To many, the Beyond Fundamentals of HCT course offered at the TCT Meetings of ASBMT & CIBMTR isn’t your average “conference course.”
For more than 10 years, registrants of the course are invited to a two-day group event that is an extensive training program designed to provide practitioners with the skills required to care for patients undergoing HCT. It’s aimed to help pharmacists, pharmacy students and residents, physicians, advanced practice providers and nurses. Topics range from conditioning regimens to long-term care and survivorship.
The course offers great insight and experience for those looking to be on top of their game, specifically those who are new in the field of hematopoietic cell transplantation. It also offers a unique opportunity for those interested in HCT to network and share their experiences in the field.
“I personally enjoy the camaraderie with my fellow planners from the ASBMT Pharmacy SIG and incorporating their unique ideas,” said Kelly Valla, PharmD, BCOP. “A lot of care is made to ensure this course is the best it can be!”
Valla has been involved in Beyond Fundamentals since 2015, and this year will serve as a speaker. She said the course is extremely popular among those working in HCT, and each year organizers try to tailor it to up-and-coming issues they will face in the field.
“This is a course that is first and foremost developed by skilled and knowledgeable HCT pharmacists. I think the course remains popular due to the insight we take from each course to improve and innovate the way the fundamentals of transplant are presented.”
Julianna Roddy, PharmD, is the chair of the Beyond Fundamentals programming committee, and the immediate past-chair of the education committee for ASBMT’s Pharmacy SIG. She said one of her favorite things about the course is that learners walk away with actual materials they can reference in the future and give to others to learn. Specifically, she mentioned the eBook, which has become a major tool in the past several years.
“Every update [to the eBook] includes more information because of the research regarding the care of HCT patients, new therapies/drugs, new diagnostics and diagnostic processes, new technology, new findings regarding pathophysiology, new approaches to therapeutic care and updated guidelines,” she said.
This year, registrants can expect a focus on CAR-T therapies and management of their associated adverse effects. Valla said it’s the first session on CAR-T offered at Beyond Fundamentals. There will also be an opportunity for attendees to attend a pre-session webinar—launched last year—and several in-depth sessions that promote audience interaction and discussion.
Both Roddy and Valla said discussion is extremely important for the course. With emerging technologies and research, there sometimes isn’t a “right answer” when it comes to cellular transplantation and patient care. Inviting people to share their own stories with a group of people from around the world can be a unique and insightful experience.
“I am really proud of all the excitement the course has generated, the acknowledgements from attendees and leadership at ASBMT and the Education Consortium, the relationships I’ve built with the dedicated colleagues who help support and continue to refine and improve this course,” she said.
Beyond Fundamentals offers Continuing Education (CE) credit for pharmacists (ACPE), physicians (CME) and nursing (CNE). To learn more and to register, please visit our website.