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 has submitted a proposal for a talk at this conference at Minnesota State, Mankato on October 7, 2020. The title of his talk is “Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, Narrating Illness: An Autoethnography of Cancerland.”
Marrow on the Move
Steve will once again 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.
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.”
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).”
Methodist Hospital Nursing Grand Rounds for Nurses Week 2020
Steve has been invited to speak at Grand Rounds to Nursing staff at Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, Minnesota on May 6, 2020. The title of his talk is “My Cancerland Odyssey … or How Nurses Became Some of My Favorite People.”
Patient Power Webcast
Steve has recorded a webcast on “Navigating Acute Myeloid Leukemia” with Andrew Schorr and Dr. Eunice Wang. It will be available on the Patient Power website shortly.
Columbia Heights — Fridley Kiwanis Club
Steve has been invited to speak to this group in Columbia Heights, MN on April 7, 2020 at 6pm. The title of his talk is “Facing Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Notes from a Survivor,” and the talk will be followed by a book sale/signing. Update: this event has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic but will be rescheduled at a future date.
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.” Update: this conference has been cancelled but Steve’s paper is available upon request.
Panels, Presentations & Appearances
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.
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. 14, 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.
Dec 21, 2018. “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.