Community Conference

Pancreatic Cancer Thrivership Community Conference

Saturday, October 24, 2026

8:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.

(Check-in begins at 7:40 a.m.; Light Brunch at 10:35 a.m.)

Knight Cancer Research Building 

Portland, Ore.

Presented by the Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care

Teresa Zimmers, Ph.D. and Aaron Grossberg, M.D., Ph.D., Program Organizers

Celebrate resilience and community at the Pancreatic Cancer Thrivership Conference—a half-day gathering designed for patients, families, and caregivers. More than just presentations, this event invites your voice into the conversation. Connect directly with leading doctors, researchers, and care providers in interactive sessions that offer practical guidance, mutual support, and real dialogue. Come to learn, share, and shape the future of pancreatic cancer care— together. 

  • For patients, families, and caregivers
  • Meet doctors, researchers, care teams
  • Interactive sessions, lab tours

Program Organizers & Speakers

Headshot of Dr. Teresa Zimmers
Professor of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, School of Medicine
Co-Leader, Cancer Biology Program, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, School of Medicine
Co-Leader, Patient Resiliency Program, Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care, School of Medicine
CEDAR, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, School of Medicine
Headshot of Dr. Aaron Grossberg, MD, PhD
Aaron Grossberg M.D., Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Radiation Medicine, School of Medicine
Faculty, CEDAR, OHSU Knight Cancer Institute, School of Medicine
Member, Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care, School of Medicine

Invited Speakers

Rosalie Sears, Ph.D., Co-Director, Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care

Brett Sheppard, M.D., Co-Director, Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care

Adel Kardosh, M.D., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, School of Medicine

Sarah Lowry, D.N.P., Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Medical Oncology, School of Medicine

Elizabeth Dalton, CSWA, Oncology Social Worker

Liem Quang Le, DAOM, M.S. HNFM, FAIHM, Professor at the University of Western States

Lab tours with Eric Lau, Ph.D., Stuart Ibsen, Ph.D., Kerri Winters-Stone, Ph.D.

And special guest speakers: Martin Hynes, Ph.D., Sue Best, MSW, LCSW and Portland PanCan Volunteers

Registration is now available.

Who should attend: Patients, families, and caregivers

Registration fee: Registration is free. Supported by the Brenden-Colson Center for Pancreatic Care

Register online: Early registration is encouraged as enrollment will be limited. Light brunch will be provided. 

For more information, please email Liem Quang Le-Lau lelau@ohsu.edu

Request reasonable accommodation for this event at 503-494-2834 or hsmktg@ohsu.edu.

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN

To register, please click here.