2017 Summit – Drs Benjamin and Somaiah

GIST 101: The Basics of GIST

NEETA SOMAIAH: Dr. Somaiah joined MD Anderson in June 2012 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology. She received her MBBS (MD) at Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi University, New Delhi, India. Dr. Somaiah then received her hematology-oncology training at Fox Chase Cancer Center in Philadelphia and continued there as an assistant professor treating sarcoma. That is where she developed her interest in GIST. She now focuses completely on the care and clinical research of sarcomas, specifically GIST tumors and liposarcomas. Dr. Somaiah joined our GIST Summit team in 2013 and is our faculty sponsor.

DR. ROBERT BENJAMIN: Having served as Professor and Chairman of the Department of Sarcoma Medical Oncology prior to his retirement in 2012, many GIST patients have benefitted from Dr. Benjamin’s contribution to the MD Anderson system and to the improvement of therapies and treatment, as well as numerous studies, of our disease. All of us are fortunate that he rejoined the organization as a Clinical Professor and as the P.H. and Fay E. Robinson Distinguished Professor. Dr. Benjamin is a favorite presenter at GSI’s GIST Summits, always “telling it like it is.” Today “Dr. B” will again chair the “Ask the Experts” Panel after he shares brief remarks