H O U S T O N    M E T H O D I S T    N E A L    C A N C E R    C E N T E R   

The 3rd Annual GI Oncology Summit
Chair: Maen Abdelrahim, MD, PhD, PharmD
Course Director: Jian Guan, MD
Director, Scientific Planning Committee: Abdullah Esmail, MD
Friday, December 4, 2026 | Hybrid Symposium

TIME

PRESENTATION

SPEAKER(S)

7:30 AM

Registration & Breakfast

7:50 AM

BREAKFAST PRODUCT THEATRE - Guardant
***Promotional Session: Not CE Accredited*** (Presented in Boardroom)

8:20 AM

Welcome and Leadership Landmark Opening

Maen Abdelrahim, MD, PhD, Pharm D

8:30 AM

Session 1: Hepatobiliary Cancer
Session Chair: Mazen Noureddin, MD, MHSc

8:35 AM

Global Liver Cancer Trends in 2026: Precision Epidemiology and Hepatoprotective Strategies

Joseph Galati, MD

8:45 AM

Next-Generation Liver Cancer Screening: Liquid Biopsies and Biomarker-Guided Precision Medicine

Dan G. Duda, DMD, PhD

8:55 AM

Precision Management of Cirrhosis-Associated HCC: Novel Hepatologist Strategies for 2026

Nicole Rich, MD, MS

9:05 AM

Immunotherapy 2.0: Novel Combinations and Biomarkers for HCC in 2026

Sukeshi Patel Arora, MD

9:15 AM

Precision Medicine in Cholangiocarcinoma: Targeted Therapies and Immune Modulation

Sunyoung S. Lee, MD

9:25 AM

Robotic surgical management of Hepatobiliary Cancer

Caroline J. Simon, MD, FACS

9:35 AM

Panel Discussion

9:55 AM

Coffee Break

10:20 AM

Session 2: Pancreatic Cancer
Session Chair: Chinemerem Fred Abanonu, MD

10:10 AM

Enhancing Early Detection of Pancreatic Cancer in Genetically Predisposed Individuals

Hikmat Abdel-Razeq, MD

10:20 AM

Cyst Clinic at HMH: Rational and Management Considerations

Ashish Saharia, MD, FACS

10:30 AM

Neuroendocrine Tumors: Advances for 2026

Philip A. Philip, MD

10:40 AM

Targeted Therapies for Pancreatic Cancer: Biomarker-Driven Advances for 2026

Pashtoon Kasi, MD, MS

10:50 AM

Panel Discussion

11:05 AM

Coffee Break

11:15 AM

Session 3: Next-Generation Patient Care & Clinical Innovations in GI Oncology
Session Chair: Maen Abdelrahim, MD, PhD, PharmD

11:20 AM

Transforming the Patient Experience: Healthcare Innovation & Quality at Houston Methodist

Roberta Schwartz, PhD

11:30 AM

AI-Driven Precision Solutions for GI Oncology

Khurram Nasir, MD

11:40 AM

Advances in Management & Risk Stratification of High-Risk GI Cancers

Jian Guan, MD

11:50 AM

Novel Cancer Vaccines in Gastrointestinal Oncology: Houston Methodist Frontiers

Mai Komori, PhD

12:00 PM

Panel Discussion

12:15 PM

LUNCH PRODUCT THEATRE - Boston Scientific
Breaking Barriers in Metastatic Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma by Targeting RAS
***Promotional Session: Not CE Accredited*** (Presented in Boardroom)

Salwan Al-Mutar, MD, MSc

12:45 PM

Break

12:50 PM

LUNCH PRODUCT THEATRE - Revolution Medicine
***Promotional Session: Not CE Accredited*** (Presented in Boardroom)

1:20 PM

Session 4: Colorectal Cancer  
Session Chair: Ritha Belizaire, MD   

1:25 PM

Precision Radiation Oncology for Colorectal Cancer: Adaptive Therapies in 2026

Andrew M. Farach, MD

1:35 PM

Advanced Minimally Invasive Surgery for Colorectal Cancer: 2026 Innovations

Joshua Coursey, MD

1:45 PM

Immunotherapy Landscape in Colorectal Cancer: What's New and What's Next?

David Fogelman, MD

1:55 PM

Genomic-Driven Precision Oncology in Colorectal Cancer: 2026 Therapeutic Frontiers

Scott Kopetz, MD

2:05 PM

Appendiceal Adenocarcinoma: Advances in Diagnosis and Therapeutic Strategies, Are We There Yet?

John Paul YC Shen, MD

2:15 PM

Panel Discussion

2:30 PM

Coffee Break

2:40 PM

Session 5: Esophageal and Gastric Cancer 
Session Chair: Preethi Prasad, MD

2:45 PM

Precision Medicine in Gastroesophageal Adenocarcinoma: Novel Targets and Therapies for 2026

Jaffer Ajani, MD

2:55 PM

Multidisciplinary Advances in Resectable Gastroesophageal Cancers: Precision Approaches for 2026

Anwaar Saeed, MD

3:05 PM

Panel Discussion

3:15 PM

Concluding Remarks

Maen Abdelrahim, MD, PhD, Pharm D