12th Annual Washington County Cancer Conference - Friday, October 4, 2019 - 9 am - 3 pm

The 12^th Annual Washington County Cancer Conference will be held at the Lee-Pellon Conference Center in Machias on Friday, October 4, 2019.  This conference is an informative community forum aimed at cancer patients, survivors, caregivers, care providers, and the community at large. It is the only conference of its kind held in Washington County and there is no charge to attend.

This year's theme is “The Role of Palliative Care in the Cancer Journey”. The conference is designed to empower Washington County residents to become partners in their own health and to offer a day of healing, hope, health, and inspiration to all who attend.

Kandyce Powell, Ex. Dir. of the Maine Hospice Council will be the Keynote Speaker and moderate the conference and facilitate the panels as well. Kandyce is an expert in hospice and palliative care.

The featured speaker is Dr. Vanessa Little, DO., a board-certified Palliative Care physician. She has dedicated her career to palliative care throughout Maine. She is committed to providing compassionate medical care to those with serious illness and believes that can only happen with truthful conversations throughout the spectrum of care. The focus of Dr. Little’s presentation will be Living Your Way – How Palliative Care Supports People Living with Serious Illness.

There will be a panel of providers talking about their role in palliative care.  Providers include Dr. Robert Abrams, Pam Page, Barbara Barnett, and Tara Matthews. Dr. Abrams practices family medicine at the Lubec Regional Medical Center, Tara Matthews is Director of the Infusion Unit at Down East Community Hospital, Pam Page, is Manager of Clinical Operations at Community Health and Counseling, Machias, and Barbara Barnett is Executive Director of Down East Hospice Volunteers.

A highlight of the program will be the inspirational and informative patient caregiver panel where patients and caregivers share experiences and knowledge learned during their cancer journey. Registration for the conference will begin at 8am and will commence at 9 am.  Wellness related vendors will be available throughout the day and a complimentary lunch will be served with the conference ending at 3:00 pm. The conference is open to everyone.