REGISTRATION CLOSES Sept 26!
The Vanderbilt lab tour is full but you will be added to the wait list.
You can still register for the rest of the event!
Join us for the
2025 Ultimate IBC Meet Up!
October 3 – October 5 | Nashville, TN
The Meet up begins in:
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The Ultimate Meetup was inspired by requests from inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) patients who asked, “Is there way we can have a meet up that will meet needs as wide and massive as our needs?” We did everything we could to distill those needs into one powerful weekend—designed not only to share critical medical knowledge, but also to offer the social connection, understanding, and support that patients crave from their community and beyond as they navigate this difficult disease.
Join us for a transformative weekend where you’ll gain insights from experts, develop deeper friendships, and experience the strength of shared understanding.
The weekend begins Friday morning with a lab tour, followed by a special lunch at Vanderbilt with the researchers and physicians dedicated to treating IBC. That evening, we’ll gather again at the hotel for a wonderful dinner featuring an inspiring guest speaker.
Saturday will be filled with opportunities to deepen your medical understanding and connect with others walking a similar path.
We’ll close the weekend on Sunday morning with what we call the “Hug Session”—a heartfelt and healing wrap-up to a powerful experience.
Please join us. And if you know someone who would like to sponsor this event, details are available here—we would deeply appreciate the support.
I was truly honoured to be invited as the keynote speaker at the Ultimate IBC Meet Up (Boston). While I was there to share a message of hope, I found myself deeply inspired by the event itself. It was incredibly moving to see so many lovely women and their loved ones come together, all navigating the same battle against Inflammatory Breast Cancer. The opportunity to learn from global experts who are tirelessly researching to save lives, and to connect with others who understand the journey firsthand, was both empowering and comforting. Being part of this community and sharing our stories, supporting one another, and learning together reinforces that we are not alone in this fight. Thank you for giving us such an amazing opportunity to grow, connect, and strengthen our resolve. I can’t wait for next year to continue this incredible journey!
– Daneille Cameron
Meet Up Actvities
Vanderbilt Lab Tour
Keynote Speakers
Round Table Discussions
Group Activities
Fellowship
“Seeing IBC sisters from one year to the next is priceless. I would show up for that alone, but learning about new research from the horses’ mouth is the cherry on top.”
“The Ultimate IBC Meet up is a rare event that brings together a rare and special group of patients who have the opportunity to learn and share in the perfect setting. Thank you IBC Network Foundation!”
“I had the best time and felt like I was supposed to be there. The time I spent at this Meet Up was so special and something that is unique to our rare disease. Meeting lifelong friends, who began as strangers, was so helpful to me in my journey of healing.”
“I feel that all of us being together. It’s incredibly important because we get strength from each other, but we also can share ideas of what we need the medical world’s due to best meet our needs.”
A look back at 2024 Ultimate IBC Meet Up
Thank you to our sponsors!
GOLD LEVEL SPONSOR
BRONZE LEVEL
The Cape Cod Foundation
John Schulenberg, Founder
COMFORT LEVEL
Louann
Jones
Agenda
Our Emcee for the weekend will be Diane Koster of Lindsay’s Legacy Fund.
Friday, October 3, 2025
10:15am – 12:00pm
The lab tour is currently full but you will be added to the waiting list.
“Meet the Microscope” with Dr. Justin Balko, Dr. Ben Park, and Dr. Jennifer A. Pietenpol Get up close with the science behind IBC research with a tour of the Vanderbilt lab. Tour starts at 10:30, please arrive early to allow time for parking and finding the meeting area.
12:15pm – 1:30pm
“Lunch & Learn at Vanderbilt” A casual lunch with researchers and clinicians.
1:30pm – 2:30pm
Travel time/rest time Relax at the hotel, or explore the area at your pace.
2:30pm – 4:00pm
Small Group Breakout Sessions
- Caregivers Circle – Led by Mitch Laursen
- Newly Diagnosed: Navigating the Now – Led by Terry Arnold
- Thrivers’ Room – Stage IV Meet Up – Led by Danielle Cameron
- Where Do I Fit – Led by Julia Laursen
5:00pm – 6:00 pm
Create your vision board with Olivia Franz
6:00pm – 8:00pm
Dinner and Keynote: “Hope Talk: Stories That Stay” – An inspiring evening of storytelling, strength, and shared hope. Shannon McVeigh Littleton
Saturday, October 4, 2025
7:00am – 8:00am
“Move Through It” Gentle yoga session with Julie Venn
8:00am – 9:30am
“Breakfast & Bio Mingle” Fuel up for the day while connecting with fellow science explorers — the true experts, our IBC patients.
(Breakfast will be served until 9:30 for those attending the yoga session, and you may bring it with you into the first session.)
9:00am – 10:00am
From Overwhelmed to Empowered: Emotional Coping Tools for IBC Patients
Transforming fear and confusion into resilience and hope.
with Martha Van Dam
10:00am – 10:15am
Break
10:15am – 11:00am
“Tools of the Trade” – Insider secrets and things you should know.
11:00am – 11:30am
“Metastasis and IBC” – Dr. Jessica Sharpe, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Hematology Oncology, discusses her research
11:30am – 12:00 noon
“Updates in Radiation Oncology and IBC” – Dr. Bapsi Chakravarthy, Professor, Program Director, Professor of Radiation Oncology
12:00pm – 12:45pm
Lunch
12:45pm – 1:00pm
Group picture
1:00pm – 2:00pm
Breakout Sessions:
Lymphedema led by Terry Arnold
Reconstruction Roundtable, led by Olivia Franz and Rachel Ford
2:00pm – 3:00pm
“Equity, Advocacy and Policy” with Karen Winkfield, MD, PhD, Professor of Radiation Oncology, Ingram Professor of Cancer Research,Executive Director, Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance
3:00pm – 3:15pm
Break
3:15pm – 4:15pm
“Patient Advocacy in Action” – Led by Julia Laursen, Patient Advocate, with Carla Strom, MLA, Administrative Director, Community Outreach & Engagement, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center
4:15pm – 5:15pm
“So You Want to Write?” – Quick introduction to write by Katy Bowser Hudson
5:15pm
“Line Dancing 101” – led by Lauren Aussieker
Dinner on your own – This is the perfect time to get out and explore the amazing flavors Nashville has to offer!
For those who’d like to join, Terry will be heading to Caney Fork Restaurant, just a short walk from the hotel. Since they don’t take reservations, we’ll plan to sit in small groups.
Sunday, October 5, 2025
7:30am – 8:00am
Join us for a victory lap walk in doors to support the Jimmy Fund Walk and research conducted by Dr. Filipa Lynce at Dana Farber Cancer Institute.
8:00am – 10:00am
Grab and go breakfast, Hug session (RSVP required) A warm send-off to close the weekend with nourishment and love.
Closing circle and reflections.
Where It’s At
The Inn at Opryland
2401 Music Valley Dr.
Nashville TN 37214
The special discount rate is $189/night plus tax for exterior guest rooms. Upgrades to the interior rooms will be $20 more @ $209 plus tax.
Last Day for discount rate is:
Monday, September 22, 2025
This rate is available for a few extra days in case you want to arrive early or leave later. Reservations dates must be between Tuesday, September 30, 2025 and Wednesday, October 8, 2025 (check-out on Thursday, October 9, 2025). Check in time 4:00 pm/check out 11:00am
You’re not required to stay at the host hotel, but we strongly encourage it. Booking within the room block helps us meet our contractual commitment, which in turn helps keep registration fees lower for everyone.
To use the hotel shuttle to and from the airport, reservations need to be made in advance. contact the front desk at 615-889-8870.
The hotel has free parking and provides a complimentary shuttle that makes a loop between the Inn at Opryland, the Gaylord Resort and the Opry Mills Mall and back. The shuttle begins at 7:50am until 8:00pm daily and runs continuously.
