2026 Cleveland Regional Symposium
The 2026 Cleveland Cholangiocarcinoma Symposium is set to convene in Cleveland, drawing together leading experts, researchers, healthcare professionals, patients, and advocates.
This event promises to be a crucial platform for sharing the latest advancements and addressing the challenges in cholangiocarcinoma research and treatment.
More information to come soon!
When:
June 26, 2026
Time:
11am – 4:30pm
Where:
Cleveland Clinic
Taussig Cancer Institute (building CA)
5th floor, Room CA5-120
10201 Carnegie Ave
Cleveland, OH 44106
Parking:
A parking voucher will be provided at check-in. Valet is available, as is parking in the garage on E 100th and Carnegie Ave.
Melinda Bachini
Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation
Melinda Bachini
Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation
Melinda Bachini is a 16-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.
Ehsan Balagamwala, MD
Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute
Ehsan Balagamwala, MD
Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute
Ehsan Balagamwala, MD, is a Cleveland Clinic radiation oncologist specializing in radiation oncology, gastrointestinal radiation oncology, and brain tumor care. Based at Cleveland Clinic’s Taussig Cancer Center, Dr. Balagamwala brings advanced training from Cleveland Clinic and is board certified by the American Board of Radiology in Radiation Oncology.
Jenny Bates
Cleveland Clinic
Jenny Bates
Cleveland Clinic
Josh Beyer
Josh Beyer
My name is Josh Beyer, I am based out of the Pittsburgh, PA area. I am 45 years old with two children (Mason age 15) and (Quinn age 12) along with my beautiful wife of 16 years of marriage, Lacey. I have been working in the Staffing Services industry for 25 years and currently oversee a team of individuals in the U.S. and in India. I enjoy anything related to the outdoors and find most peace gardening and taking care of our yard. Over the past 2 years I’ve learned that there is nothing more important than faith and family. I was diagnosed unexpectedly in April 2024 while having a CT scan done of my kidneys for chronic kidney stones. I had a successful resection done (80% liver removal) in 2024 followed by 6 months of oral chemotherapy and then unexpectedly I had a recurrence in May of 2025 and underwent 9 cycles of Gem/Cis/Durva and I’m now in the surveillance phase of things and working every day to eat right and do anything I can to give myself the best outcome/odds possible for not only myself, but for my family.
Lisa Craine
Craine’s Cholangiocarcinoma Crew
Lisa Craine
Craine’s Cholangiocarcinoma Crew
Since her 2010 diagnosis with cholangiocarcinoma, Lisa has dedicated herself to supporting others affected by bile duct cancer. Despite experiencing five recurrences and eight tumors, she has turned her personal experience into meaningful advocacy, serving as a Volunteer Patient Mentor and Research Advocate with the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation, helping patients navigate complex decisions including second opinions and clinical trial options.
Lisa is the Founder of Craine’s Cholangiocarcinoma Crew, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that directs 100% of funds raised to bile duct cancer research. She has completed extensive advocacy training with leading organizations including the Research Advocacy Network, Global Liver Institute, ASCO, AACR, and the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation.
Her leadership includes board service on the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute Patient Advocacy Council, the Cleveland Clinic Digestive Disease Institute, and The Mike Shane Memorial Fund. She is also a Peer Reviewer for the U.S. Department of Defense CDMRP and a member of the FDA Patient Engagement Collaborative, including roles as FDA Patient Experience Council member and FDA GRASP Advocate.
Lisa has advocated for liver cancer legislation on Capitol Hill in support of the LIVER Act and has received the George H.W. Bush Points of Light Award, the Cholangiocarcinoma Foundation’s Mark R. Clements Award, and recognition from the White House for her volunteer work. She is deeply committed to guiding patients through treatment decisions, clinical trial opportunities, and compassionate support throughout their journey.
Haley Ellis, MD
Massachusetts General Hospital
Haley Ellis, MD
Massachusetts General Hospital
Dr. Haley Ellis is a medical oncologist and clinician-scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital / Harvard Medical School, where she specializes in biliary cancers and leads clinical trials. Her translational research focuses on cholangiocarcinoma tumor biology and therapeutic resistance mechanisms. She trained at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, Washington University, and University College Dublin. In addition to her clinical and research work, she is a member of the New England CARE Team.
Bassam Estfan, MD
Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute
Bassam Estfan, MD
Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute
Bassam Estfan, is a gastrointestinal medical oncologist at the Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute with expertise in cholangiocarcinoma, liver, pancreatic, and other gastrointestinal cancers. He is board-certified in Medical Oncology and Hospice & Palliative Medicine and completed his fellowship training at Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Estfan is committed to advancing education and improving care for patients with gastrointestinal cancers.
Koji Hashimoto, MD, PhD
Cleveland Clinic
Koji Hashimoto, MD, PhD
Cleveland Clinic
Koji Hashimoto, MD, PhD, is Director of Liver Transplantation at Cleveland Clinic Main Campus and Professor of Surgery at Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. An ASTS Certified Abdominal Transplant Surgeon, Dr. Hashimoto specializes in liver transplantation, including living donor, pediatric, and partial-liver transplantation, and has been involved in more than 2,000 liver transplants.
Suneel Kamath, MD
Cleveland Clinic
Suneel Kamath, MD
Cleveland Clinic
Suneel Kamath, MD, is a Cleveland Clinic gastrointestinal medical oncologist and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. Board certified in medical oncology, hematology, and internal medicine, Dr. Kamath focuses on advancing care for gastrointestinal cancers through clinical expertise, research, and advocacy for more equitable cancer research funding.
Jaekeun Kim, MD
Cleveland Clinic
Jaekeun Kim, MD
Cleveland Clinic
Jaekeun Kim, MD, is a general surgeon at Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio. He brings extensive clinical training, including fellowship experience at Lahey Clinic Medical Center and Gangnam Severance Hospital, along with graduate education from Yonsei University College of Medicine. Known for his patient-centered approach, Dr. Kim is recognized for taking time to explain care clearly and thoughtfully.
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.
Kyle Neale, DO
Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute
Kyle Neale, DO
Cleveland Clinic Taussig Cancer Institute
Kyle Neale, DO, is a palliative medicine physician working in the Taussig Cancer Center. I am the medical director of our department for the main campus. I am an assistant professor of medicine with the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine. I trained in family medicine at MetroHealth, where I was chief resident and did my subspecialty palliative medicine fellowship at the Cleveland Clinic.
Thank you to our sponsors
The Porter Family
