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Previous Meetings

Thank you to our distinguished speakers for the generous donation of their expertise and time. 

All speaker videos are posted here and on our YouTube channel.

February 23, 2023
TULSA-PRO: Understanding Your Prostate Disease and Available Treatment Options

Treating BPH & P Ca with Tulsa Pro.

New treatment options for prostate cancer and BPH

Technology for magnetic resonance imaging-guided, transurethral ultrasound ablation of prostate cancer.

Robert Staruch, PhD (Profound Medical)

Robert Staruch is the Director of Clinical Science at Profound Medical. His team of scientists educates physicians and their teams on the TULSA procedure, and partners with them to continuously improve the technology and patient outcomes.

Motivated by his own experience as a cancer survivor, his Ph.D. focused on the technical development of MRI-guided ultrasound therapies. He has played a leading role in  clinical studies evaluating TULSA-PRO for tissue ablation in men with localized prostate cancer.

January 26, 2023
Treating Urinary Tract Dysfunction After Prostate Cancer Treatment

Therapies for common lower urinary tract pathologies after prostate cancer treatment including urinary incontinence, bladder overactivity, and stricture disease

Hanson H. Zhao, MD

Hoag Hospital, Newport Beach, CA

Dr. Zhao is a reconstructive urologist practicing at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach and Irvine. He received his undergraduate degree in Bioengineering at UC Berkeley and his medical degree from SUNY Downstate Medical Center. He completed his Urology Residency at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and a fellowship in Genitourinary Reconstruction and Prosthetic Surgery at the Cleveland Clinic.

November 17, 2022
Contemporary Treatment of Prostate Cancer: A Disease Transformed

Transformation of prostate cancer:  how 'bigger is better' morphed into 'less is more.'

Leonard S. Marks, MD

Professor and deKernion Endowed Chair in Urology,  UCLA

Dr. Marks received his M.D. and M.A. (physiology) degrees from the University of Texas and completed urology residency at UCLA.   After a lengthy career in private practice, he returned full-time to UCLA in 2009.   He is inaugural holder of the Dekernion Chair in Urology.   Dr. Marks is principal investigator of three RO1 grants from the NIH.   He leads a multi-disciplinary research collaborative involving urology, radiology, pathology, and bioengineering.   He is internationally known for his prostate cancer research in active surveillance, targeted biopsy, and focal therapy.

October 28, 2022
Your Genes, Prostate Cancer and the PROMISE Registry

The presentation will provide recorded information about why your genes matter in prostate cancer, what genetic testing is, and who should get it, as explained by PROMISE Investigators Dr. Heather Cheng, MD, PhD (Fred Hutchinson Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Washington), Dr. Channing Paller, MD (Johns Hopkins University, Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center), and Genetic Counselor on Registry, Mr. Justin Lorentz, MSc, CGC (Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Centre). You will learn how understanding the specific inherited genetic factors, or mutations, in men with prostate cancer and being able to tailor a treatment to an individual’s specific genetic make-up could be a powerful tool in prostate cancer treatment options and outcomes.

Kathy Wiedemer (Director of Community Engagement) and Christina Tran (Project Manager) from the PROMISE Registry, a US-wide prostate cancer genetic registry.

The PROMISE (a Prostate Cancer Registry of Outcomes and Germline Mutations for Improved Survival and Treatment Effectiveness) Registry aims to help patients, doctors and researchers better understand an individual’s prostate cancer to improve treatment and outcomes.

September 22, 2022
Liquid Biopsy and Biomarker Testing in Prostate Cancer

It is vital for every cancer patient to receive the most personalized and comprehensive care. Prostate cancer harbors biomarkers that are used for molecular diagnosis to achieve the most current and personalized treatment for patients. This presentation introduces the concept of biomarkers in prostate cancer, their role in personalized cancer care, and how these are tested for. In addition, we will address patient questions and support on the programs NeoGenomics can offer.

Dr. Róisín Puentes, PharmD, PhD

Dr. Puentes joined NeoGenomics as a Medical Science Liaison through Genoptix in 2018. Prior to this she received her PhD in molecular oncology under Dr. Garth Powis, director of the NCI-Designated Cancer Center at Sanford Burnham Prebys research institute in La Jolla, California. Dr. Puentes’ publications focus on novel molecular targets and drug development in solid tumor, with a focus on KRas-driven lung cancer.

July 29, 2022
Making Peace with Anxiety

Perspectives from a cancer survivor. Sarah Fenlon-Falk is a licensed therapist and a survivor of multiple cancers. She talks about how to identify stressors and soothers, rethinking anxiety, and describes many anxiety-reducing techniques.

Sarah Fenlon Falk

Sarah Falk is a cancer survivor, therapist, author, and life coach with over 30 years of personal experience in the process of healing anxiety.

https://www.sarahfenlonfalk.com


June 28, 2022
MRI-Guided SBRT

Dr. Kishan of UCLA visited our Advanced Group online meeting in June to talk about the state of the art MRI-guided SBRT now in use at UCLA Medical Center and to answer questions. Prostate Forum of Orange County is a Southern California Prostate Cancer Support Group, with monthly evening meetings with featured speakers on 4th Thursday evenings, starting at 6 pm. Our website address is: www.prostateforum.org

Dr. Amar Kishan

May 26, 2022
Understanding the patient’s perspective after treatment with surgery or radiation

Dr Kamrava focuses on quality of life after different prostate cancer treatments and on the differences between different treatments. 

Mitchell Kamrava M.D.

Associate professor
Director brachytherapy services
Residency program director
Department of radiation oncology
Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, West Hollywood, CA

https://find-a-doctor.cedarsinai.edu/provider/1982806097- mtchell-kamrava

March 24, 2022
An update on precision management of prostate cancer

With 30 years experience in medical imaging, Ms. Greenwood presents an update on her work on imaging-based management of prostate cancer, using focal laser interstitial thermal therapy under MRI guidance.

Bernadette Greenwood, MSc, RT(R)(MR)(ARRT)

Desert Medical Imaging, Palm Springs, CA

desertmedicalimaging.com

Chief Research Officer, HALO Dx
Clinical Instructor, Department of Internal Medicine
UC Riverside School of Medicine

February 24, 2022
Current Management of Prostate Cancer

Dr. Scholz describes the prostate cancer treatment options for intermediate risk prostate cancer, including Active Surveillance, current forms of radiation treatment, and surgery, and gives an overview of their effectiveness, risks, and side effects.

Mark Scholz, M.D.

Medical Director, Prostate Oncology Specialists, Marina Del Rey, CA 

www.prostateoncology.com/

January 27, 2022
THERANOSTICS: IMAGING AND TREATMENT OF PROSTATE CANCER

Martin Sebastian Allen-Auerbach, M.D.
Associate Professor, UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine and UCLA Hospital.

Jeremie Calais, M.D., MSc. Assistant Professor at UCLA Ahmanson Translational Imaging Division of the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology.

2020 MEETINGS

January 23, 2020

Speaker: Frankis Almaguel, MD, PhD,

Director, Molecular Imaging and Therapeutics Program, Loma Linda Cancer Center, Loma Linda, CA

Topic:  Personalized Prostate Cancer Interventions (Theranostics)

February 27, 2020

Speaker:  Dr Tanya Dorff

Topic: Immunotherapy for Prostate Cancer

July 23, 2020

Speaker: Dr Harsolia

Topic: Overview of Different Types of Radiation Treatment and Cyber Knife for Prostate Cancer

August 27, 2020

Speaker: Dr Rossi

Topic: The Benefits of Proton Therapy for Prostate Cancer

September 24, 2020

Speaker: Dr Robert Allen Auerbach & Dr Calais

Topic: Using Gallium 68 Positron Emission Tomography Scanning to Locate Advanced Prostate Cancers

October 22, 2020

Speaker: Dr. Robert Pugach

Topic: The Evolution of Minimally Invasive Advanced High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) for the Treatment of Prostate Cancers

November 19, 2020

Speaker: Dr Charles Metzger

Topic: Management of Rising PSA After Primary Treatment

December, 2020 

NO MEETING

2018 MEETINGS

January 28, 2018

Speaker: Richard Lam, MD

Director Clinical Research Prostate Oncology Specialists

Topic: Hormone Refractory Prostate Cancer

 

February 22, 2018

Speaker: Mitchell Kamrava, MD

March 22, 2018 

Speaker: Fabio Almeida, MD

Phoenix Molecular Imaging, YMRC Cancer Center PET/CT

Topic: Imaging in Prostate Cancer 

April 26, 2018 

Speaker: Mark Scholz, MD

Prostate Oncology Specialists 

Topic: Five Stages of Prostate Cancer

May 24, 2018

Speaker: Thomas K. Lee, MD, PhD

Associate Clinical Professor, Univ. Irvine School of Medicine 

Topic: Understanding the details in your pathology report: Biopsy vs. Radical Prostatectomy

June 28, 2018 

Speaker: Robert Pugach, MD

Medical Director Western State HIFU 

Topic: Focal and Whole Gland HIFU - The Gold Standard for Low-Intermediate Risk Prostate Cancer

July 26, 2018

Speaker: Tanya Dorff, MD

August 23, 2018 

Speaker: Jane Shellhouse

Certified Nutritionist, Diet Nutrition Support, Placentia, CA

September 27, 2018

Speaker: David Krasne, MD

Pacific Neuroscience Institute, Pathologist 

Topic: Pathology of Prostate Cancer in 2018

October 25, 2018

Speaker: Leonard A. Farber, MD

City Hope, St. Joseph Health/St. Jude Medical Center 

Topic: Advances in radiation therapy for prostate cancer: SBRT (Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy)  

November 15, 2018

Speaker: Dong Won Kim, MD, PhD

Kaiser

Topic: Pro/Cons in Deploying IMRT, SBRT and Seeds in Prostate Cancer

December 2018

No meeting

2019 MEETINGS

January 24, 2019

Speaker: Dr. Albert Chang

Associate Professor, Vice Chair of Surgical Services and Brachytherapy Service Chief for the Department of Radiation Oncology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and the UCLA Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center

Topic: Treatment of Prostate Cancer using Combination Therapies including Radiation Therapy and Chemotherapy

February 28, 2019 

Speaker: Richard Lam, MD

Prostate Oncology Specialists, Marina Del Rey, CA

Topic: Low Risk, Intermediate Risk, High Risk Stages, Metastatic Disease,  Immunotherapy, Treatment Options, Q & A

 

March 28 , 2019

Speaker: Martin Allen-Auerbach, MD

UCLA Associate Professor David Geffen School of Medicine and UCLA Hospital

Speaker: Jeremie Calais, MD, MSc 

Assistant Professor UCLA, Ahmanson Translational Imaging Division of the Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology

Topic: Using Gallium 68 Positron Emission Tomography Scanning to Locate Advanced Prostate Cancers

April 25, 2019

Speaker: Charles K. Metzger, MD

Urology Specialist, 41 years, Glendora, CA, retired

Topic: Sequencing Treatments for Advanced Prostate Cancer

 

May 23, 2019

Speaker: Bernadette Greenwood BSc, PG Cert, RT (R) (MR) (ARRT)

Clinical Instructor, University of California, Riverside, Chief Research Officer, Prostate Cancer Information Group/ Desert Medical Imaging, Indian Wells, CA

Topic: Image-Based Prostate Cancer (PCa) Management., an update.  Evolution of prostate MRI,  MRI guided biopsy, & tissue base. Jenelle mix. Additionally, new Radionuclides & Serum Blood Tests for CirculatingTumor Cells (CTC)

 

June 27, 2019

Speaker: Robert G. Pugach, MD

Medical Director - Western States HIFU and Pacific Coast Urology Medical Ctr, Los Alamitos & Huntington Beach, CA

Topic: The Evolution of Minimally Invasive Advanced High Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU) for the Treatment of Prostate Cancers

 

July 25, 2019

Speaker: Hari P. Sawkar, MD

Boston Scientific and St. Joseph Hospital, Orange, CA

Topic: Life After Prostate Cancer (Impotence, incontinence)

 

August 22, 2019

Speaker: Gary Leach, MD

Director (Retired) Tower Urology Center, Cedars / Sinai Medical Center, West Hollywood, CA

Topic: Quality of Life Issues After Prostate Cancer (Impotence, incontinence)

September 26, 2019

No speaker

 

October 24, 2019

Speaker: Ashok J. Kar, MD 

Founder of the Robotic Surgery Program, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Orange, CA 

Topic: Changing Paradigm in the Management of Prostate Cancer

November 21, 2019

Speaker: ​Jane Shellhouse

Certified Nutritionist, Diet Nutrition Support, Placentia, CA

Topic: How Food, Alcohol, Beverages, Attitude and Stress Contribute to the Development of Prostate Cancer

December 2019

No meeting

2017 MEETINGS

April 27, 2017 

Speaker:  Arnold I. Chin, MD, PhD

Urologist and Assistant Professor UCLA 

Topic: Robotic Assisted Laparoscopic Radical Prostatectomy

 

October 26, 2017

Speaker: Donald B. Fuller, MD

Genesis Healthcare

Topic: Treating Prostate Cancer with Radiation Therapy with emphasis on IMRT (including Calypso), or Cyber Knife

August 24, 2017

Speaker: Heather C. Lamb

Manager Onc. Business Development, NeoGenomics Laboratories ,Inc.

Topic: Liquid Biopsy and its Role in Today's Cancer Treatments

January 26, 2017

Speaker: Carl Rossi, MD

Scripps 

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