Pittsburgh, PA - Blood Cancer In-Person Event
Only live participants will have access to the information discussed during the event.
Join us for HealthTree Connect to Cures in Pittsburgh, PA, on Saturday, August 29th, and connect with other blood cancer patients, caregivers, and local resources in your community.
The event will take place at The Westin Pittsburgh Hotel - in the Westmorland (West, Central, and East meeting rooms)
This free, in-person event offers a meaningful opportunity to:
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- Learn From Academic and Community Doctors Through Interactive Panels
Join conversations with local doctors and fellow patients, ask questions, and gain valuable insights. - Connect with Other Blood Cancer Patients and Caregivers
Share your experience and hear from others who understand what you're going through. You’ll meet people in your community navigating similar diagnoses and challenges. We invite Black patients and loved ones to join us and take part in a special Black community session designed for connection, shared experiences, and culturally relevant support - Discover Key Resources at the HealthTree Fair
Explore local and essential resources, tools, and support services available to you. - Take Home Personalized Materials to Support Your Journey
Leave with financial guidance, educational handouts, and information about clinical trials—all tailored to help you navigate your care with confidence.
- Learn From Academic and Community Doctors Through Interactive Panels
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Lunch, parking, and beverages will be provided, and you’ll leave with practical tools—and stronger community connections—to support your care journey.
Please note: This is an in-person event and will not be recorded.
Salman Fazal, MD & Rushir Choksi, MD
Big Decisions in Blood Cancer: A conversation with specialists about key decision points in blood cancer care, helping patients and families better understand their options and make informed choices. Panelists will also share insights they wish they had known earlier, followed by an open Q&A for attendee questions and discussion.
Hands-on help with HealthTree Solutions: An interactive session focused on practical solutions—helping patients and families access the right care team, explore clinical trials, navigate financial resources, and use HealthTree tools to support informed decision-making.
Visit the resource fair & eat lunch with others with similar blood cancers
Patients and caregivers share real-life experiences, key turning points, and the actions that made a difference in their care. Through honest stories and reflections, this panel highlights how decisions were made, challenges were faced, and support was found along the way.
A guided breakout session that brings people together in small groups to share, reflect, and learn from one another based on common experiences.
How To Get Involved
A final moment to bring the day together, reflect on what stood out, and identify one meaningful next step you can take after today. This is about leaving with clarity—not doing everything, just what makes sense for you.
Mary Arnett
Mary joined HealthTree in 2022 as a part of HealthTree's team to help expand into all blood cancers. She now works as HealthTree's Volunteer & Community Outreach Manager, helping to engage and involve community members in HealthTree's mission. When she isn't working, she loves being the fun aunt to her 13 nieces and nephews, attending concerts, experimenting with new recipes in the kitchen, and traveling to explore new cities.
Valarie Traynham
Valarie embarked on her myeloma journey back in 2015, and ever since she's been on a mission. As a resilient myeloma thriver, her passion lies in not just navigating her own path but also in illuminating the journey for others. With a steadfast commitment to understanding the intricacies of the disease, she champions education, shedding light on health inequities that often lurk in the shadows. Driven by a profound belief in fairness, Valarie tirelessly advocates for equitable access to top-tier healthcare, clinical trials, and tailored treatments. Her journey as a beacon of knowledge and support began when she assumed the role of a support group leader. Today, she continues to extend her hand as a myeloma coach, mentor angel, and the guiding force behind the Black Myeloma Health Community. Valarie's voice echoes far and wide as she fearlessly confronts the disparities faced by myeloma patients. Through collaborative efforts with healthcare providers, she strives to forge pathways to solutions, ensuring that every individual receives the care they deserve. Join Valarie on her journey of empowerment and advocacy as she lights the way toward a brighter, more equitable future in myeloma care.
Salman Fazal, MD
Dr. Salman Fazal is a hematologist specializing in blood cancers, stem cell transplantation, and cellular therapies. He has extensive experience treating leukemia, lymphoma, myeloma, myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS), and myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs), with a focus on advanced treatments such as stem cell transplant, CAR T-cell therapy, bispecific antibodies, and clinical trials. He is actively involved in research and serves as a medical advisor for the Western Pennsylvania/West Virginia Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Rushir Choksi, MD
is a board-certified medical oncologist and hematologist at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. He earned his medical degree from Wake Forest University School of Medicine and completed both his Internal Medicine residency and Hematology/Oncology fellowship at UPMC. Dr. Choksi cares for patients with a wide range of blood disorders and cancers and serves as Co-Assistant Medical Director of the UPMC Hillman Cancer Center Medical Oncology Network.