Society of Utah Medical Oncology

SUMO is dedicated to ensuring you stay informed during the COVID-19 crisis. Click above to find all of the latest resources from ASCO, ASH, COA, HOSS, and important Industry News related to the crisis.

Utah Department of Health COVID-19 Resources, Click here for more.

Our primary mission is to promote the highest professional standards of oncology practice in the state of Utah; to study, research and exchange information, leading to improvement in the practice of hematology; to support and further oncology education; and to monitor and respond to appropriate legislative and regulatory concerns of the membership.

We encourage all oncology professionals to find out more about us and become a member of our growing community.

Membership has its benefits.  Click below to find out more.

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SUMO is so thankful to Dr. Scott Samuelson for his years of service on the Board of Directors, including his term as President of the Board.


Pictured: Scott Samuelson, MD, and SUMO President Xylina Gregg, MD.

STATE CANCER FACT SHEETS AVAILABLE

The 2021 State Cancer Fact Sheets for all fifty states plus the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico are now available on myAffiliates and ASCO’s webpage. The fact sheets contain key cancer and health care data from each state and highlight the impact of NIH funding in your state. These fact sheets are useful background materials for meetings with legislative staff and can aid your advocacy efforts. Contact [email protected] for help with coordinating your advocacy activities.

CDER Drug Safety Priorities 2021 Report

The CDER Drug Safety Priorities 2021 report details CDER's work to manage drug safety issues through modernized safety surveillance methods and innovative responses to safety concerns.  The report highlights key safety-related milestones and accomplishments of 2021, as well as the many ways in which CDER has continued to be involved in promoting and protecting public health during the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.  The report focuses on the programs and initiatives at the core of CDER's drug safety operations, including the FDA Adverse Event Reporting Systems, the Sentinel System, and the Safe Use Initiative.  It also features ongoing activities to address the national opioid crisis and misuse and abuse of other substances, work in addressing unexpected -- and potentially cancer-causing -- impurities in medicines, use of a broad range of communications tools and technologies such as Drug Safety Communications to transparently communicate drug safety to the public, and research being conducted CDER-wide to better understand drug safety risks.

 

SUMO's goal is to hold in-person meetings when it is safe for us to gather. Please be advised that these meetings may be held virtually if necessary.

Why the Patient Voice Matters

Recently Bristol Myers Squibb’s U.S. Policy & Government Affairs team held an interactive discussion with state & federal policymakers on the importance of the patient voice in the legislative process.

The forum provided an opportunity for attendees to hear directly from current legislators as they provided their insights on effective advocacy strategies and engagement with elected officials. During the discussion, the panelists shared what they seek to learn when meeting with advocates, first-hand examples of advocacy campaigns that have impacted their decision-making, tips for virtual advocacy engagement, and advice for any advocate looking to get involved in the legislative process.

To listen to this recent webinar please use the following link:

Why the Patient Voice Matters: Legislator Roundtable Forum (virtualpolicyforum.com)

Vaccines.gov Website and Text Service

Vaccines.gov, which compliments state and pharmacy websites connecting Americans to vaccines, is available in English and Spanish to help people find a vaccine location. A text message service is also available by texting your ZIP code to 438829 (GETVAX) and 822862 (VACUNA) to find three locations nearby that have vaccines available. The National COVID-19 Vaccination Assistance Hotline is also available to help those who prefer to get information by phone on where to get a vaccine. Call 1-800-232-0233 to find a location near you.

Drug Safety Communication

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is investigating a possible increased risk of death with the cancer medicine Ukoniq (umbralisib) approved to treat two specific types of lymphomas, which are cancers that affect the body’s immune system. We determined that initial findings from a clinical trial evaluating Ukoniq to treat a related type of cancer found a possible increased risk of death in patients taking the medicine. Because of the seriousness of this safety concern and the similarities between the two types of cancer for which this drug is approved and the type of cancer that was studied in the clinical trial, we are alerting patients and health care professionals that we are re-evaluating this risk against the benefits of Ukoniq for its approved uses.

For more information, read the complete Drug Safety Communication.