Plenary Speakers

Keynote Speaker

Mary C. Beckerle PhD
Chief Executive Officer, Huntsman Cancer Institute

Innovative methods for providing cancer education across generations to a five-state region

Mary Beckerle, PhD serves as CEO of Huntsman Cancer Institute, a comprehensive cancer research and clinical care facility at the University of Utah. Under Beckerle’s leadership, HCI has doubled the size of its hospital and research facilities, has been recognized with the highest designation for research excellence by NCI, and has been named a top cancer hospital by US News and World Report. An internationally recognized scientist focused on fundamental aspects of cancer cell biology and Ewing’s sarcoma, Beckerle received the 2018 Alfred G. Knudson Award from NCI. She is a respected leader in science and policy, having served as president of the American Society of Cell Biology, on the Advisory Committee to the NIH Director, and on the Blue Ribbon Panel for VP Biden’s Cancer Moonshot initiative. She currently serves on various research institute advisory boards, and the Boards of Directors of Huntsman Corporation and Johnson & Johnson.

Patient Panel Facilitator

Wendy Kohlmann MS
Director, Genetic Counseling Shared Resource, Huntsman Cancer Institute

Information Needs of Individuals with Inherited Cancer Predisposition

Wendy Kohlmann is the director of the Genetic Counseling Shared Resource at Huntsman Cancer Institute. She has over 20 years of experience with clinical cancer genetic counseling. Her research has focused on strategies for increasing access to genetic counseling, communication of genetic information to patients and families, and the development of novel screening and prevention approaches for managing individuals at increased risk for cancer.

Plenary Speaker

David Wiljer PhD
Executive Director, Education, Technology & Innovation, University Health Network, Toronto

Emerging Technologies and Digital Compassion: Embracing a Grand Challenge for Cancer Education

Dr. David Wiljer is a member of the community providing groundbreaking perspectives and inspiring contributions to digital health policy, management, education and evaluation. He's the Executive Director of Education Technology & Innovation at the University Health Network, and former Senior Director of Transformational Education and Academic Advancement at CAMH. David is also Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine and the Institute of Health Policy Management and Evaluation at the University of Toronto. He is a former President of the American Association of Cancer Education, and current Chair of the Scholarship Committee for the Society for Academic Continuing Medical Education. Dr. Wiljer has led research and development projects that focus on putting knowledge into action by utilizing health information technologies and knowledge management approaches to promote lifelong learning and CPD. Through his research he also explores the impact of digital technologies on patient partnerships and on high quality care.

Plenary Speaker

EACE Speaker
Sabine Fromm-Haidenberger MD
President, European Association for Cancer Education; MVZ am Klinikum Rosenheim GmbH, Germany

Through the looking glass: developments in cancer education and within EACE over the past decade

Dr. Sabine Fromm-Haidenberger is a Radiation Oncologist and Radiologist. Currently she is working at a private radiology praxis in the centre of Munich and offers additional professional support for cancer patients online. She studied medicine at the Medical Univeristy of Vienna and underwent her training to become a radiation oncologist at the University Hospital in Vienna. One year of her training she worked a at cancer hospital in Paris, France. In 2008, she started her second training to become a radiologist, first in Austria and then completed it in a community hospital in Munich, Germany. Additionally she worked part time as radiation oncologist at the Rinecker Proton Therapy Centre in Munich.

During her training at the Medical University Hospital in Vienna, she was very much involved in student education and in the development of the International Summer School of Oncology for Medical Students (VSSO). This educational program she presented at her first EACE meeting in 2005. She then became a Board member of the association, followed by the position of Secretary and Treasurer. For 10 years she has been involved in the organisation of the annual EACE meetings and in the development of the association.

Plenary Speaker

Samuel C. Harvey Lecturer
Rueben Warren DDS, MPH, DrPH, MDiv
Director, National Center for Bioethics in Research and Health Care; Professor of Bioethics, Tuskegee University

An Ethics Lens on Education about Cancer or Cancer Education

Rueben C. Warren, DDS, MPH, DrPH, MDiv, is professor and director of the Tuskegee National Center for Bioethics. Adjunct appointments: professor of public health, medicine and ethics, Interdenominational Theological Center; clinical professor, Department of Community Health/Preventive Medicine, Morehouse School of Medicine; professor, Department of Behavioral Sciences and Health Education, Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health; and professor, Schools of Dentistry and Graduate Studies, Meharry Medical College. Dr. Warren was associate director for Minority Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. He directed Infrastructure Development, National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities, NIH. Formerly, he was dean of the Meharry Medical College School of Dentistry.

Dr. Warren earned his undergraduate degree from San Francisco State University, his dental degree from Meharry Medical College, and both masters and doctorate degrees from the Harvard School of Public Health. He also completed a two-year residency at the Harvard School of Dental Medicine in Dental Public Health. He is board certified in Dental Public Health. Dr. Warren also completed a Master of Divinity (M. Div) from the Interdenominational Theological Center with a concentration in theology and ethics. Dr. Warren is an ordained minister. In June 1990, Dr. Warren received the Distinguished Harvard Alumni Award. In May 1999, he was awarded the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Medical Science from Meharry Medical College. In 2000, he received the President’s Distinguished Service Award, Meharry Medical College. In October 2003, Dr. Warren’s academic status at Meharry’s dental school was elevated to Dean Emeritus. Later in October of that same year, he was inducted into the American College of Dentists. In 2009, he received a certificate through an Intensive Bioethics Course at Georgetown University, Kennedy Institute of Ethics, Washington D. C. In May 2010, Dr. Warren received the Michael C. Alfano Award from New York College of Dentistry for Promoting Diversity in Dental Education. In 2011, Dr. Warren was inducted (Honorary) into Delta Omega Public Health Honorary Society. In 2013, Dr. Warren was awarded the Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Meharry Medical College.

Plenary Speaker

Ken R. Smith PhD
Director, Utah Population Database, Huntsman Cancer Institute

Family Cancer Histories and the Utah Population Database

Ken R. Smith, PhD, is Distinguished Professor of Family Studies and Population Science and Director of the Utah Population Database (UPDB) at the Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah. His research on the biodemography of aging, cancer, and environmental and social epidemiology has spanned nearly 40 years with funding primarily from the National Institutes of Health and the National Science Foundation.