I have become very involved in the cancer community, sharing my medical odyssey as viewed through a sociological lens.
Upcoming Appearances
Healthy Communities 2020 and Beyond: The Social Determinants of Health
Steve’s paper for this conference at Minnesota State, Mankato has been accepted. The title of his talk is “Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, Narrating Illness: An Autoethnography of Cancerland.” Update: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the conference has been rescheduled from October 7, 2020 to March 24, 2021.
Marrow on the Move
Steve will be selling copies of his memoir “How Steve Became Ralph: A Cancer/Stem Cell Odyssey (with Jokes)” at this annual fundraiser for the Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit of the U. of Minnesota Medical Center. The event will be held at Lake Nokomis on the morning of July 25, 2020. Update: This fundraiser has been changed to a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. More information will be provided when it becomes available.
Stillwater Multiple Myeloma Support Group
Steve has been invited to speak to this group in Stillwater, MN on June 10, 2020. The title of his talk “My Cancer Odyssey: Reflections from a Survivor.” Update: This date has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the talk has been rescheduled to February 10, 2021.
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).” Update: This conference has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rescheduled to April 17, 2021.
Panels, Presentations & Appearances
(May 6, 2020). “My Cancerland Odyssey … or How Nurses Became Some of My Favorite People.” Talk to Nurses for Methodist Hospital Nursing Grand Rounds for Nurses Week 2020. Update: This event and talk has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic; we hope to reschedule at an appropriate time.
April 15, 2020. “Mindfulness, Communication and Humor: Navigating Remission.” Patient Power Webcast at https://patientpower.info/living-well/mental-and-emotional-well-being/mindfulness-communication-and-humor-navigating-remission
(April 7, 2020). “Facing Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Notes from a Survivor.” Columbia Heights — Fridley Kiwanis Club. Talk followed by a book sale/signing. Update: this event was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic but will be rescheduled at a future date.
(April 4, 2020). “Experiential Cancer Stories: Notes on What Patients Need to Hear From Someone Who’s “Been There and Done That.” Society for Behavioral Medicine Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA. Update: This conference was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic but Steve’s paper is available upon request.
March 27, 2020. “Navigating Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Diagnosis, Treatment and Supportive Care.” Patient Power Webcast at https://patientpower.info/acute-myeloid-leukemia/living-with-acute-myeloid-leukemia/navigating-aml-diagnosis-treatment-and-supportive-care
March 24,2020. “AML Survivor Makes Planned Gifts to Organizations That Saved His Life.” Published interview in “Cures for Tomorrow,” Be the Match’s spring 2020 Planned Giving newsletter.
March 24, 2020. “So What’s Your Story?” The Healing Power of Storytelling.” Educational class taught at Gilda’s Club of the Twin Cities. The original clubhouse class was changed to a video class due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 19, 2020. Community Advisory Board Meeting. WISE (“Writing for Insight, Strength and Ease”) Project. Originally scheduled for an all-day meeting in Hackensack, NJ; changed to a teleconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
January 10, 2020. “My Cancer Odyssey.” Televised interview with Jason de Rusha and Heather Brown of CBS local affiliate WCCO, Minneapolis, MN. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IUfYUImyhJU.
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.
September 9, 2019. Community Advisory Board Meeting. WISE (“Writing for Insight, Strength, and Ease”) Project Teleconference.
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. 13, 2019. “Life with AML: Steve’s Diagnosis and Treatment Journey.” Patient Power website at www.patientpower.info/video/life-with-aml-steve-s-diagnosis-and-treatment-journey.
Feb 6, 2019. “Emerging Research and Promising AML Treatment Approaches” Patient Power website at 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.