Markey hosts NACCDO/PAMN conference
More than 400 communication and development professionals from cancer centers across the country gathered in Lexington in 2017 for the National Association of Cancer Center Development Officers (NACCDO) and the Public Affairs and Marketing Network (PAMN) of National Cancer Centers annual conference.
The UK Markey Cancer Center and UK Markey Cancer Foundation served as hosts for this year’s conference, which took place April 17-21. Participants representing more than 75 cancer institutions attended the event, making it one of the highest-attended conferences since the joint event began in 1987.
The NACCDO/PAMN annual meeting is an opportunity for public relations, marketing and development professionals at major cancer centers to network and learn from their peers about current best practices for highlighting cancer research and clinical care.
Membership is open to cancer centers based in academic medical centers and/or research institutes: members include either National Cancer Institute cancer centers or members of the Association for American Cancer Institutes.
In addition to the nearly four dozen individual breakout sessions for NACCDO and PAMN members, this year’s conference included multiple plenary presentations on a variety of topics. One such presentation featured UK HealthCare neuropsychologist Dan Han, PsyD, and Kentucky chef Ouita Michel in an interactive lunch demonstration highlighting the field of neurogastronomy – the science of how the brain influences a person’s perception of food.
The conference also included a cancer center directors panel featuring Roy Jensen, MD, director of the University of Kansas Cancer Center; Candace Johnson, PhD, president and CEO of Roswell Park Cancer Institute; Patrick Loehrer, MD, director of the Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center; Ed Partridge, MD, director of the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center; and Robert DiPaola, MD, dean of the UK College of Medicine.
Attendees from across the country also had the opportunity to go on a “Markey patient experience tour,” which highlighted six of Markey’s integrative medicine offerings: a cooking demonstration, art therapy, music therapy, narrative medicine, Jin Shin Jyutsu and hand massage/aromatherapy.
“We were honored to host our fellow cancer center colleagues here in Lexington for this year’s conference,” said Michael Delzotti, president and CEO of the UK Markey Cancer Foundation. “We enjoyed not only the opportunity to provide valuable education and information for other cancer communicators across the nation, but also the chance to show off some of the things that make Markey, and Kentucky, so special.”
