2025 Los Angeles Cholangiocarcinoma Symposium
The 2025 Los Angeles Symposium, hosted with USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, brings together leading experts, researchers, healthcare professionals, patients, caregivers, and advocates.
This event is a crucial platform for sharing the latest advancements and addressing the challenges in cholangiocarcinoma research and treatment.
When:
Saturday, May 17, 2025
Time:
9:00am – 3:00pm
Hosts:
Dr. Anthony El-Khoueiry
Dr. Syma Iqbal
Where:
Aresty Auditorium
University of Southern California Health Sciences Campus
1450 Biggy St
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Speakers
Anthony El-Khoueiry
Anthony El-Khoueiry
Dr Anthony El-Khoueiry is an Associate Professor of Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Verna R. Richter Chair in Cancer Research, and Associate Director for Clinical Research at the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center in Los Angeles. As a member of the GI Oncology Section, he oversees the hepatobiliary cancers research program. He is also Chief of Section of Developmental Therapeutics/Phase I Program. He is a member of the NCI Hepatobiliary Cancers Task Force and co-chair of the Hepatobiliary Cancers subcommittee of the Southwest Oncology Group. He is the recipient of the Clinical Investigator Team Leadership Award from National Cancer Institute. He has led multiple clinical trials evaluating novel therapies for hepatobiliary cancers including the first trial to show the safety and efficacy of an immune checkpoint inhibitor in hepatocellular carcinoma. As a member of the Stand Up 2 Cancer Epigenetics Dream Team, he is evaluating the impact of epigenetic drugs on the immune microenvironment in hepatobiliary and pancreatic cancers. He is also involved in multiple research efforts focused on biomarker development for hepatobiliary cancers. On the developmental therapeutics front, he has been the lead investigator on several first-in- human or first-in-class trials with recent examples such as the phase I study of Botensilimab, a novel CTLA4 antibody with activity across solid tumors including cold one and the phase I study of AFM24, a novel NK cell engager targeting EGFR.
Bo Liu
Bo Liu
Dr. Bo Liu is a radiologist in Duarte, California and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center and Keck Medical Center of USC. He received his medical degree from University of Missouri-Columbia School of Medicine and has been in practice between 11-20 years. Dr. Bo Liu accepts Medicare, Blue Cross – see other insurance plans accepted.
Diana Hanna
Diana Hanna
Dr. Hanna’s research interests include investigation of predictive and prognostic biomarkers in gastrointestinal malignancies and clinical trial protocol development with Dr. Heinz-Josef Lenz. Dr. Hanna earned her medical degree from University of California, Davis. She then went on to complete her Hematology/Oncology Fellowship at USC, where she served as Chief Fellow.
Diane Ling
Diane Ling
Dr. Diane C. Ling is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Radiation Oncology at the Keck School of Medicine. She joined the faculty in August, 2020. Her clinical practice is located at USC Norris Cancer Hospital. She grew up in the Bay Area and Sacramento, and graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a bachelor’s degree in Molecular and Cell Biology. She earned her medical doctorate degree at the University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, where she was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. She completed her residency at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Hillman Cancer Center in Pittsburgh, PA, where she was chief resident. Dr. Ling specializes in treating gastrointestinal and breast cancers. She has extensive experience with modern treatment techniques including intensity-modulated radiation therapy, volumetric-modulated arc therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiotherapy, and motion management techniques. Her work has resulted in numerous publications, presentations at national meetings, and conference awards, including the Young Oncologist Essay Award as well as the James D. Cox Award of Scientific Merit from the American Radium Society.
Gautam Malhorta
Gautam Malhorta
Dr. Malhotra is dual board certified in General Surgery and Complex Surgical Oncology. He is a California native, who completed his undergraduate and masters work at the University of California at Berkeley before moving to the Midwest to complete his MD, PhD, and general surgery training at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. He returned to California and completed his subspecialty training in Complex Surgical Oncology at the City of Hope Cancer Center and was recruited to Keck to provide the latest in surgical care for cancer patients. Dr. Malhotra has a special interest and expertise in minimally invasive techniques including laparoscopic and robotic surgery. He is also engaged in innovative research with a focus on early detection of pancreatic cancer and novel treatments for colorectal liver metastasis. Dr. Malhotra has presented his work and national and international conferences and has won numerous awards for his research and clinical excellence.
James Buxbaum
James Buxbaum
Dr. Buxbaum brings a clinical and research interest in advanced endoscopic topics and pancreatology to the University of Southern California. His research interests include the development of biomarkers for and the endoscopic management of pancreatic neoplasms. He also has a special interest in complex biliary problems including recurrent pyogenic cholangitis and post liver transplant strictures. Dr. Buxbaum earned his medical degree from University of California, San Francisco, then went on to complete two fellowships also at UCSF, one in gastroenterology and the other in advanced endoscopy.
Joshua Schiff
Joshua Schiff
Dr. Joshua P. Schiff is an Assistant Professor of Clinical Radiation Oncology at the Keck School of Medicine. He joined the faculty in the fall of 2024. His clinical practice is currently primarily at the Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. He grew up in Los Angeles in the San Fernando Valley, and graduated from the University of California, Santa Barbara with a bachelor’s degree in Biopsychology. He earned his medical doctorate degree at the Tulane University School of Medicine, where he was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Honor Medical Society. He completed his residency at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis, where he was chief resident. Dr. Schiff specializes in the treatment of a variety of cancer types using advanced radiotherapy delivery methods. He has extensive experience with modern treatment techniques including intensity-modulated radiation therapy, volumetric-modulated arc therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiotherapy, and motion management techniques. He has obtained funding for and opened multiple clinical trials with a focus on the implementation of new technology to improve treatment outcomes for patients, having previously focused on online adaptive radiotherapy, and now focusing on biology-guided radiotherapy. His work has resulted in numerous publications, presentations at national meetings, and awards, including the Roentgen Resident/Fellow Research award from the Radiological Society of North America.
Mark Sturdevant
Mark Sturdevant
Dr. Sturdevant ’s interest lies in adult and pediatric liver transplantation with a particular focus in living donor and split liver transplantation in addition to complex hepatobiliary surgery, including the use of minimally–invasive techniques. He has experience in the resection of abdominal tumors involving the hepatic hilum and inferior vena cava, liver resections requiring vascular reconstructions, and bile duct resections and reconstructions. In addition, Dr. Sturdevant performs both kidney and pancreas transplants, live donor nephrectomy, and general surgical procedures particular to those with end–stage liver (including portal decompression procedures) and kidney disease. Born and raised in Sioux City, Iowa, Dr. Sturdevant stayed close to home to complete his bachelor ’s degree in biology, his medical degree, and a one–year student fellowship in surgical pathology at the University of Iowa. His general surgery training was completed at the Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte and his transplant training started with an abdominal transplant fellowship at the University of Minnesota. He has since held faculty positions in the Divisions of Transplant at The Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, the University of Pittsburgh, as a Consultant Surgeon in adult and pediatric liver transplantation and hepato– pancreato –biliary surgery at the King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Center in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and at the University of Washington. He is excited to add in any way to the breadth of the transplant and hepatobiliary program currently offered at The Keck School of Medicine of USC.
Mohd Raashid Sheikh
Mohd Raashid Sheikh
M. Raashid Sheikh, MD, MHA, FACS received his Doctorate of Medicine from University of Kashmir, India. He completed his residency in general surgery at the University of Illinois, Chicago, and received his fellowship training in Hepatobiliary Surgery and Transplantation from University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA and Hepatobiliary & Pancreatic surgery and Robotic Surgery from Methodist Medical Center, Dallas, TX. A board certified surgeon, Dr. Sheikh is a member of several associations including the American College of Surgeons, Americas Hepatopancreatobiliary Association, Society of Surgical Oncology and Society for Surgery of the Alimentary Tract. Dr. Sheikh’s clinical expertise includes treating benign and malignant diseases of the liver, bile ducts, gallbladder, duodenum, pancreas and spleen with a focus in robotic approach.
Monica Zell
Monica Zell
Dr. Monica Zell (she/her) is a Clinical Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. She specializes in Palliative Medicine and Supportive Care at the Keck Hospital of USC and Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center. She received her medical degree from Albert Einstein College of Medicine, then completed her residency training in internal medicine at UCLA, where she stayed on to complete a fellowship in Hospice and Palliative Medicine.
Sandra Algaze
Sandra Algaze
Dr. Sandra Algaze is an Assistant Professor of Medicine in the Division of Medical Oncology at the University of Southern California focusing on gastrointestinal cancers. Dr. Algaze completed her residency in Internal Medicine at the University of Miami, Jackson Memorial Hospital and her clinical fellowship in Hematology and Oncology at University of Southern California, Los Angeles County Hospital, where she served as a chief fellow. Her research endeavors focus on the discovery of innovative pathways in cancer pathogenesis, metastases and treatment resistance, the development of novel therapies for gastrointestinal tumors, and the assessment of predictive and prognostic biomarkers and molecular profiles. Additionally, she is actively investigating and working to address the complexities surrounding the care of older patients with cancer, and healthcare disparities arising from barriers to specialty care access and the underrepresentation of minorities in cancer clinical trials. Notably, she was part of the inaugural cohort of the Robert A. Winn Diversity in Clinical Trials: Career Development Award (Winn CDA).
Saul Priceman
Saul Priceman
Dr. Saul Priceman is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine at USC, and the Founding Director of the KSOM/Norris Center for Cancer Cellular Immunotherapy Research. Over the last 14 years, his research has focused on T cell immunobiology and cancer immunotherapies. Dr. Priceman’s laboratory develops CAR T cell therapies and combinatorial approaches for the treatment of solid cancers, bringing several therapies to phase 1 clinical testing. His research has led to high-impact publications in Nature Medicine, Science Translational Medicine, Nature Communications, and Cell Metabolism, with numerous patents and technologies licensed for further clinical development. Dr. Priceman’s research has been funded with grants from the National Cancer Institute, Department of Defense, California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, and the Prostate Cancer Foundation. He received his B.S. in microbiology at UCSB, his Ph.D. in molecular and medical pharmacology at UCLA, and his postdoctoral research at City of Hope.
Sujit Kulkarni
Sujit Kulkarni
Dr. Kulkarni obtained his medical degree from Byramjee Jeejeebhoy Medical College in India. He went on to the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay to obtain a master’s degree in Biomedical Engineering. Upon completion, he was appointed as a Huck Institute of Life Science research fellow at Penn State Hershey Medical Center in molecular medicine for two years. He completed his general surgery residency at Lenox Hill Hospital, New York. Upon completion of his residency in 2010, he completed a two year fellowship in Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Surgery at USC.
Syma Iqbal
Syma Iqbal
Dr. Syma Iqbal graduated from the Keck School of Medicine of USC in 1995 and completed a Hematology and Oncology Fellowship in 2001. She is currently an Associate Professor in the Division of Oncology at the Keck School of Medicine/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Section Chief of Gastrointestinal Oncology. She is the Associate Cancer Physician in Chief for USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center and Keck Medicine of USC and serves as Medical Director of both Ambulatory/Infusion and Inpatient Services for Norris Cancer Hospital. Currently, Dr. Iqbal Chairs the Norris Clinical Investigations Committee. Dr. Iqbal is also an accomplished clinical researcher and has led and participated in trials for gastrointestinal malignancies. She is a national thought leader in the systemic therapy of esophageal and gastric cancer, and her national leadership posts include serving as co-Chair of the Southwest Oncology Group Esophago-Gastric Committee and Chair of the National Cancer Institute’s Esophago-Gastric Task Force.
Yuna Gong
Yuna Gong
Melinda Bachini
Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation
Melinda Bachini
Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation
Melinda Bachini is a 15-year survivor of cholangiocarcinoma. She was treated at the National Cancer Institute with a clinical trial using Adoptive Cell Therapy.
Melinda is married and the mother of six children, grandmother to two, and two more on the way. She is passionate about patient advocacy and uses her experience with previous and current treatments to give great insight into patients participating in clinical trials. She shares her story with as many cancer patients as possible in hopes of giving support to those in need.
Melinda served as a patient advocate for the NCI Hepatobiliary Task Force, the NCI Patient Advocate Steering Committee (PASC) from April 2016 to December 2022. She is a patient advocate for the ECOG-ACRIN GI Committee, ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Advocacy Committee, the NCI Council of Research Advocates, and the NCCN Hepatobiliary Guidelines Panel.
Stacie Lindsey
Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation
Stacie Lindsey
Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation
Stacie’s brother, Mark Clements, was diagnosed in 2005 and ultimately passed away from Cholangiocarcinoma on January 19, 2007. Stacie advocated for her brother, extensively researched treatment options, and began networking with other patients, scientists, and healthcare professionals. From this experience, the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation was born.
Stacie is a founding member and has served on the Board of Directors since its inception. Stacie resides in Lehi, Utah, where she has five children. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Brigham Young University and studied nonprofit leadership at Harvard Business School. Stacie is an active member of her church and community.
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