Hyperthermia Therapy Practice School

Day 1: Monday, April 15, 2024 | 7:15 AM-5:00 PM with Reception to Follow
Day 2: Tuesday, April 16, 2024 | 7:15 AM-3:15 PM
Locations: Maryland Proton Treatment Center | 850 W Baltimore St | Baltimore, MD 21201 and
University of Maryland Medical Center | 22 S Greene St | Baltimore, MD 21201

About the Course

Over the past fifteen years there has been significant advancement in the field of hyperthermia therapy, an adjuvant cancer therapy that sensitizes tumor cells to both radiation and chemotherapy. With increased knowledge and training, clinicians will be able to provide a less invasive form of radiation to their patients.

The Hyperthermia Therapy Practice School is an in-person CME accredited course (pending) that will provide the attendees with the theoretical aspects of hyperthermia therapy in a lecture format with a question and answer session. Several cases will be reviewed to explain the different approaches to treat different disease sites. Small groups will facilitate in-depth training of practical guidelines for hyperthermia therapy treatment delivery, and will practice the treatment delivery in terms of software and hardware in experimental phantoms.

Attending practitioners will be made aware of combining hyperthermia therapy with the different forms of radiation treatment and will benefit from a formal training course that will provide one day of lectures and clinical case reviews, and a second day of practical training and use of hyperthermia therapy equipment. 

Breakfast and lunch are included each day of the event. All attendees and speakers are invited to a complimentary dinner reception and tour of the Maryland Proton Treatment Center (MPTC).

Accreditation: The University of Maryland School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

CME Credits: Pending

Hyperthermia Therapy Practice School Save the Date

About Hyperthermia Therapy and Proton Therapy

Advances in the applications, technologies and methodologies of radiation oncology continue to evolve rapidly and the delivery of radiation therapy has become more complex, making it imperative that radiation oncology professionals remain current in the state-of-the-art techniques. Hyperthermia therapy at 40-44°C (also known as thermotherapy) is a specialized adjuvant cancer therapy that is only available in a few radiation oncology clinics throughout the U.S. Similarly, proton therapy is a less invasive form of radiation that is currently only available in certain regions of the country. Hyperthermia therapy is a non-invasive procedure that has been used with traditional photon radiation and chemotherapy. The University of Maryland Division of Translational Radiation Sciences (DTRS) is now documenting the effectiveness of thermotherapy when applied with proton therapy, an effort that has no parallel in the U.S.

In-Person Format Disclaimer

The safety and health of our patients, colleagues, and visitors remains the number one priority of the University of Maryland Department of Radiation Oncology. Attendees will be required to comply with all current federal, state, local, and University  of Maryland policies regarding health and illness. Any changes to travel arrangements or costs incurred due to local and institutional health regulations are the sole responsibility of the participant.

Registration will open soon!

Advanced registration is required, and registration is limited to 24 seats. General registration is $2,200, or discounted to $2,000 with proof of membership to any of these organizations: STM, ESHO, or ASHO.

Refund Policy

Once a registration is submitted, you will have 24 hours to submit a request for refund. In the event of cancellation after that time, a refund will not be provided.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of this activity, participants will be able to:

1. Recall all the components required to establish a hyperthermia therapy program.
2. Distinguish the different biology of tumors and healthy tissues during elevated temperatures.
3. Decide proper patient eligibility for hyperthermia treatments and the most adequate modality: interstitial, superficial or deep hyperthermia therapy.
4. Define the radio- and chemosensitization effects induced by hyperthermia.
5. Describe the physics of radio waves and microwaves as well as the need for water bolus.
6. Explain how to position the different hyperthermia applicators and define the need for multiple treatment sites.
7. Perform treatment delivery of interstitial, superficial and deep hyperthermia therapy.
8. Analyze and report hyperthermia therapy treatment data.
9. Implement the clinical workflow, documentation and reimbursement of hyperthermia treatments.
10. Understand the reimbursement strategy for hyperthermia treatments.

Target Audience

This course is the first of its kind in the U.S. to provide practice guidelines and practical training to national and international hyperthermia therapy practitioners, including:

Course Directors

Jason Kyle Molitoris, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Director of Clinical Hyperthermia
Associate Medical Director for UMMC Radiation Oncology

Dr. Molitoris's ongoing research at the University of Maryland is focused on the implementation of advanced treatment technologies to his clinical areas of interest and on evaluating novel approaches to improve treatment efficacy while decreasing side effects. He is interested in combining multiple advanced treatment technologies, including hyperthermia therapy combined with brachytherapy to treat recurrent prostate cancer.

Dario Rodrigues, PhD
Assistant Professor of Radiation Oncology
University of Maryland School of Medicine
Lead Hyperthermia Physicist

Dr. Rodrigues is one of the few hyperthermia therapy physicists in the U.S. He specializes in focused heat generated by radio waves (hyperthermia) which is a potent enhancer of chemo- and radiotherapy. Dr. Rodrigues is also the Councilor of Engineering/Physics of the Society for Thermal Medicine.

Speakers & Lecture Titles

Location & Travel

Locations

Lectures and simulations will be held at two locations (walking distance):

Maryland Proton Treatment Center (MPTC)
850 W. Baltimore Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

University of Maryland Medical Center (UMMC)
Department of Radiation Oncology
22 S. Greene Street, Gudelsky Ground Floor
Baltimore, MD 21201

Parking

There will be free garage parking with a validated ticket for attendees at Garage One, located at the corner of W. Baltimore and Poppleton next to MPTC.

University of Maryland BioPark Garage One
1 N. Poppleton Street
Baltimore, MD 21201

There are several additional parking garages available on the University of Maryland Medical Center campus.

Traveling to Baltimore

Please use BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport, which is approximately 20 minutes from downtown Baltimore.

Hotel

We have secured a block of discounted hotel rooms at the rate at the Lord Baltimore Hotel, located at 20 W. Baltimore St., Baltimore, MD 21201. A complimentary shuttle will be provided in the morning and evening to drop off and pick up at both MPTC and UMMC. Please contact the Lord Baltimore Hotel at 410-539-8400 for questions about the hotel or parking information. 

Other University of Maryland partner hotels are available.

Course Coordinator

For questions about the course, please contact the course coordinator Jessica White (she/her) at jessica.white@umm.edu or 410-328-7618.

ADA Statement

If you require special accommodations to attend or participate in this CME activity, please provide information about your requirements to Sr. Program Coordinator, Jessica White at jessica.white@umm.edu at least five business days in advance of the activity.