old. With two young children (ages 2 and 7) the focus was always on finding the best treatment options, and beating myeloma. His approach over the years has been to become empowered by learning as much as he could to have productive conversations with his doctors, and to then share his experience with others to help them along their own journey.
Michael Tuohy
(in-person)
Follow Michael on X:
@IMFmikeMYELOMA
Read Blog Posts
Robin Tuohy
Robin Tuohy became a passionate advocate in the myeloma world in 2000 when her husband, Michael was diagnosed. In 2005 she began working for the International Myeloma Foundation, and is now Vice President Support Groups. She leads the IMF’s Support Group team and oversees approximately 160 U.S. myeloma specific support groups. Robin and her husband, Michael also founded and co-lead the Connecticut Multiple Myeloma Fighters Information Group.
Robin Tuohy
(in-person)
Follow Robin on X:
@IMFSupport
Read Blog Posts
Jenn Wieoworka
Jenn Wieworka
(in-person)
Follow Jenn on X:
@JWiework
Read Blog Posts
Jill Zitzewitz
Jill Zitzewitz, PhD is an associate professor in academic medicine, where she has spent her career studying therapeutic development for protein misfolding diseases. Since being diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2017, Jill has transitioned to a fully educational role, teaching medical and graduate students and using her experience with multiple myeloma to provide the patient perspective to our future doctors and scientists.
Jill Zitzewitz
(virtual)
Follow Jill on X:
@JillZitzewitz
Read Blog Posts
December 9, 2024
7:30 PM PST / 10:30 PM EST
Join us for a special Facebook Live update on the latest impactful multiple myeloma research presented at the 2024 American Society of Hematology Meeting. Dr. Joseph Mikhael, Chief Medical Officer, and Robin Tuohy, Vice President of Patient Support at the International Myeloma Foundation, will lead an insightful discussion with multiple myeloma support group leaders, answer questions directly from the chat, and share key research takeaways that could impact those living with multiple myeloma. Don’t miss this essential live update from one of hematology’s most important annual meetings.
Single Vs. Tandem Autologous Stem Cell Transplantation in Newly Diagnosed Multiple Myeloma Patients
Introduction – Methods – Results Monday afternoon at ASH found me listening to an abstract by Nora Grieb. It was a study from the German Registry for Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation and Cell Therapy. Autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) following high-dose chemotherapy is a standard treatment for newly diagnosed multiple…
The Shape-Shifting Nature of Multiple Myeloma and the Hope in Genomic Breakthroughs
I recently took a deep dive into some of the scientific abstracts from the ASH conference, and let me tell you, it was like entering a different universe, one where genes, mutations, and complex terms I had never heard of were flying at me left and right. As someone who’s…
Learning About ‘Six-Month Resistance Training Interventions’
One of my highlights on Sunday at ASH 2024 was attending the session by Janine Joseph, MS, MBA. The title was, “Six-Month Resistance Training Interventions Are Associated with Improvements in Fatigue and Pain in Multiple Myeloma Patients.” Because most patients experience some physical problems, I truly wanted to learn more.…
ASH Summary on Smoldering Multiple Myeloma (SMM)
For the past four years, I’ve been part of the IMF’s ASH team, and during my first three years, I had the privilege of working alongside Jack Aiello. Jack was an extraordinary individual—a 29-year myeloma survivor and a relentless advocate for the myeloma community. His contributions to the ASH team…
Debate: Early Intervention for Smoldering Multiple Myeloma (SMM) — A Summary
One of the most relevant sessions for those interested in smoldering myeloma was a Spotlight Session called “Smoldering Myeloma: A Case for Early Intervention?” presented by Maria-Victoria Mateos, MD, PhD, and Karthik Ramasamy, MD, PhD. The seventy-five-minute session featured a two-sided debate on whether early intervention is appropriate for smoldering…
My #ASH24 takeaways
The 66th annual American Society of Hematology (ASH) meeting again did not disappoint. Approximately 30,000 people (Health care professionals, pharmaceutical representatives, researchers, and others converged on San Diego, CA, for this premier meeting. I was able to attend many key oral abstracts and education programs related to multiple myeloma. The…
My Key Takeaways from ASH 2024
Monday, December 16. Seven days ago, I was in meetings in San Diego overwhelmed and overloaded with information. My experience at ASH in San Diego is difficult to explain. I had the privilege to make “New Friends” and renew relationships with “Old Friends,” and it doesn’t get any better than…
Abstracts That Caught My Eye
What another great experience for myself and our Myeloma Voices Team at ASH (American Society of Hematology). San Diego is such a nice place to visit, and I really enjoyed being with our in-person team as we attended the sessions together, discussed what we had heard, and dined together. We…
My First ASH Conference: Expectations Exceeded
This was my first ASH Conference, and my expectations were exceeded. The volume of oral and poster abstracts was overwhelming. To get through just the multiple myeloma (MM) information presented would have taken more than the three days that I was in attendance. An incredible amount of work has been…
The Myeloma Puzzle
This year’s American Society of Hematology (ASH) Annual Meeting was filled with fascinating new treatments and treatment combinations which left me thinking that there is so much more information to digest as a patient than when I was diagnosed in 2010. Over my 14 years as a myeloma patient, I’ve…