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Caring for the Veteran Patient with Colon and Rectal Cancer

10/23/2026 - 10/24/2026

Description


FREE TO ATTEND for VA and community healthcare professionals

We invite you to attend the Association of VA Hematology/Oncology (AVAHO)'s regional meeting focusing on Colon & Rectal Cancer, Saturday, October 23-24, 2026 in Milwaukee, WI.

AVAHO regional meetings are locally-focused, multi-disciplinary educational events centered around a specific topic, providing updates, collaborative case discussions, and practical strategies that strengthen cancer care for our Veterans. 

This month, our aim is to provide a unique opportunity to connect with your peers on colon and rectal cancer care, and to learn and network on a more intimate level than a large conference. 

All disciplines in the cancer care process are welcome and encouraged to attend.

This is an IN-PERSON event.

Federal employees wishing to attend (and are not giving a presentation), can attend the AVAHO regional meeting without seeking approval from their site, VISN, or program office so long as:

  1. They are attending on annual leave (AL) or off duty time 
  2. They are using personal funds to travel

This event is CE-eligible.

For AVAHO Members, Trainees and IRC Members, please use the REGISTER button and login with your membership e-mail and password. 

If you are having trouble logging in or need to update your information, please reset your login here or contact Candy at candy@avaho.org.

Hotel reservations under the AVAHO Room Block will be available soon.

Any travel arrangements are the responsibility of the individual attendee.

Agenda

(Updated Sep. 24, 2026)

FRIDAY, OCT 23

TIME
EVENT
8:00 - 3:00pmRegistration / Exhibit Hall
9:15 - 10:30amBreakfast
10:30 - 11:00am

Genetics and Hereditary Cancer Syndromes Associated with Colorectal Cancer
Speaker: Jennifer Weiss, MD

11:00 - 11:30am

Microbial Bile Acids in Colorectal Cancer: From Metabolic Signaling to Therapeutic Opportunities
Speaker: Ting Fu, MD

11:30 - 12:00pmBreak / Visit Exhibits
12:00 - 1:00pmScreening and Prevention in Colorectal Cancer
Speaker: Vinay Patel, MD
1:00 - 2:00pm

Lunch

1:30 - 2:00pm

Surgical Management of Colorectal Cancer
Speaker: Evie Carchman, MD

2:00 - 2:30pm

Interventional Oncology Treatment for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer to the Liver
Speaker: John Swietlik, MD

2:30 - 3:00pmBreak / Visit Exhibits
3:00 - 4:00pm

The Nurse’s Role in Navigating Colorectal Cancer
Speaker Panel:
Anica Bausch, RN, Angela Baker, RN,Ashley Vandervort, RN


4:00pmNetworking
5:00pmNON-CE DINNER
Seeing Through Ambiguous Findings in HPV Driven Anal Cancer Surveillance: TTMV-HPV DNA (ctDNA) Testing in the VA Population
Speaker: Jamie Habalee, PhD, Biomarker Data Scientist

Sponsored by NAVDX


SATURDAY, OCT 24

TIME
EVENT
8:00 - 9:00amTBD
9:00 - 10:00amBreakfast
10:00 - 11:00am

Review of Updated Clinical Pathways with Emerging Adjuvant Data
Speaker: Bhaumik Patel, MD

11:00 - 11:30amBreak / Visit Exhibits
11:30 - 12:30pm

Precision Oncology Treatments: Focus on Advanced Metastatic Disease
Speaker: Jermy Kratz, MD

12:30 - 1:45pm

Lunch

1:00 - 1:30pm

Personalizing the Clinical Pathways: Pharmacogenomics in Colorectal Cancer Treatment Decisions
Speaker: Jennie Piccolo, PharmD, BCOP

1:30 - 2:00pm

Managing the Toxicities of Colorectal Cancer Therapy: A Class-by-Class Playbook
Speaker: Berni Heron, PharmD, BCOP

2:00 - 3:00pm

Case Studies

  • Locally Advanced with Comorbidities
  • Metastatic Disease

Panel Discussion
Moderator: Cristina Sanger, MD

3:00pmAdjourn
3:00 - 4:00pmSocial Hour and Networking
Westin Milkwaukee
550 N Van Buren St
Milwaukee, WI 53202 United States
Event Contact
Janice Schwartz MSN, RN, OCN
Send Email
10/23/2026 - 10/24/2026
Registered Guests
27
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