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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
Daniela Ciccolini, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC, CPHON

Director of Nurse Navigation, ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation

Bio
Roxana Dronca, MD

Director, Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center in Florida

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
Jaclyn Murphy

Founder, Friends of Jaclyn Foundation

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
Kimberly Wallgren

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

Bio
Kee Kiat (Aaron) Yeo

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

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
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

9:00 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 of Neuro-Oncology (SNO) Community Updates (Invited, TBD)

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 – 4:30 PM: SNO Updates (Invited, TBD)

4:30 – 5:00 PM: 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)

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 – 9:30 AM: From Data to Discovery to Delivery: The CBTN Model in Action

Adam Resnick, PhD, Director, Center for Data-Driven Discovery in Biomedicine

9:30 – 10:00 AM: Networking Break

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

Daniela Ciccolini, MSN, RN, CPNP-PC, CPHON, Director of Nurse Navigation, ChadTough Defeat DIPG Foundation; Kim Wallgren, Executive Director of the CERN Foundation, a Program of the National Brain Tumor Society

10:30 AM – 12:00 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

12:00 – 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; Mary Frances Wedekind Malone, DO (Invited, TBD), Pediatric Oncologist, NIH; Jaclyn Murphy, Founder, Friends of Jaclyn Foundation; 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!