A panel of cancer center directors presents to a packed auditorium at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis.
More than 700 communications and development professionals from cancer centers across the country gathered in Atlanta for the annual conference of the National Association of Cancer Center Development Officers (NACCDO) and Public Affairs and Marketing Network (PAMN), April 24-27, 2023.
Each year, the NACCDO-PAMN conference offers attendees an updated program of professional development courses, peer-to-peer learning and unique networking opportunities. Membership in the NACCDO and PAMN organizations is open to cancer centers based in academic medical centers or research institutes that are either National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers or members of the Association for American Cancer Institutes.
Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University served as host for this year’s conference, which included 144 speakers and more than 80 plenary talks, panels, meetings and breakout sessions over four full days. Plenary speakers included Nicole Walters, CEO and founder of Inherit Learning Company; Harvard oncologist and researcher Barrett Rollins, MD, PhD; Atlanta journalist and former WSB-TV news anchor Monica Kaufman Pearson; and football quarterback Matt Ryan.
Sixteen subject matter experts from Winship, Emory University and Emory Healthcare presented on topics such as physician partnerships, fundraising and marketing best practices, digital content strategy and lessons learned from the plan to enhance diversity component of NCI’s Cancer Center Support Grant. Winship Deputy Director Adam Marcus, PhD, gave attendees a primer on cancer research during a "Cancer 101" session. A panel moderated by Otis Brawley, MD (Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center), featured cancer center directors Robert L. Ferris, MD, PhD (UPMC Hillman Cancer Center), Ben Ho Park, MD, PhD, (Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center), Suresh S. Ramalingam, MD (Winship Cancer Institute), and Joann Sweasy, PhD (University of Arizona Cancer Center).
Beyond the educational program, conference attendees had the opportunity to visit Atlanta landmarks, dine at local restaurants, attend a Braves game and tour the new Winship Cancer Institute at Emory Midtown cancer care center.
“It was an honor to host our cancer center colleagues for this valuable forum,” says Jenny Owen, Winship’s chief marketing and communications officer. “We are grateful to the NACCDO-PAMN steering committee and to our teams at Winship, Emory Healthcare and Emory University, whose hard work was integral to making this conference a success.”
Huntsman Cancer Institute will host the next NACCDO-PAMN conference in Salt Lake City, May 20-23, 2024.