I have become very involved in the cancer community, sharing my medical odyssey as viewed through a sociological lens.
Upcoming Appearances
Health and Biomedical Sciences Summit
Steve has been invited to participate in this conference at Minnesota State, Mankato on October 7, 2020. He will tentatively be part of a 3-person group doing a presentation on the patient perspective in chronic disease and relationship boundaries between patients and nurse/providers.
15th Annual Cancer Survivorship Conference
At this conference sponsored by the Masonic Cancer Center of the University of Minnesota on June 6, 2020, Steve will be exhibiting and selling copies of his memoir “How Steve Became Ralph: A Cancer/Stem Cell Odyssey (with Jokes).”
Society for Behavioral Medicine
Steve has been invited to participate in a symposium at the annual meeting of this organization in San Francisco on April 4, 2020. The title of his talk is “Experiential Cancer Stories: Notes on What Patients Need to Hear From Someone Who’s “Been There and Done That.”
Gilda’s Club of the Twin Cities
Steve will be doing an educational class/talk with an interactive component at Gilda’s Club of the Twin Cities on March 24, 2020 at 12 pm. The title of the class/talk is “So What’s Your Story?” How Telling Our Cancer Stories Can Help Us Cope, Heal, and Thrive.”
Panels, Presentations & Appearances
November 15, 2019. “My Transplant Experience … or How Ralph and I Became Inseparable Buddies.” Talk on ‘World Cord Blood Day’ at Be the Match National Headquarters, Minneapolis, MN.
November 12, 2019. “Facing Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Notes from a Survivor.” Talk to the Golden K Kiwanis Club of Roseville, MN. Followed by onsite book sale/signing.
October 24, 2019. “Facing Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Notes from a Survivor.” Talk to an advanced class of Leslie Darmofal’s nursing students at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
October 18/20, 2019. “My Cancer Story.” Phone Interview with Colorado high school student Jaylene Gonzalez for a class project.
October 10, 2019. “Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, Narrating Illness: An Autoethnography of Cancerland.” Plenary Address to the annual meeting of the Sociologists of Minnesota at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Followed by onsite book sale/signing.
October 2, 2019. “Surviving Cancer and Sustaning Self: A Cancerland Odyssey.” Presentation to the President and Administrative Staff, Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital, St. Louis Park, MN.
September 21, 2019. “Facing Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Notes from a Survivor.” Talk to clients of Spectrum Financial Group, Crave Restaurant, Eden Prairie, MN. Followed by distribution of signed copies of my memoir to all attendees compliments of Ross Thorfinnson.
July 27, 2019. Exhibitor/Sales of “How Steve Became Ralph.” Marrow on the Move Fundraiser for the Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit of the U. of Minnesota; Lake Nokomis, Minneapolis, MN.
May 14, 2019. Community Advisory Board Meeting. WISE (“Writing for Insight, Strength and Ease”) Project Conference, Georgetown University, Washington D. C.
Feb. 14, 2019. “Life with AML: Steve’s Diagnosis and Treatment Journey.” Patient Power website at https://www.patientpower.info/video/life-with-aml-steve-s-diagnosis-and-treatment-journey.
Dec 21, 2018. “Emerging Research and Promising AML Treatment Approaches” Patient Power website at https://www.patientpower.info/video/emerging-research-and-promising-aml-treatment-approaches.
May 5, 2018. “Surviving Acute Myeloid Leukemia with a Stem Cell Transplant.” Panelist at University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center 13th Annual Cancer Survivorship Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
March 23, 2018. “Narrating Illness: A Cancer/Stem Cell Odyssey” Midwest Sociological Society meetings, Minneapolis, MN.
July 29, 2017. “My Transplant Experience on the BMT Unit.” Keynote Address at Marrow on the Move Fundraiser for the Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit of the U. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
July 18, 2017. “The Role of Mindfulness in Navigating Illness.” Address to Cigna sponsored Conference on Physician Leadership Development Program via Teleconference.