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HOPA Ahead 2019 to help hematology/oncology pharmacists deliver highest-quality care
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HOPA Ahead 2019, the Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association’s 15th annual conference, will be held April 3-6 in Fort Worth, Texas.
HemOnc Today will serve as a media partner for the conference, designed to provide attendees the knowledge and education they need to provide high-quality patient care while improving the efficiency of care delivery.
The program will include discussion of challenges related to screening for and treatment of patients with hematologic malignancies and solid tumors. Attendees also will hear the latest clinical trial updates, review best practices for use of new therapies, learn about treatment guideline updates, and gain understanding about emerging technologies.
“There really is something for everybody, whether they are an oncology generalist who takes care of patients with cancer a couple days a week or a seasoned professional who is trying to get their [board-certified oncology pharmacist (BCOP)] hours,” Ryan N. Bookout, PharmD, BCOP, BCPS, the 2018-2019 president of HOPA’s board of directors, told HemOnc Today.
Exponential growth
Bookout was a resident when he attended the inaugural HOPA conference in 2005. That year, a couple hundred attendees spent the entire two-day conference gathered in one meeting room.
This year, more than 1,000 attendees — including pharmacists, pharmacy researchers, technicians, residents and interns who specialize in hematology/oncology practice — will gather for a three-and-a-half-day meeting that includes preconference sessions, poster presentations, breakout sessions and interest-group meetings.
“It has expanded exponentially as our membership has grown,” said Bookout, blood and marrow transplantation and cellular immunotherapy pharmacy supervisor at Moffitt Cancer Center. “From a programming standpoint, we often joke that we need to figure out a way to add more time because there’s so much more we could talk about.”
The 2019 conference will offer 20.75 hours of continuing education credits, including 8 BCOP credits.
Those who cannot make the trip to Texas can register as a virtual attendee, gaining access to a range of live-streamed conference sessions with the ability to earn up to 16.75 continuing education credits. Sessions will be archived for later access.
“We know funds are tight and schedules are hectic, so being able to provide the digital on-demand aspect in addition to the live component means people can be at their office or at home and still be part of the conference,” Bookout said. “This also helps those who are onsite. If they can’t sit through 20.75 hours of live continuing education, they can pick out what really sparks their interest and maximize the time they are there, but then they can still get everything they want through the [virtual] program.”
Preconference sessions
HOPA Ahead 2019 will begin April 3 with two preconference sessions.
One will focus on residency program director and preceptor development. Talks will address American Society of Health-System Pharmacists’ standards for qualified preceptors, PGY-2 oncology standards, the roles and expectations of residency program directors, and exceptional skills that oncology residents should exhibit.
The other — titled Palliative Care Toolbox for Oncology Pharmacists — will be presented by representatives of Society of Pain and Palliative Care Pharmacists. This session will include presentations on the role of clinical pharmacists in oncology palliative care, responding to patients who are expressing strong emotions, screening for opioid misuse, and advanced pain and symptom management. Management of nonpain symptoms — such as refractory nausea and vomiting, constipation, anxiety, insomnia or delirium — also will be reviewed.
“The ability to develop programming across spectrums is very unique, and these sessions also help us showcase our collaborations with other pharmacy groups and societies,” Bookout said.
The first day also will include a discussion titled The Oncology Pharmacist’s Blind Spot: A Practical Roadmap to Patient Outreach. The panel — which will include patients and representatives of patient advocacy organizations — will help increase oncology pharmacists’ emotional intelligence, provide patient support training and increase awareness about outreach opportunities.
“HOPA is a patient-facing organization, and the majority of our members work with patients every day,” Bookout said. “It’s so exciting that we’re able to get patients involved so we can work hand-in-hand with them and help make us a better association.”
Program highlights
Other sessions throughout the conference will touch on essential aspects of patient care and clinical practice.
The first day will include talks that will help oncology pharmacists identify, prevent and cope with burnout; provide updates in prostate cancer management and address the role of genomics in treatment; review strategies for reducing the impact of treatment effects for young adult and adolescent cancer survivors; and explore key updates in internal medicine, including guidelines related to hypertension, diabetes and heart failure.
The conference’s second day will include sessions designed to help attendees navigate specific treatment dilemmas, including optimal duration of oxaliplatin-based therapy for adjuvant treatment of colon cancer, considerations for second-line treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma, and current and emerging treatment standards for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Another session will explore how functional age — as determined by the geriatric assessment — can influence treatment-related effects and health outcomes.
Sessions on the third day will focus on emerging biomarkers that can predict response to immune checkpoint inhibitors; key issues in stem cell transplantation; use of complementary and alternative medicine in the early clinical trial setting; management of patients who use medical marijuana in addition to cancer treatment and supportive care; the impact of the current political landscape on hematology/oncology pharmacists; and strategies for management of chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Another presentation will explore the rationale for and implementation of the federal Right to Try Act, with a focus on the role of the pharmacist, as well as concerns for clinicians and patients.
The conference’s final day will include presentations on advances in breast cancer and colorectal cancer treatment, translating tumor genetics into clinical practice, the use of targeted therapies in acute myeloid leukemia, and recognition and treatment of nonmalignant blood disorders.
HOPA also will launch a pilot leadership development and mentorship program at this year’s conference.
“It is one of the most educational events anyone can go to, and the networking opportunities are phenomenal,” Bookout said. “No matter where you are in your career, it’s a tremendous way to increase your knowledge and enjoy valuable time with other oncology pharmacists so you can discuss your challenges and learn the best ways to improve the care you deliver to your patients.”
For more information
For more information about HOPA Ahead 2019, call (877) 467-2791, send email to info@hoparx.org or go to www.hoparx.org/conference-events/annual-conference.