Abilene, TX - Blood Cancer In-Person Event
Join us for HealthTree Connect to Cures in Abilene, TX, on Saturday, May 16th, and connect with other blood cancer patients and caregivers in your community.
Event will take place at the Courtyard by Marriorr Abilene Southwest - Main meeting space
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.
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.
Farrukh Awan, MD
Farrukh Awan, M.D., is a Professor in the Department of Internal Medicine at UT Southwestern Medical Center and a member of the Division of Hematology and Oncology at UTSW’s Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, where he serves as the Associate Director of the Section of Hematologic Malignancies/Transplantation and Cellular Therapies and leads the Lymphoid Malignancies Program. He specializes in stem cell transplantation, cellular therapies, and the evaluation of novel therapies for patients with lymphoid malignancies, including chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Jose Vega, MD
Dr. Jose Vega, MD is a hematologist and oncologist and former Medical Director of the Hendrick Cancer Center. He has served Abilene and its surrounding communities for 16 years, caring for a diverse range of diseases including benign Hematology, malignant Hematology and Oncology.