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 at this annual fundraiser for the Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit of the U. of Minnesota Medical Center on July 25, 2020. Update: This fundraiser has been changed to a virtual event due to the COVID-19 pandemic. To make a donation or create a team, go to z.Umn.edu/MOTM. To “attend” the event, go to z.umn.edu/MOTM2020 at 9:00 a.m. on July 25th.
Methodist Hospital Nurses Talk
Steve’s talk to nurses during Methodist Hospital Nursing Grand Rounds for Nurses Week was originally scheduled for May 6, 2020 but was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. “My Cancerland Odyssey … or How Nurses Became Some of My Favorite People” will now be presented to a small live audience and streamed via WebEx to a broader cyber audience on July 15, 2020 at noon.
Panels, Presentations & Appearances
(June 10, 2020). “My Cancer Odyssey: Reflections from a Survivor.” Talk to Stillwater Multiple Myeloma Support Group. Update: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this talk has been rescheduled to February 10, 2021.
(June 6, 2020). 15th Annual Cancer Survivorship Conference. At this conference sponsored by the Masonic Cancer Center of the University of Minnesota , Steve will be exhibiting and selling copies of his memoir. Update: This conference has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic and rescheduled to April 17, 2021.
June 5, 2020. My memoir “How Steve Became Ralph: A Cancer/Stem Cell Odyssey (with Jokes)” was added to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s list of suggested readings under the categories “inspiration” and “living with cancer at https://www.lls.org/support/suggested-reading/books-adult-patients-and-their-caregivers/inspiration and https://www.lls.org/support/suggested-reading/books-adult-patients-and-their-caregivers/living-cancer
(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 talk has been rescheduled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will now be given to a small live audience and stremed vis WebEx to a broader cyber audience on July 15, 2020 at noon.
(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 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.
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.
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 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.
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.
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.
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.