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“Each year, it is truly our pleasure at the Sontag Foundation to convene leaders across the brain tumor community for this important gathering. What began as a simple effort to deepen collaboration has grown into a shared commitment to tackling the most pressing challenges facing patients and advancing progress together. We are honored to help create a space where ideas, partnerships, and momentum can continue to build.”

Hilary Keeley, Executive Director, The Sontag Foundation

Speaker Bios

Alexandra Berkovits, MSW, LCSW, OSW-C

Lead Neuro-Oncology Social Work Navigator, Brain Tumor Network

Bio
Sajeel A Chowdhary, MD

  • Director, Neuro-Oncology and Translational Research in Neuro-Oncology
    Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute (TGH CI), Tampa General Hospital (TGH)
  • Professor of Neurology and Neuro-Oncology, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida (USF)

Bio
Roxana Dronca, MD

Director, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Florida

Bio
Bradley Gampel, MD, MS

Pediatric and AYA Neuro-Oncologist, University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center

Bio
Amanda Haddock

Founding Director and President, Dragon Master Initiative

Bio
Chas Haynes, JD

Executive Director, Society for Neuro-Oncology

Bio
Gary Heimberg, MPA, JD

Chief Policy & Advocacy Officer, Counsel at National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS)

Bio
Paul Hull, PhD

Vice President of Regional Advocacy, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Bio
Hilary Keeley, JD

Executive Director, The Sontag Foundation

Bio
Carol Kruchko

President & Chief Mission Officer, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS)

Bio
Misha Mehta, PhD

Sr. Director of Research, Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation

Bio
Jaclyn Murphy

Founder, Friends of Jaclyn Foundation

Bio
Byram Ozer, MD, PhD

  • Associate Professor, Department of Hematology and Medical Oncology, Emory University School of Medicine
  • Associate Professor, Department of Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine
  • Co-Director, Neuro-Oncology Program, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University
  • Director, Translational Research in Neuro-Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University

Bio
Adam Resnick, PhD

Director, Center for Data-Driven Discovery in Biomedicine at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)

Bio
Jessica Schulte, MD, PhD

  • Director of AYA Neuro-oncology, NYU Brain & Spine Tumor Center
  • Associate Professor of Neurology, NYU

Bio
Kelly Sitkin

President & Chief Executive Officer, American Brain Tumor Association

Bio
Kimberly Wallgren

Executive Director of the CERN Foundation, a program of the National Brain Tumor Society

Bio
Kee Kiat (Aaron) Yeo, MD

  • Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Fellowship Program Director, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
  • Adolescent and Young Adult Neuro-Oncology Program Clinical Director, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
  • Pediatric Neuro-Oncologist, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Bio

Logistics and Supporting Documents

Shuttle Schedule

Shuttle Schedule
Maps

Driving to Arbor Ballroom Walking to Arbor Ballroom - Marriott Guests
Hotel Booking Instructions

Due to the rate discrepancy, if requesting travel reimbursement from The Sontag Foundation you must stay at the Hilton Garden Inn.

2026 Flyer for Hotel Block
Reimbursement Instructions

Please use this form to submit reimbursement for your stay during the Fly-In, provided by The Sontag Foundation. Friendly reminder to not fill this out until after the event so we have all of your expenses, including the Hilton Garden Inn, on one expense form.

Reimbursement Form
2026 Documents

Brain Tumor Patients' Charter of Rights Ependymoma A Guide for Patients, Care Partners, and Advocates
2025 Documents

2025 Summary
2024 Documents

2024 Fly-In Summary JAMA Article (Referenced in 2024 Summary)
The 5th Annual Brain Tumor Leadership Convening

Monday, July 27

Morning Session

Brain Tumor Funders’ Collaborative (BTFC) Members Only

Location: Commissioner’s Room

8:15 AM – 1:00 PM: BTFC Meeting

Afternoon Session

Open to All Attendees

Location: Arbor Ballroom

2:00 – 3:00 PM: Welcome & State of the Field: Nonprofit Updates

3:00 – 3:30 PM: Society for Neuro-Oncology (SNO) Community Updates

Sajeel A Chowdhary, MD, Director, Neuro-Oncology and Translational Research in Neuro-Oncology
Tampa General Hospital Cancer Institute (TGH CI), Tampa General Hospital (TGH) and Professor of Neurology and Neuro-Oncology, USF Health Morsani College of Medicine, University of South Florida (USF)

3:30 – 4:00 PM: Public Policy & Advocacy Updates

Gary Heimberg, MPA, JD, Chief Policy & Advocacy Officer, Counsel at National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS)

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Turning Science into Action: Aligning Research and Advocacy for Patient Impact

Roxana Dronca, MD, Director, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Florida; Paul Hull, PhD, Vice President of Regional Advocacy, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network

Evening Reception

Open to All Attendees

Location: Cascades Deck

5:30 – 7:00 PM: Cocktail Reception & Dinner

Tuesday, July 28

Full-Day General Session – Open to All Attendees

Location: Arbor Ballroom

7:00 – 8:00 AM: Breakfast

8:00 – 9:00 AM: Welcome & State of the Field: Nonprofit Updates

9:00 – 10:00 AM: From Data to Discovery to Delivery: The CBTN Model in Action

Adam Resnick, PhD, Director, Center for Data-Driven Discovery in Biomedicine; Amanda Haddock, Founding Director and President, Dragon Master Initiative

10:00 – 10:30 AM: Pediatric Trials in Transition: Navigating a Changing Ecosystem

Amanda Haddock, Founding Director and President, Dragon Master Initiative; Misha Mehta, PhD, Sr. Director of Research, Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation; Kim Wallgren, Executive Director, The CERN Foundation, a Program of the National Brain Tumor Society

10:30 – 10:45 AM: SNO Update

Chas Haynes, JD, Executive Director, Society for Neuro-Oncology

10:45 – 11:15 AM: Listening Session: Strengthening Partnership Across the Brain Tumor Community

Kelly Sitkin, President & Chief Executive Officer, American Brain Tumor Association (ABTA)

11:15 – 11:45 AM: Data that Drives Decisions: Insights from Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States

Carol Kruchko, President & Chief Mission Officer, Central Brain Tumor Registry of the United States (CBTRUS)

11:45 – 1:00 PM: Lunch

1:00 – 2:30 PM: Too Old, Too Young, Too Overlooked: The AYA Reality in Brain Tumors

Alex Berkovits, LCSW, OSW-C, Lead Neuro-Oncology Social Work Navigator, Brain Tumor Network; Bradley Gampel, MD, MS, Pediatric and AYA Neuro-Oncologist, University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center; Jaclyn Murphy, Founder, Friends of Jaclyn Foundation; Byram Ozer, MD, PhD, Associate Professor of Hematology and Medical Oncology and Neurology, Emory University School of Medicine; Co-Director, Neuro-Oncology Program, and Director of Translational Research in Neuro-Oncology, Winship Cancer Institute of Emory University; Jessica Schulte, MD, PhD, Director of AYA Neuro-Oncology, NYU Brain & Spine Tumor Center; Kee Kiat (Aaron) Yeo, MD,  Pediatric Neuro-Oncologist and Adolescent and Young Adult Neuro-Oncology Program Director, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

2:30 – 3:00 PM: Networking Break

3:00 – 4:30 PM: Turning Insight into Action: Working Session on AYA Issues

4:30 – 5:30 PM: Closing Toast

We look forward to seeing you soon!