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There are approximately 4,000 pediatric cancer patients and survivors in Virginia’s school system, and that number grows as survival rates increase. Two-thirds of these children will experience late effects from treatment which impact their long-term school success. Learn how teachers, nurses, counselors and administrators can best support these students’ unique needs in the classroom.

In partnership with the Virginia Department of Health, ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation invites you and your colleagues to join us, in-person or virtually, for a conference specifically created for teachers and other key school personnel.

This conference offers a certificate of completion that confers 5 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for teachers and Continuing Nursing Education (CNEs) for nurses upon completion of the course evaluation.* 

​Join us in person for $25 (breakfast and lunch included) or virtually for free. Registration deadline for in-person attendees is 3/11/22.

*This continuing nursing education activity was approved by the Virginia Nurses Association, an accredited approver by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. Awarding of CEUs & CNEs is dependent on attendance at all six information sessions at the conference.

Alma morgan, M.ed

Alma Morgan, M.Ed.

Education coordinator

ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation

As an educational consultant with over 35 years in education, Alma loves working with children, teens and young adults. She believes that all children can be successful in the educational setting with the proper tools.

Alma graduated from Virginia Tech in December 1978 with a Bachelor of Science in Sociology and a minor in English. After getting married she moved to Richmond and enrolled in graduate school at Virginia Commonwealth University. She completed a Master of Education, specifically special education in 1983.

While her career began in a private school in 1980 as a special education teacher for children with severe learning disabilities and behavioral issues, the last 30 years have been devoted to children with chronic health needs at the Children’s Hospital of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University Medical Center. In between, she has worked in various educational settings with public school, correctional education, adult education and adjunct instructor at the University of Virginia. In 2005, Alma and a colleague opened a private office, Learning Specialists of Virginia, where they provide 1-to-1 tutoring, assessments, and educational consults.
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Since that time, Alma has completed 50 or more post-graduate hours in education. She holds a Virginia teaching certificate and is active in both attending and presenting at educational conferences.

Madhu gowda, md

Madhu Gowda, MD

Pediatric Hematology & oncology

Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU

Dr. Madhu Gowda started at VCU in 2007 as a fellowship trainee in pediatric hematology-oncology and continued as faculty from 2010 working with cancer survivors and developing a childhood cancer survivorship clinic, a place for care beyond the cure. In addition to patient care, he is part of the committee developing guidelines for survivorship care at the Children’s Oncology Group.

​He has authored many peer reviewed publications and is currently working on promoting physical activity for cancer survivors through a COG study. He has been recognized by Richmond Magazine as a Top Doc and by Our Health magazine for Best bedside manners.

Michelle jarnagin johnson

Michelle Jarnagin Johnson

launch project coordinator

ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation

Michelle received her Bachelor of Science degree in Special Education with certification in Learning Disabilities from Winston-Salem State University in May of 1982.  She started her career as a diagnostician in the Mitchell County Public Schools system located in Camilla, Georgia that same year.  In September of 1983, Michelle moved with her husband to the Richmond-metro area and began working in the Chesterfield County Public Schools system as a teacher of the learning disabled. She received her Master of Science degree in Special Education from Virginia State University in May of 1995 and continued to work for CCPS as a diagnostician and special education coordinator/administrator of special education. 

​In August of 2006, Michelle started working as an Educational Consultant for the Hospital Education Program located within the VCU Health System.  She evaluated children and acted as a liaison between parents, schools, and the medical staff in the clinics of Child Neurology, Hematology, Care Connection for Children, Genetics, and Child Development. Since March of 2019, Michelle has worked as Launch Project Coordinator for the ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation. In this capacity, she currently strives to aid young adults with navigating their educational, vocational, career, and wellness goals.

robyn dillon, lcsw

Robyn Dillon, LCSW

Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU

Robyn received her Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology and Sociology from Virginia Tech, pursued extended graduate studies in Sociology at San Diego State University, and received her Master of Social Work, Clinical Concentration, from Virginia Commonwealth University.She is certified as a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and a Certified Advanced Children, Youth, and Family Social Worker.
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Robyn currently works as a Clinical Social Worker in the Department of Care Coordination, Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology at VCU Medical Center, including at the survivorship clinic with Anne Mauck and Alma Morgan.

Robyn has won numerous awards and honors and has presented at previous ASK and VCU workshops.

Rich catlett, bcc

Rich Catlett, BCC

Chaplain

Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU

​Rich Catlett has been the chaplain with ASK Childhood Cancer since July of 2019. Before this he was the chaplain at Noah's Children which is a pediatric palliative care and hospice program for five years. Rich is a Board Certified Chaplain and an ordained minister. He has been married to his lovely wife Anne for 17 years and he has two daughters aged 8 and 13. 

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9:00-9:15am
Welcome & Opening Remarks
Alma Morgan, M.Ed., Education Coordinator
ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation
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9:15-10:00am
Overview of Pediatric Cancer
Madhu Gowda, MD
Pediatric Hematology & Oncology
Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU
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10:00-11:00am
Cognitive Late Effects & the Childhood
​Cancer Education Toolkit
Alma Morgan, M.Ed., Education Coordinator
ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation

11:15am-12:00pm
Challenges of our Teens & Young Adult Cancer Survivors
Michelle Jarnagin Johnson, Launch Project Coordinator
ASK Childhood Cancer Foundation

1:00-2:00pm
Childhood Cancer: The Emotional Impact 
​on Kids & Siblings
Robyn Dillon, LCSW
Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU

2:00-3:00pm
Grief & Loss
Rich Catlett, BCC, Chaplain
Children's Hospital of Richmond at VCU

3:00-3:30pm
What We Want You to Know: Panel Presentation
Childhood Cancer Patients & Survivors

3:30-3:45pm
Conference Evaluations & Certificate Distribution

TESTIMONIALS

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For questions about the conference, please contact Denice Grawe, ASK Program Manager at dgrawe@askccf.org or (804) 658-5910 ext. 104.

For questions about the conference, please contact Denice Grawe, ASK Program Manager at dgrawe@askccf.org or (804) 658-5910 ext. 104.

This publication was supported by the Grant or Cooperative Agreement, Number NU58DP006324, funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention or the Department of Health and Human Services.