The professor: Gabrielle Meyers, MD, professor of medicine, School of Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University

Session title: Fitness for HCT, Role of HCT-CI, CHARM and Geriatric Evaluation and Intervention

Date, time and location: Saturday, Feb. 7, 12:15 – 1:15 p.m. MST, Room 259 of the Salt Palace Convention Center

What is the focus of your session?  

“As we are seeing a larger population of otherwise healthy older adults with disease for which hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) is indicated, it is important to consider their transplant candidacy irrespective of their chronological age. Utilizing tools, such as the Composite Health Risk Assessment Model (CHARM), HCT Comorbidity Index (HCT-CI) or parts of/all of a comprehensive geriatric assessment, can help uncover areas of vulnerability, guide pretransplant referrals and distinguish patients who have an anticipated lower non-relapse mortality and may benefit from HCT. We will discuss how individualized assessments can reduce age-related bias in the field of HCT.” 

How did you become interested in these themes? 

“After decades of caring for HCT patients, I did a geriatric fellowship in 2021-2022 to expand my knowledge of older adult care and to understand the tools used to assess for geriatric syndromes common in our HCT patients. With this extra training, I now focus on HCT in the 70-and-older population.” 

What do you hope attendees will learn from your session? 

“Chronological age may not be the same as biological age, and this is true in both older and younger adults. Using tools and surveys, which can be done in clinic without too much time investment, can help us understand someone’s potential risk for HCT.” 

How will the themes you introduce affect the next generation in your field?  

“I hope to promote the concept of pretransplant evaluations and prehabilitation as a critical component in the care of all patients being considered for HCT.”

What else do you want to share about your Meet-the-Professor session?  

“I look forward to having a conversation about improving access to HCT and hearing people’s experiences.”

Meet-the-Professor is a series of 12 hour-long luncheon sessions in the Scientific Track featuring presentations by esteemed leaders in the transplantation and cellular therapy community. Limited tickets are available for $25 per person, per session, each of which includes a meal. Advance registration is highly recommended and can be made during online registration. In-person ticket sales during the 2026 Tandem Meetings will be available at the registration desk if tickets remain.