
AllyCon 2025
Thank you for joining your allies for an elevated experience that united the colorectal cancer community and empowered action against this disease. Together, we found connection, purpose, and support, and we are so grateful you were part of AllyCon 2025.


Engage, connect, and thrive
At AllyCon, you can:
- Learn from experts and stay ahead of the disease
- Take charge of the mission to end CRC
- Connect with people who truly understand

Loews Miami Beach Hotel
Located in the heart of South Beach's vibrant Art Deco District, the renowned Loews Miami Beach Hotel blends sophisticated style with beachfront chic.
Loews Miami Beach Hotel
1601 Collins Ave.
Miami Beach, Florida 33139
Your ticket price includes two hotel nights at our event venue, the Loews Miami Beach, with a check-in date of Friday, December 12, and a check-out date of Sunday, December 14. Any additional room nights before or after the event are the responsibility of the attendee. You are responsible for booking your hotel reservation, using the AllyCon room block.
AllyCon 2025 Agenda
Friday, December 12, 2025
- 2 - 7 pm Conference registration opens
- 6 - 8 pm Welcome reception at Preston’s Restaurant & Terrace; live music by singer/songwriter Sarah Harralson
Saturday, December 13, 2025
- 8 am Breakfast, registration, and the Thrive Village opens
- 9 - 10:00 am Opening general session - Project Cure CRC (PCCRC) and Blue HQ: The next frontier in colorectal cancer care (Michael Sapienza, CEO, Colorectal Cancer Alliance)
- 10 - 10:30 am Intratumoral Delivery of mRNA for Colorectal Cancer Treatment: Opening New Immunotherapy Horizons (Dr. Kevin Van der Jeught, PhD)
- 10:30 - 11 am Break and group photo
- 11 - 12:15 pm Breakout sessions
- Caring for them, caring for you: Navigating the CRC journey as a caregiver (Lauren Broschak, LCSW, LICSW, OSW-C Inova Life with Cancer and Kindroot Counseling)
- Beyond the diagnosis: Emotional health in cancer treatment (Melissa Sommers, MSW, LCSW Lee Health and Cancer Support Community)
- Intimacy uncensored: Real talk on sex after CRC (Jennifer Bires, LCSW, CST, Director, Inova Life with Cancer Center)
- Life in motion: Work, money, family & parenting after a cancer diagnosis (Krista Nelson, LCSW, OSW-C, FAOSW, FAPOS, FACCC, Director, Providence Cancer Center)
- 12:15 - 1:15 pm Lunch and gathering in the Thrive Village
- 1:15 - 2:15 pm General session (panel discussion) - Eating with purpose: Tailoring nutrition to the unique needs of colorectal cancer patients (Valaree Williams, RD, CSO, LDN, CNSC, FAND, Memorial Sloan Kettering)
- 2:15 - 2:35 pm Break
- 2:35 - 3:45 pm Breakout sessions
- The practical side of cancer: I have cancer- what now? (Paige Edmonds, MSW, CDP and Certified Patient & Family Support Navigator & Christin Sonneborn, Certified Patient & Family Support Navigator, Colorectal Cancer Alliance)
- Beyond survival: The young adult CRC journey (Lauren Broschak, LCSW, LICSW, OSW-C and Allison Rosen, AYA Patient)
Grief & loss after a cancer diagnosis: For those actively going through colorectal cancer (Marianne Pearson, MSW, LCSW, VP Cancer Care, Colorectal Cancer Alliance)
- Improving quality of life during treatment: The role of oncology rehabilitation and exercise in improving treatment related side effects and wellness (Jeff Eagan, PT, DPT, CLT & Kim Koziura)
- 3:45 - 4 pm Break
- 4 - 5:00 pm General session - After cancer: From patient to survivor (Dr. Joycelyn M Lee, PhD, MBA University of Miami, Department of Cancer Survivorship and Supportive Care)
- 5 - 6:30 pm Chill & refresh
- 6:30 - 9 pm Miami Vice dinner party
Sunday, December 14, 2025
- 8 - 9 am Breakfast
- 9 - 10:20 am General session - The time is now: Accelerating colorectal cancer personalized treatment (Dr. Chris Lieu, MD; Michael Sapienza, Chief Executive Officer)
- 10:20 - 10:40 am Break
- 10:40 - 11:50 am Breakout sessions
- CRC-specific nutrition for health and recovery (Federika Garcia, MS, RDN, LDN, CNSC, CSO, Oncology Dietitian, Sylvester Cancer Center)
- Improving the quality of life after treatment (Joann Santiago-Hepburn, MS, ACSM CEP & EP-C, ACSM/ACS CET, CES, RYT, Sylvester Cancer Center)
Healing beyond cancer: Emotional wellness for survivors (Melissa Sommers, LCSW, OSW-C Lee Health Care and Cancer Support Community)
Finding purpose through connecting with your community (Lauren Spero, VP of Volunteers & Monica Riedesel, Senior Manager of Volunteers)
- 11:50 am - 12:00 pm Break
- 12:00 - 12:30 pm Closing Session - Together toward tomorrow: Celebrating progress and powering the future of colorectal cancer care & Presentation of Jeannie Moore Blue Heart Award (Vishal Sandesara VP, Digital Health)
- 12:30 pm Conference concludes
*Agenda subject to change. Session times, speakers, and topics may be updated as details are finalized.
About the event
Ticketing and registration information
Travel and accommodations
Event logistics
Sponsorship, volunteerism, and non-profit partners
View 2024 AllyCon highlights
Navigating Your Care Journey
Navigating Your Care Journey featured Dr. Sharon Stein and a panel of experts who shared how to ask the right questions, balance life during and after treatment, and explore the latest in colorectal cancer nutrition. This is just one example of the meaningful sessions you can look forward to in 2025.

Watch AllyCon 2024 sessions
Colorectal Cancer State of the Union
Moderator John Woerner and experts Dr. Adham Jurdi and Dr. Nilo Azad shared updates on FDA approvals, Medicare changes, ctDNA and MRD advancements, and emerging research that left attendees informed and empowered. This is the type of impactful session you can expect to experience in 2025.

2025 AllyCon Steering Committee
The AllyCon Steering Committee is a volunteer leadership group comprised of patients, survivors, and caregivers who guide strategy, planning, and engagement for the AllyCon conference.
Michelle Swanson
Paul Weigel
Vicki Weeks Barrilleaux
Joe Bullock
Jasmin Mejia
Nancy Pope
Denia Tackett
Deondre Williams
Nic Young
AllyCon 2025 Sponsors
Silver
Bronze
Additional funding provided by
In-kind support from
AllyCon Contacts
Sponsorship: Contact Jamee Telford
Other inquiries: Contact allycon@ccalliance.org
Top resources

Five moments that mattered in 2025
These moments that mattered reflect a growing, unified movement to save lives and drive the mission to end colorectal cancer forward with urgency.

2025 Walk series inspired allies across the country
Across nine cities nationwide, our community showed what’s possible when compassion, determination, and action meet on the pavement to #WalkLoud.

"Clinical trials gave us time": A daughter’s tribute to her mother’s courage
When Kate Shin’s mother faced rectal cancer, clinical trials gave them precious time together. Now, Kate shares her story to encourage access to screening and innovative care, including clinical trials.



























