From the Clinic to the Living Room
2025 Webinars
Genetics and Melanoma: Understanding Genetic Testing and Its Role in Melanoma Diagnosis, Prognosis, and Therapy
Date: July 15th, 12:00 PM- 12:30 PM (ET)
VIA ZOOM
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Join us for an insightful webinar exploring the critical role of genetics in melanoma. This session will cover key topics including:
- What is the role of genetics in melanoma?
- Are there specific genetic tests for different types of melanoma?
- Which genetic tests should patients discuss with their doctors?
- How tumor genetics influence prognosis and recurrence predictions
- The impact of tumor genetics on melanoma treatment options
- The future of genetic testing in melanoma care
Hosted by:
Melissa Wilson, PA-C, MPAS
Melanoma Lead, UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Guest Speaker:
Yana Najjar, MD
Whether you’re a patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional, this webinar will bring the latest insights from the clinic straight to your living room. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a leading expert in the field.
About Our Guest Speaker: Yana G. Najjar, MD
Dr. Yana G. Najjar is a translational investigator and cutaneous oncologist at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center. She serves as an Assistant Professor of Medicine and is the Director of the Clinical and Translational Research Center. Dr. Najjar specializes in the treatment of advanced melanoma, with a particular focus on anti-PD1 resistant melanoma and rare melanoma subtypes.
Using a bench-to-bedside approach, Dr. Najjar has developed multiple investigator-initiated clinical trials aimed at remodeling melanoma tumor cell metabolism and the hypoxic tumor microenvironment to overcome resistance mechanisms to immunotherapy. Her lab is dedicated to conducting comprehensive correlative analyses to further understand and improve treatment responses.
Melanoma and Pregnancy: What You Need to Know
Hosted by Melissa Wilson, PA-C, MPAS with Guest Expert Dr. Jane M. Grant-Kels, MD, FAAD
This informative 30-minute session explores critical topics about melanoma and pregnancy. Hosted by Melissa Wilson, PA-C, MPAS, this “From the Clinic to the Living Room” webinar welcomes Jane M. Grant-Kels, MD, FAAD as our special guest.
Dr. Grant-Kels is a Professor of Dermatology, Pathology, and Pediatrics, Vice Chair of the Department of Dermatology, and Director of the Cutaneous Oncology Center and Melanoma Program at the University of Connecticut. She is also the Assistant Residency Program Director.
About our Guest: Jane M. Grant-Kels, MD, FAAD, is Vice Chair of the Department of Dermatology, Founding Director of the Cutaneous Oncology Center and Melanoma Programs and Professor of Dermatology, Pathology and Pediatrics at the University of Connecticut Health Center. She is also founding chair emeritus of the Department of Dermatology, founding director emeritus of the dermatology residency program, and founding director emeritus of the dermatopathology laboratory. Jane attended Smith College and Cornell University Medical College. She then trained in pediatrics and dermatology at Cornell’s New York Hospital. Following her residency she completed a dermatopathology fellowship at New York University with A Bernard Ackerman. Jane serves on numerous editorial boards related to her field and was the founding editor in chief of the Journal of Clinical Medicine and the founding co-editor in chief of the International Journal of Women’s Dermatology. Presently she is Deputy Editor of J Am Acad Dermatol. She was a member of the Board of the Women’s Dermatologic Society and the Board of the American Academy of Dermatology and is presently Vice President of the AAD. She was also the recipient of the WDS Rose Hirschler Award in 2018, the AAD Professionalism Award in 2014, as well as AAD Presidential Citations in 2016 and 2017. Her areas of interest are pigmented lesions, reflectance confocal microscopy, dermoscopy and dermatoethics.
She has published over 325 manuscripts, 100 chapters, guest edited 20 journals, and edited or co-authored 6 books. She has also delivered over 600 invited lectures.
Together, in this webinar, we’ll address key concerns about melanoma and pregnancy, including:
- Is it normal for moles (nevi) to change during pregnancy?
- What should you do if a nevus changes?
- How often should you be seen during pregnancy if you’ve had melanoma in the past?
- Does pregnancy increase your risk of melanoma?
- Can melanoma behave differently during pregnancy?
- Is it safe to have a biopsy of a suspicious lesion while pregnant?
- Does pregnancy after melanoma impact your risk of recurrence?
Whether you’re pregnant, planning to be, or simply want to learn more, this webinar is essential for understanding how melanoma and pregnancy intersect and what steps you can take to protect your health.
About Our Host
Melissa Wilson, PA-C, MPAS, possesses an extensive background in supporting melanoma patients and their families. She remains abreast of the latest advancements in melanoma treatment and research. As a visionary in her field, Melissa has been a key contributor to the field of melanoma care, holding the role of NCCPA-certified senior physician assistant since 2005. She has collaborated closely with renowned melanoma expert Dr. John Kirkwood at the University of Pittsburgh’s Cancer Institute, within the Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine. Together, they have spearheaded treatment and research efforts that have set a benchmark for cancer care nationwide. Melissa currently leads as the principal physician assistant within the Melanoma Program at UPMC Hillman Cancer Center.
Melissa has a passion for education and collaboration, working with a multidisciplinary team to enhance patient education. She serves as an adjunct faculty member and clinical preceptor at Chatham University, where she also lectures on melanoma care within their cancer care module since 2013.