Information on the Event Speakers/Presenters
2009 Event/Speaker information will be posted as soon as available.
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2008 Event/Speaker Information
Matthew Zachary
Founder/Executive Director of i2y (I’m Too Young For This) http://www.imtooyoungforthis.org/
Matthew Zachary was a 21-year old college senior and aspiring concert pianist and composer en route to film school to become a Hollywood film composer when he slowly lost use of his left hand, was diagnosed with pediatric brain cancer (medulloblastona) and told he’d likely never perform again. Eleven years, four albums and scores of concerts later, Matthew’s struggle to get busy living has inspired countless thousands. Today, Matthew is an award-winning musician and composer, accredited thought-leader in public health, a leading authority on the youth cancer culture, a highly credentialed and coveted motivational speaker, and a burgeoning social entrepreneur with the 2004 launch of Steps For Living (now reorganized as I’m Too Young For This!), a nonprofit social enterprise benefiting young adults affected by cancer that sought to create lasting change in how the public relates to the disease.
Today, Matthew is an award-winning recording artist, composer and performer as well as an accredited thought-leader in public health, a leading authority on youth culture and a highly credentialed motivational speaker. Via the success of his social enterprise, The I’m Too Young For This! Cancer Foundation, Matthew is helping to reverse 30 years of disparity and create lasting change in how the public relates to cancer.
Matthew has 15 years of experience in advertising, marketing, information technology and visual communications for print and web. In addition to serving as an advisor on the prestiguous Google Health Advisory Council, his portfolio also includes expertise in visual communications for print/web, cause-branding, public relations, consumer healthcare, nonprofit management and social media. Matthew has won several industry awards and been recognized internationally for his innovations as a visionary trendsetter and change agent who has always been ahead of his time. A native of Brooklyn, NY, Matthew holds an interdisciplinary BA from the State University of New York at Binghamton that combined the music, theater, computer science, and sociology disciplines.For more information about Matthew, including his complete bio, please visit his website.
(Biography provided by http://www.imtooyoungforthis.org/) ………….
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Dr. Meir Wetzler
Chief, Division of Leukemia, Department of Medicine
Professor of Medicine, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University at Buffalo
Assistant Research Professor, Department of Immunology Immunology Program, Roswell Park Graduate Division
Dr. Meir Wetzler joined the staff of Roswell Park Cancer Institute (RPCI) in 1994, as Clinician, Division of Leukemia, Department of Medicine. He earned his medical degree from the Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel, in 1980, and completed residency training in Internal Medicine at Kaplan Hospital (affiliated with Hebrew University Hadassah Medical School), Rehovot, Israel, in 1986. From 1988 to 1992, he completed fellowships in Clinical Immunology and Biologic Therapy, and in Medical Oncology at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX.Dr. Wetzler is licensed in New York, Texas and Israel. He also is Professor of Medicine, School of Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, University of Buffalo, Assistant Research Professor, Immunology Program, Roswell Park Graduate Division, and a member of the Adjunct Faculty, Physician Assistant Department, D’Youville College, Buffalo, NY.
Dr. Wetzler’s research interests focus on the role of signal transducer and activation of transcription in leukemogenesis; the cellular and humoral immune response to leukemic-associated antigens; and cytogenetics in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL).
Dr. Wetzler is a member of the American Society of Clinical Oncology, American Association for Cancer Research, American Society of Hematology, and Israel Medical Association. Currently, he is a member of the Leukemia Core Committee, Cancer and Leukemia Group B, and the Chronic Myeloid Leukemia Treatment Committee, National Comprehensive Cancer Network. He has authored or co-authored more than 100 journal publications, book chapters and abstracts. He serves as Journal Referee for Blood, Cancer, Stem Cells, Leukemia Research, and the American Journal of Hematology.
For more, including Dr Wetzler’s full bio you can visit his bio page at Roswell Park.
(Biography provided by http://www.roswellpark.org)
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Julie Larson, LMSW – CancerCare
http://www.cancercare.org/
Julie Larson, LMSW is the Young Adult Program Coordinator at CancerCare where she develops programming to address the unique issues of young adults (20-39 years) impacted by cancer. The Young Adult Program at CancerCare extends to four distinct populations: young adults diagnosed with cancer; young adult caregivers; bereaved young adults & young adult childhood cancer survivors. Julie also works closely with the CancerCare for Kids Program, specifically supporting young parents who have cancer and their children, as well as coordinating the NYC Support Group Program to identify and organize appropriate support groups based on client need.
Julie is a graduate of Columbia University’s School of Social Work and has worked as an oncology social worker with CancerCare since graduation providing counseling, education, and assistance for individuals, groups, families, couples, and children affected by cancer. She presents within the community and nationally on a range of issues related to being young and impacted by a cancer diagnosis.
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More information on our other speakers and presenters will be posted shortly.
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