Read on for posts from Kateryna Filonenko, one of our EBMT2019 Young Ambassadors. Along with the other candidates selected, she will be sending in posts before, during, and after the Annual Meeting to share her perspectives on the event. To go back to the Young Ambassadors page and learn more about the rest of the honorees, click the button below.
Day#4
Wednesday March 27, 2019
Should I stay or should I go? Go back home of course. Together with new ideas, knowledge, friends and inspiration! Last drops for today – two amazing sessions on GVHD. Detailed, balanced and really
practical presentations. Excellent speakers and clear way to improve your daily practice.
What now? Pack your stuff (that became a bit heavier due to printed materials) and start to do better!
Day#3
Tuesday March 26, 2019
This day was educational. I’ve started with Lymphoma session, that was very comprehensive. Then the “How do I…” session dedicated to aGVHD prediction and treatment impressed me a lot. And a little
bit of fundamental researches – that were headshaking sessions…
Of course, the Meeting with EBMT representatives and Young Ambassadors of current and previous editions! It was a pleasant meeting that gave a friendly start to great future plans for ENMT Young
Community. Brainstorming, jokes and new connections! What are the plans? Check on Twitter soon with the hashtag #EBMTYC!
Day#2
Monday March 25, 2019
It had a number of bright moments. 1st and the most delightful was the meeting of the EBMT Young Ambassadors! So friendly, smiling and open… I do believe it was the beginning!
Before and after there were nice sessions. Starting with “How to build up a successful transplant program for the population of a lower-middle income country". It brought a lot of thoughts and publications as well as inspiration for me. Then CNS lymphoma session with a very well done and selected presentations. That was joy! I popped up also into the Nurse session and stayed there till the end! What was next? Apheresis session and viral infections. My brain was tired afterwards, but I am happy with all what happened today!
Day#1
Sunday March 24, 2019
What to say?! It was fantastic! It started with the German Multiple Myeloma Group Meeting that impressed enough and gave new instruments for daily practice in MM treatment. Next was the amazing session about "GVHD: the latest hot topics", it was a full room, really no free places. All speakers touched and keep the audience's attention. Wide and intensive. This session reminded that despite headshaking success we have always remembered about backside of treatment. Of course the Opening Ceremony impressed me with two awarded presentations and unexpected lecture from biologist. Think about patients and BMT, but do not forget about environment!
My schedule
March 19, 2019
Until teleportation and cloning are available we have to build our own EBMT19 schedule!
Step 1 is to say “Hello Frankfurt” on Mar 24th and start EBMT19, that will begin at 8:30-10:00 in Harmonie ABS room “SCT in MM GMMG CME Symposium”. Then let’s move to the next session “Difficult-to-treat HSCT Patients: Novel Strategies for CMV Mgmt” Expert panel. Next 12:30-14:00 let’s talk about CMV Prophylaxis in Harmonie DE room. At 14:30 the session “Expert Perspectives on therapy of adult ALL” will be conducted. No chance to spend the day without mycosis: “Overcoming invasive mould disease in your hematological pts” will take place from 16:30 to18:00. For sure, I will atttend the Opening Ceremony, starting at 18:30 following by the Welcome Reception – a “must visit” for everyone!
Step 2 is to get up the next morning! That will be Monday, Mar 25th, but you will not be at work!!! Such a wonderful day! It will start at 9 am for me in the Illusion 1 room with “How to build up a successful transplant program for the population of LMIC”. Next hour and a half is the most difficult for me. I need my clone, even 3! Cause I still can’t choose between “How do I… treat CNS lymphoma?” / Psycho-oncological interventions” / Fertility preservation / Treatment options for pts with steroid refractory aGVHD… Then 12:45-13:45 Takeda Industrial Symposium, 15 min break and 14:00-15:30 “How do I understand blood counts?” in Illusion 3 room. 16:00-16:40 “Haploidentical Transplantation in Acute leukemia” in Fantasie 1 room. Finally – relaxing Poster Review…
Step 3 (for those who survived!) - Tuesday, Mar 26th. 9:00-10:30 “Malignant Lymphomas: integrating cellular and targeted therapy”. By the way, I’ve changed my opinion a couple of times, jumping to “How to get your manuscript published” in Analog 1+2 room, which will be going on at the same time.
11:00-12:30 again no final version: “MM therapeutic strategies” in Panorama 1 or “How do I treat and predict long-term outcome of steroid-refractory aGVHD?”. Oh God! Next session between 12:45 and 14:15 I will learn about “Statistics” in Analog 1+2 room. This session will overlap a bit with “GVHD Pathophysiology and treatment”. Then I will slowly move to “Immune reconstitution and options for treatment” at 16:00-17:30. Are you joking? This day is finishing early!
Step 4 – almost final, Wednesday, Mar 27. 9:00-10:30 complications again! This time not with the choice, but “Organ Complication challenging to treat” in Panorama 2. Don’t move! Next magical session will be in the same room: “cGVHD Specific Organ Manifestation”. If you missed something, don’t miss next session “Best of EBMT2019” 12:30-13:30 (A Huge Conference summarised in one hour) and the Closing Ceremony.
Step 5 (last) – wave goodbye to Frankfurt and start preparing the report for my colleagues!
How am I getting ready for the EBMT Annual Meeting?
March 11, 2019
Just open the EBMT19 Program! Like a kid in a candy store... What to start with? What to visit? Is that possible to be everywhere? Too much, but Young EBMT Ambassador can help you to straddle both words.
Let's make a study: what and where is happening! No matter who you are: Hematologist? Nurse? Pediatrician? Are you dealing with cell therapy? Are you interesting in Psychology? Pharmacology? Are you data manager? Responsible for QQ, transplant coordination? Former/present patient, his/her family member, donor? Whatever else? Are you looking either for education or follow the freshest news in the world of BMT and Cell Therapy? Everyone will find special session for himself!
The most awaiting for me will be Educational sessions that will be held from Monday to Wednesday. My heart was strongly touched by two of them: "Organ Complications : challenging to treat" and "cGVHD : specific organ manifestations".
"How do I?" sessions! Just look through the titles of these sessions! "How do I- Manufacture T cells, -treat CNS lymphoma, -gather enough peripheral stem cells". And this is just on Monday! How cool it will be during two more days!
Among other interesting sessions are "Meet-the-Expert". People say it is exciting Morning experience from Monday to Wednesday, 8 to 9 am, getting you deep in some very prominent topic. The most expertized specialists will discuss it in small groups, and you will be one of the participants. That is easy to ask the question, be interactive. Just after you will definitely feel upgraded!
Real pleasure will be attending Statistical and Data Management Sessions. The basis and the corner stones of good work. Find them on Monday and Tuesday mornings.
Don't forget the Poster sessions! That's a great opportunity to consume more information, get new contacts. Just find the Poster area on Monday-Tuesday 17.30-19.00, take a cup of coffee and enjoy! Oh... if you have a poster see you soon there!
It is my first Annual Meeting of the EBMT. Sure that brain shaking lectures, pure science, new faces and crazy rhythm are waiting for all of us!
See you so soon in Frankfurt!