AUSTIN (PRWEB) – Connect to End Cancer returns to the SXSW Conference on Saturday, March 10, 2018, in Austin, Texas. The second annual event brings together innovators and entrepreneurs to discuss new applications in digital health technologies that advance clinical care and research, and improve the patient experience. Connect to End Cancer is presented by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Merck (known as MSD outside of the U.S. and Canada) and the AT&T Foundry for Connected Health.
Connect to End Cancer begins at 12:30 p.m. at the Austin Convention Center. The event kicks off with remarks from Dr. Jill Biden, co-chair for The Biden Cancer Initiative, together with artist and activist Jimmy “Taboo” Gomez, of the Black Eyed Peas, a testicular cancer survivor and outspoken advocate for cancer screening and prevention. “Every day, people are dying. Every day, people are looking for a reason to hope. Every minute of every day matters to patients. We must bring that same urgency to our cancer research and care systems” said Biden.
Dr. Biden and Taboo hope to build on the momentum of last year’s inaugural event and encourage continued collaboration among innovators, industry partners and health systems to accelerate current efforts to end cancer. “My life got turned upside down when I found out I had cancer,” said Taboo. “There’s a reason why I survived this cancer and I want to use my experience as a beacon of light for all others out there who are just getting started on their cancer journey.”
Following opening remarks, Taboo will join Peter WT Pisters, M.D., president, MD Anderson, and Greg Simon, president, Biden Cancer Initiative, for a panel discussion to share their vision for the future of cancer care, driven by an ideal patient experience. Moderated by Sue Siegel, Chief Innovation Officer, GE and CEO, Business Innovations, panelists will explore how creating the experience of the future helps cancer patients focus on healing today.
“As a leader in cancer care, research, prevention and education, MD Anderson is committed to innovative efforts to enhance an outstanding patient experience.” said Pisters. “We need ideas, insights, and action from all sectors of society, which is why this discussion at Connect to End Cancer will be valuable. Together, we truly are working toward Making Cancer History.”
“At Merck, we believe that science by its very nature is a collaborative process and partnering with experts across industries will help us bring forward the change we need to outpace cancer,” said Ravinder Dhawan, Phd., Vice President, Quant. Sciences Oncology, Merck. “We are excited by the potential of Connect to End Cancer to unite industry and innovators and accelerate our common goal of saving more lives of people living with this disease.”
“Cancer care shouldn’t be limited by technology barriers,” said Nadia Morris, director of the AT&T Foundry for Connected Health. “We believe network intelligence combined with innovative, secure and data-powered solutions can drastically help solve problems for caregivers, doctors and patients.” A number of health startups that illuminate the kinds of innovations the organizers are on the lookout for will present during the vent.
Event Emcee
Daniel Kraft, M.D.
Faculty Chair, Medicine and Neuroscience
Singularity University
Founder and Chair, Exponential Medicine
Opening remarks:
Jill Biden, EdD, Co-chair, Biden Cancer Initiative
Jimmy “Taboo” Gomez, The Black Eyed Peas
Connect to End Cancer, Session One speakers:
Peter WT Pisters, M.D., President, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Greg Simon, President, Biden Cancer Initiative
Jimmy “Taboo” Gomez, The Black Eyed Peas
Sue Siegel, Chief Innovation Officer, GE and CEO, Business Innovations (moderator)
Connect to End Cancer, Session Two Speakers:
Sundeep Bhan, CEO, Prognos
Lynne Hohlfeld, SVP Corporate Development, Asuragen
Ravinder Dhawan, VP, Quant. Sciences, Oncology, Merck
David Ewing Duncan, CEO, Arc Fusion (moderator)
Connect to End Cancer, Session Three speakers:
Sue Siegel, Chief Innovation Officer, GE and CEO, Business Innovations
Robert King, SVP, Enterprise Planning and Business Integration, American Cancer Society
Esther Dyson, Executive Director, Way to Wellville
Nadia Morris, Director, AT&T Foundry for Connected Health (moderator)
Connect To End Cancer is produced by Energizing Health. For more information, please visit https://connecttoendcancer.com/ or email Brian@EnergizingHealth.org
About The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston ranks as one of the world’s most respected centers focused on cancer patient care, research, education and prevention. The institution’s sole mission is to end cancer for patients and their families around the world. MD Anderson is one of only 49 comprehensive cancer centers designated by the National Cancer Institute (NCI). MD Anderson is ranked No. 1 for cancer care in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Hospitals” survey. It has ranked as one of the nation’s top two hospitals since the survey began in 1990, and has ranked first for 13 times in the last 16 years. MD Anderson receives a cancer center support grant from the NCI of the National Institutes of Health (P30 CA016672).
About Merck
For more than a century, Merck, a leading global biopharmaceutical company known as MSD outside of the United States and Canada, has been inventing for life, bringing forward medicines and vaccines for many of the world’s most challenging diseases. Through our prescription medicines, vaccines, biologic therapies and animal health products, we work with customers and operate in more than 140 countries to deliver innovative health solutions. We also demonstrate our commitment to increasing access to health care through far-reaching policies, programs and partnerships. Today, Merck continues to be at the forefront of research to advance the prevention and treatment of diseases that threaten people and communities around the world – including cancer, cardio-metabolic diseases, emerging animal diseases, Alzheimer’s disease and infectious diseases including HIV and Ebola. For more information, visit www.merck.com and connect with us on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.
About AT&T
AT&T Inc. (NYSE:T) helps millions around the globe connect with leading entertainment, business, mobile and high speed internet services. We have the nation’s largest and most reliable network** and the best global coverage of any U.S. wireless provider. We’re one of the world’s largest providers of pay TV. We have TV customers in the U.S. and 11 Latin American countries. Nearly 3.5 million companies, from small to large businesses around the globe, turn to AT&T for our highly secure smart solutions.
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**Coverage not available everywhere. Based on overall coverage in U.S. licensed/roaming areas. Reliability based on voice and data performance from independent 3rd party data.
About the Biden Cancer Initiative
The Biden Cancer Initiative is determined to bring urgency to the fight against cancer and to transform cancer research and care systems for the 21st century. The Initiative will develop and drive implementation of solutions to accelerate progress in cancer prevention, detection, diagnosis, research, and care, and to reduce disparities in cancer outcomes. An independent nonprofit organization, the Initiative is grounded on Vice President Joe Biden and Dr. Jill Biden’s firm commitment to ending cancer as we know it. www.bidencancer.org
About SXSW
SXSW dedicates itself to helping creative people achieve their goals. Founded in 1987 in Austin, Texas, SXSW is best known for its conference and festivals that celebrate the convergence of the interactive, film, and music industries. The event, an essential destination for global professionals, features sessions, showcases, screenings, exhibitions, and a variety of networking opportunities. SXSW proves that the most unexpected discoveries happen when diverse topics and people come together. SXSW 2018 will take place March 9-18, 2018.
About Energizing Health
Energizing Health champions “Health Innovation for Everyone” and connects early stage healthcare companies with large healthcare organizations and works with the nation’s best known brands involved in health and medtech innovation.
For more information, contact:
For general inquiries about the Connect to End Cancer event, see:
Brian Lang
Energizing Health
281-345-8022
brian@energizinghealth.org
For all other inquiries, see:
Allison Schaffer
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
713-745-1357aschaffer@mdanderson.org
Brette Peyton (SXSW on-site contact)
The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
646-943-3256
bnpeyton@mdanderson.org
Teresa M. Mueller
Merck
908-740-1884
teresa.mueller@merck.com
Katie Franklin
AT&T Corporate Communications
469-203-0729
ks586h@att.com
Cecilia Arradaza
Biden Cancer Initiative
202-271-1705
carradaza@bidencancer.org
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