Cancer symposium at Georgetown focuses on 'Linking Policy to the Patient'

The Otto J. Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center announces a three-part symposium, titled "Fighting a Smarter War Against Cancer: Linking Policy to the Patient," to be held Thursday, December 1 through Saturday, Dec. 3, 2011 on the campuses of Georgetown University and Georgetown University Law Center in Washington, D.C.

The mission of the Ruesch Center for the Cure of Gastrointestinal Cancers is to refocus national efforts on this set of deadly diseases, aiming to fight a smarter war against cancer. Combining expertise in molecular medicine, translational research, and a patient-centered philosophy, the Ruesch Center strives to improve treatment outcomes through research, care and advocacy.

Ruesch Symposium 2011 will convene top thought leaders and health care practitioners from the U.S. and around the world to discuss cancer care in relation to public policy, value and personalized medicine.

Topics include: "Health Care Reform: Opportunity or Sacrifice?"; "Defining Value in Cancer Care;" and "Navigating Cancer Care: What Every Patient Should Know." Speakers from academia, governmental agencies, pharmaceutical industry and the insurance industry will address issues involving the healthcare policy, law, medicine, and the regulatory process.