4th Annual Sawyer Pancreato-Biliary
and Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium

• Conference Brochure
• Conference Agenda
• Committee and Speakers

Agendas are subject to change because we are always striving to improve the quality of youreducational experience. MD Anderson may substitute faculty with comparable expertise on rareoccasions necessitated by illness and/or scheduling conflicts, conflicts and so forth.

Please let us know what specific topics, issues or questions you wish to see addressed or emphasized in this activity.  Fax CME/Conference Management at 713-794-1724 or email register@mdanderson.org.  All responses will be forwarded to the Program Chair for consideration.

Goal

The goal of this Symposium is to understand how cholangiocarcinoma, other biliary pancreatic cancers, and gastrointestinal malignancy can be best managed by clinicians in this area.  During this international Symposium, the experts from various regions of the world will share the findings of their research, clinical experience, and recommendations regarding these cancers.  We expect this symposium will change the practice of the attendees who will acquire the state-of-the-art clinical information about the diseases, thus improving the overall survival of patients with the diseases.

Educational Objectives

After attending the conference, participants should be able to

• Assess the complex nature of the biliary pancreatic cancers (Knowledge);

• Understand what diagnostic tools are available and when to order them (Knowledge, Competence);

• Incorporate the available medical,radiational, surgical, and endoscopic therapies into patient care (Knowledge, Competence, Performance);

• Assess the potential complications of each therapeutic modality (Knowledge, Competence);

• Incorporate the concept of team approach in managing GI cancers (Knowledge, Competence, Performance, Patient Outcomes).

Educational Methods

• Lectures 
• Panel Discussions 
• Case
• Studies 
• Question and Answer Sessions

Evaluation

A course evaluation survey will provide participants with the opportunity to comment on the value of the program content to their practice decisions, performance improvement activities, or possible impact on patient health status.  Participants will also have the opportunity to comment on any perceived commercial bias in the presentations as well as to identify future educational topics.

CME Certificates and Attendance Verification Certificates

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

Certificates awarding AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™ or certificates documenting attendance will be e-mailed when an individual completes the on-line CME  Verification process after the symposium.

Nursing

The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center is an approved provider with commendation of continuing nursing education by the Texas Nurses Association- Approver, and accredited approver with distinction, by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. 

On-site registration opens at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, December 6, 2019.  The Symposium will begin at Noon on Friday, December 6, 2019, and adjourn at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 7, 2019. Advanced registration is encouraged as space and materials are limited.  Please see the registration form for applicable fees.  The full conference registration fee includes the tuition, program, continental breakfast, breaks, lunches, and reception.

The deadline for advanced registration is Friday, November 15, 2019.

Registration Fees

Physicians
• Postmarked by 11/22/19 $75.00
• Postmarked after 11/22/19 $100.00

Nurses
• Postmarked by 11/22/19 $50.00
• Postmarked after 11/22/19 $75.00

Techs
• Postmarked by 11/22/19 $25.00

Students/Fellows/Residents - I am a student/fellow/resident and would like to apply for the Grant support - John Stroehlein Endowed Propessorship and Charles Buttan HEB grant - to cover the registration.

Cancellation Policy:

CME/Conference Management reserves the right to cancel activities prior to the scheduled date, if low enrollment or other circumstances make it necessary.  Each registrant will be notified by mail, e-mail, or the contact numbers as given on the registration form.

In case of activity cancellation, liability of CME/Conference Management is limited to the registration fee.  CME/Conference Management will refund the full registration fee.  The Department of CME/Conference Management reserves the right to limit the number of participants in a program and is not responsible for any expenses incurred by an individual whose registration is not confirmed and for whom space is not available.

For additional information, contact CME/Conference Management at 713-792-2223 or toll free at 866-849-5866.

Accommodations

• A block of rooms has been reserved for conference attendees at the Houston Marriott Medical Center, 6580 Fannin Street, Houston, Texas.
• Early hotel reservation is suggested.  To make reservations, please call Reservations at 713-796-0080 and identify yourself as part of the MD Anderson 4th Annual Sawyer Pancreato-Biliary and Gastrointestinal Cancer Symposium.
• The special meeting rate is $128.00 single or double occupancy.  Please add 17% Texas State and local taxes. Reservations and deposits received after November 7, 2019 will be confirmed if space is available and at current hotel published guest room rates.

Ground Transportation

Houston is served by two airports, George Bush Intercontinental (IAH) and William P. Hobby (HOU). The following forms of ground transportation are available to and from the airports to the Medical Center.

Taxis: estimated fare; $55 - $65 USD (one way) Hobby/Medical Center

Taxis: estimated fare: $65 - 80 USD (one way) Houston IAH/Medical Center

Yellow Cab Company (713) 236-1111

United Cab Company (713) 699-0000

Lyft - (Bush IAH)
Lyft - (Hobby Airport)

Uber - (Bush IAH)
Uber - (Hobby Airport)

Texas Medical Center, Houston, Texas

Parking is located at the intersection of Bertner Avenue and Moursund Street in the John P. McGovern Commons Building, which is directly behind the George and Cynthia Mitchell Basic Sciences Research Building.  The cost for parking is $12.  There is an EasyPay Stations on the first floor, instead of a cashier.  The EasyPay Station is a self-serve payment station and will take cash or credit cards.  You feed your ticket into the machine, it tells you how much you owe, you then pay that amount and the machine returns your "paid" ticket.  Take the "paid" ticket to the exit gate and feed it into a machine there to raise the gate and exit the garage.

Take the elevators to the first floor.  Walk through the breezeway into the Basic Science Research building and the elevators are directly inside. Take the elevator to the third floor.  Turn to the right as you exit the elevators. 

Click here for a map.

Driving Directions

• Houston Visitor Information

Photographing, audio taping and video taping are prohibited. 

Contact the Department of CME/Conference Management if you have any special dietary or ADA accommodation needs.

• Local phone: 713-792-2223
• Toll-free: 866-849-5866
• Email: register@mdanderson.org