ABOUT

The Neuroendocrine Cancer Foundation is hosting an in-person NET Educational Event for patients and caregivers in Tucson, Arizona on Saturday, March 29th, from 1:30-6:00 PM. 

• Hear presentations from 8 NET experts.

• Listen to patient stories.

• Learn about the latest in surgery, liver-directed therapy, systemic therapy, PRRT, and clinical trials.

• Ask questions during the extended live question and answer session.

• Find out how you can spread awareness about neuroendocrine cancer.

• Network with other patients and caregivers in the post-event reception.

• There is no cost to attend. This event is made possible by the generosity of donors and sponsors.

Special thanks to our host, Dr. Junaid Arshad, University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC).

This event will not be broadcast.

Note: The Neuroendocrine Cancer Foundation was formerly known as LACNETS. Read the full announcement here >>>

LOCATION

Arizona Cancer Center

Kiewit Auditorium

1515 N. Campbell Ave 

Tucson, AZ 85724

PARKING

• Below is a parking map to find parking and the Arizona Cancer Center.

• Your parking will be free if you park in Banner University Medical Center Garage B.

• Bring the parking ticket to the event so we can validate it for you.

• When you exit the parking garage, you will need to put the ticket into machine twice:

  • Once for it to scan the face of ticket

  • A second time to scan the back of the ticket and the validation bar code

Download the parking instructions sheet here >>>

THANKS TO OUR SUPPORTERS

AGENDA

This agenda is subject to change. Please check this page for the most updated agenda.

ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS

Dr. Junaid Arshad

Medical Oncologist, University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC)

Host/Moderator/Speaker

Dr. Junaid Arshad is an Assistant Professor of Medicine and our new faculty member of GI Medical Oncology. He received his medical degree from King Edward Medical University, Lahore, Pakistan. He completed his Internal Medicine Residency at St. Mary's Hospital, Waterbury, CT. He has joined the Cancer Center after his Hematology and Medical Oncology Fellowship from University of Miami, FL. Dr. Arshad is a Clinical and Translational Scientist with a focus on developing novel therapeutics for several areas of Upper GI Oncology.

Dr. Arshad's Clinical and Research focus targets mainly the Upper GI Oncology including Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors, Gastric Cancers, Esophageal Cancers and Neuroendocrine Tumors. He is a part of several clinical trials and has contributed to several peer reviewed publications. His prior research focuses on the use of biomarkers such as circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) in the diagnosis, treatment and surveillance of Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors. He has expanded his areas of research interest to include other disease modalities such as Neuroendocrine Cancers.

Dr. Pamela Kunz

Medical Oncologist, Yale Cancer Center

Dr. Pamela Kunz is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Oncology at Yale School of Medicine where she also serves as the Director of the Center for GI Cancers and Division Chief of GI Medical Oncology at Yale Cancer Center and Smilow Cancer Hospital. She received her medical degree from the Dartmouth Geisel School of Medicine. Her postgraduate training included a medical residency, chief residency, and oncology fellowship at Stanford University School of Medicine. 

Dr. Kunz is an international leader in the treatment and clinical research of patients with GI malignancies and neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). She holds several key leadership positions in the field including past President of the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society, recent past Chair of the Neuroendocrine Tumor Taskforce of the NCI and standing member of FDA’s Oncology Drug Advisory Committee. Dr. Kunz was recently appointed Editor-in-Chief of JCO Oncology Advances. In addition to her focus on NETs, she is a leading voice for promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in medicine. She served as the Vice Chief of DEI for the Section of Medical Oncology at Yale School of Medicine and in 2021. Dr. Kunz was awarded ‘Woman Oncologist of the Year’ by Women Leaders in Oncology for her work in promoting gender equity and received the 2024 'Distinguished Mentor Award' by the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society. X @PamelaKunzMD

Linda Moe, RN

Registered Nurse, University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC)

I have been an oncology nurse for 34 years, working in both inpatient and outpatient settings. My experiences range from bedside nursing, ambulatory care, ICU care, charge nurse, nurse manager, nurse navigator and RN coordinator. 

Currently, I am working as Dr. Arshad’s RN coordinator. I have been working specifically with GI cancers for the past seven years. I spearheaded and achieved NAPRC accreditation status at the University of Arizona Cancer Center. I have specialized in Bone Marrow Transplant, pain management, palliative care, wound care and end-of-life care. I hold a bachelor’s degree in nursing and a bachelor’s degree in naturopathy with an emphasis on wellness and cancer prevention. I am a Reiki Master with over 20 years of Reiki experience. I was selected as a “Fabulous 50” nurse in 2020 and successfully passed a law establishing “National Fatigue Awareness Day” in the state of Arkansas.

Dr. Gagandeep Singh

Surgical Oncologist, City of Hope Phoenix

Internationally renowned liver and pancreas surgeon Gagandeep “Gaugs” Singh, M.D., F.A.C.S., is Chief of Surgical Oncology and Director of Surgical Services at City of Hope® Cancer Center Phoenix.

A seasoned health care leader with more than 20 years’ experience building outstanding surgical teams, Dr. Singh is excited to return to Phoenix – where he completed part of his medical training – and to City of Hope, where he spent a decade as the chief of City of Hope Duarte’s surgical oncology program. In the clinic, Dr. Singh takes a thoughtful yet forceful approach to treating cancers of the liver, pancreas and gastrointestinal systems. As a health care leader, he is passionate about empowering teams to achieve their fullest potential. He has been recognized with numerous awards and leadership positions.

After beginning his faculty academic career at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Dr. Singh was appointed director of the Liver and Pancreas Center at the John Wayne Cancer Institute in Santa Monica, California, where he also served as chair of the Cancer Committee. At City of Hope Duarte, Dr. Singh spearheaded the liver and pancreatic cancer programs and led the Division of Surgical Oncology to national recognition. He has been included on multiple lists of “America’s Top Surgeons,” “Best Doctors of America,” “Super Doctors” and “Top Doctors of America.” 

Dr. Singh earned his medical degree from the Mahatma Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences in India, before training at multiple internationally renowned cancer centers, including Tata Memorial Hospital and Cancer Center in Bombay, René Descartes University in Paris and the Royal Liverpool University Hospital in the United Kingdom, as well as the Marion Bessin Liver Center at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine in New York, Maricopa Medical Center in Phoenix and the University of Iowa. A board-certified surgeon, diplomate of the American Board of Surgery and fellow of the American College of Surgeons, Dr. Singh is an internationally recognized expert in his field and a member of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network for Hepatobiliary Cancers, the group that sets the guidelines for the standard of care for hepatobiliary cancers. 

As a researcher, Dr. Singh has written on topics such as complex liver resections for liver metastases, management algorithms for neuroendocrine tumors, vascular reconstructions with difficult pancreatic surgery for pancreatic cancer and advanced robotic surgery. His work on robotic surgery has been presented at the Society of Surgical Oncology, America’s Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association, the Society of Laparoscopic & Robotic Surgeons and other national meetings. An innovator at heart, he is in constant pursuit of enhancing the surgical experience and developing technical innovations in liver and pancreatic surgery. He has collaborated with engineers from the California Institute of Technology and Harvey Mudd College and has several invention disclosures and patents to his name. Dr. Singh’s translational research includes projects with molecular biologists, X-ray crystallographers, structural chemists and super-resolution scientists across the City of Hope national system.

Dr. Heloisa Soares

Medical Oncologist, Huntsman Cancer Institute

Dr. Heloisa Soares is a medical oncologist who focuses on neuroendocrine cancers. She is an associate professor at the Huntsman Cancer Institute (HCI) at the University of Utah, where she is also the Medical Director for the Clinical Trials Office. Nationally, she serves as the NCI NET task force co-chair and the chair of the North American Neuroendocrine Tumor Society (NANETS) inaugural NET Patient Action Team of the NETPact Committee. She also recently served as a member of the directors for NANETS. Dr. Soares is a passionate advocate for patients. You can follow her on Twitter at @helops79

Dr. Bassam Sonbol

Medical Oncologist, Mayo Clinic Phoenix

Mohamad Bassam Sonbol, M.D., is an Oncologist, with special interest in neuroendocrine tumors and gastrointestinal malignancies. In addition to his clinical activities, Dr. Sonbol is active in research that focuses on investigating novel treatments including targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and other agents that could potentially help patients with neuroendocrine and gastrointestinal cancers. Dr. Sonbol focuses on the holistic treatment for cancer patients taking into consideration their medical and social aspects that have been affected by their cancer diagnosis.

Dr. Holly Thompson

Nuclear Medicine & Theranostics, University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC)

My passion for medicine is defined by a tenacious desire to diagnose and treat diseases that cause human suffering. Profoundly inspired by the study of cancer, I pursued research into its biology first working at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and then related innovative imaging technologies working at Vitra Bioscience, following my undergraduate degree.  Driven to help address cancer and other complex diseases at a more direct and personal level, I earned my Doctor of Medicine degree from the University of Miami, followed by a Masters in Public Health. After an internship in surgery at Harvard, I completed postgraduate Radiology training at UC Davis and further subspecialized in Nuclear Medicine training at Stanford University, where I learned about neuroendocrine tumors having witnessed NETTER-1 trial participants. 

I had the privilege of joining a large integrated healthcare provider in Northern California where I worked to enable NET patients’ early access to 177Lu-Dotatate(Lutathera, prior to FDA approval.  Subsequently I became the Nuclear Medicine physician lead for regional multidisciplinary NET tumor boards facilitating patient cases to be rigorously reviewed with an integrated, patient-centered focus.  Currently, as an Associate Professor at the University of Arizona, my focus is on advancing NET patient care and research, while teaching and inspiring the next generation of Nuclear Radiologist/Oncologist.  It is an honor to be invited to participate in the LACNETS outreach program.

Dr. Gregory Woodhead

Interventional Radiology, University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC)

Gregory Woodhead, MD, PhD, joined the interventional radiology faculty at University of Arizona, with the majority of his practice focusing on interventional oncology at the University of Arizona Cancer Center.

Dr. Woodhead’s career objective is to translate devices and therapies from the development stage into clinical practice. His interest in cancer cell biology draws from his PhD research on the role of the catenin-signaling pathway in cell fate decisions for progenitor and cancer cells. As a resident and fellow at the University of Arizona, he embarked on an analysis of catheter-directed mechanical thrombectomy for the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism (PE), which is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. 

He is the PI on multiple trials and registries that seek to identify long-term differences in patients who received mechanical thrombectomy for PE in comparison to those who received only anticoagulation alone.

Dr. Woodhead has published over 40 papers and frequently presents at national and international meetings. He is an integral member of multiple institutional programs and a committee member for many professional societies. He is passionate about educating and mentoring medical students, residents, and fellows. He previously served as the chair of the MD/PhD admission committee.