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Des Moines, IA - Blood Cancer In-Person Event

Name: Des Moines, IA - Blood Cancer In-Person Event
Start: 2026-09-19T10:00:00-05:00
End: 2026-09-19T14:00:00-05:00

This event was not recorded

Sep 19, 2026

10:00AM - 02:00PM CDT

Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel

1800 50th St, West Des Moines, IA 50265, USA

Overview

Join us for HealthTree Connect to Cures in Des Moines, IA, on Saturday, September 19th, and connect with other blood cancer patients, caregivers, and local resources in your community.

The event will take place at The Sheraton West Des Moines Hotel

This free, in-person event offers a meaningful opportunity to:

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.
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.

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.

Speakers & Moderators

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.

Diahanna Vallentine

Diahanna is the Financial Program Manager for the HealthTree Foundation. She specializes in providing financial help, resources and education for blood cancer patients. As a professional financial consultant and former caregiver of her husband who was diagnosed with multiple myeloma, Diahanna perfectly understands the financial issues facing blood cancer patients.

Christopher Strouse, MD

Christopher Strouse, MD, is a hematologist-oncologist and stem cell and cellular therapy transplant physician at University of Iowa Health Care, where he serves as a Clinical Assistant Professor of Internal Medicine. He specializes in the treatment of blood cancers, with a clinical focus on multiple myeloma, lymphoma, leukemia, and stem cell transplantation. Dr. Strouse also leads the Myeloma Multidisciplinary Oncology Group at the Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center, helping advance collaborative patient care and access to innovative therapies