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WIN 2026 Schedule

July 30–31, 2026 in Boston, MA | Sept. 10–11, 2026 Virtual

The 8th Annual Women in Cancer Immunotherapy Network (WIN) Leadership Institute features two opportunities to attend, in-person or virtually. The program, championed by SITC Past President Lisa H. Butterfield, PhD, the society’s first female president, brings emerging female leaders in the cancer immunotherapy field together for an inspirational two days of professional development and networking event.

In-Person Schedule

July 30–31, 2026 in Boston, MA

Thursday, July 30

7–8 a.m. ET

Breakfast and Badge Pick Up

 
8–8:15 a.m. ET

Opening Remarks

 
8:15–9:35 a.m. ET

Securing a Seat at the Table: How Emerging Leaders Attract and Activate Sponsorship

Speaker:
Ashley Koegel, MD – Bristol Myers Squibb

Panelists:
Tullia Bruno, PhD – University of Pittsburgh
Tracy Dooley, MD – Avestria Ventures
Charlie Garnett-Benson, PhD – Bristol Myers Squibb
9:35–9:50 a.m. ET

Break

 
9:50–10:50 a.m. ET

Authentic Leadership: Developing Your Personal Brand and Communication Skills

Speaker:
Elizabeth Travis, PhD, FASTRO, FRRS – Independent Consultant

Panelists:
Tracy Dooley, MD – Avestria Ventures
Jennifer Guerriero, PhD – Brigham and Women's Hospital
Bridget Keenan, MD, PhD – University of California, San Francisco
10:50 a.m.–12:10 p.m. ET

Navigating Workplace Politics

Panelists:
Jennifer Grandis, MD – University of California, San Francisco
Bridget Keenan, MD, PhD – University of California, San Francisco
Rosanna Ricafort, MD – Bristol Myers Squibb
Kimberly Shafer-Weaver, PhD, MBA – Merck
Elizabeth Travis, PhD, FASTRO, FRRS – Independent Consultant
12:10–1:10 p.m. ET

Networking Lunch 

 
1:10–1:55 p.m. ET

Breakout Session

Faculty:
Tullia Bruno, PhD – University of Pittsburgh
Lisa Butterfield, PhD – Independent Consultant
Sandra Demaria, MD – Weill Cornell Medicine
Jie D'Elia, PhD – SystImmune, Inc.
Tracy Dooley, MD – Avestria Ventures
Charlie Garnett-Benson, PhD – Bristol Myers Squibb
Jennifer Grandis, MD – University of California, San Francisco
Jennifer Guerriero, PhD – Brigham and Women's Hospital
Bridget Keenan, MD, PhD – University of California, San Francisco
Ashley Koegel, MD – Bristol Myers Squibb
Yana Najjar, MD – UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Ruth Salmon, MS – Bristol Myers Squibb
Kimberly Shafer-Weaver, PhD, MBA – Merck
Li Sun, PhD – Shennon Bio
Elizabeth Travis, PhD, FASTRO, FRRS – Independent Consultant
Sarah Warren, PhD – Gilead Sciences
1:55–3:15 p.m. ET

Work Life Integration

Speaker:
Jennifer Guerriero, PhD – Brigham and Women's Hospital

Panelists:
Yana Najjar, MD – UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Ruth Salmon, MS – Bristol Myers Squibb
Li Sun, PhD – Shennon Bio
3:15–3:30 p.m. ET

Break
3:30–4:35 p.m. ET

Women and Work: Alternate Career Paths

Panelists:
Tracy Dooley, MD – Avestria Ventures
Li Sun, PhD – Shennon Bio
Sarah Warren, PhD – Gilead Sciences
4:35–5:25 p.m. ET

Dr. Muriel Joan Drew Hege Keynote Address

 Speaker:
Jennifer Grandis, MD – University of California, San Francisco
5:30–6:30 p.m. ET

Reception

 

Friday, July 31

7:30–8:30 a.m. ET

Coffee, Tea, and Walk (Optional)

 
8–9 a.m. ET

Breakfast

 
9–10:10 a.m. ET

How to Develop Your Team

Speaker: 
Charlie Garnett-Benson, PhD – Bristol Myers Squibb

Panelists:
Rosanna Ricafort, MD – Bristol Myers Squibb
Sarah Warren, PhD – Gilead Sciences
10:10–10:25 a.m. ET Break  
10:25–11:10 a.m. ET

Breakout Session                                               

Faculty:
Tullia Bruno, PhD – University of Pittsburgh
Lisa Butterfield, PhD – Independent Consultant
Sandra Demaria, MD – Weill Cornell Medicine
Jie D'Elia, PhD – SystImmune, Inc.
Tracy Dooley, MD – Avestria Ventures
Charlie Garnett-Benson, PhD – Bristol Myers Squibb
Jennifer Grandis, MD – University of California, San Francisco
Jennifer Guerriero, PhD – Brigham and Women's Hospital
Bridget Keenan, MD, PhD – University of California, San Francisco
Ashley Koegel, MD – Bristol Myers Squibb
Yana Najjar, MD – UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Ruth Salmon, MS – Bristol Myers Squibb
Kimberly Shafer-Weaver, PhD, MBA – Merck
Li Sun, PhD – Shennon Bio
Elizabeth Travis, PhD, FASTRO, FRRS – Independent Consultant
Sarah Warren, PhD – Gilead Sciences

11:10 a.m.–12:20 p.m. ET

The Art of Saying No

Speaker:
Tullia Bruno, PhD – University of Pittsburgh

Panelists:
Jie D'Elia, PhD – SystImmune, Inc.
Bridget Keenan, MD, PhD – University of California, San Francisco
Yana Najjar, MD – UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
12:20–1:20 p.m. ET

Networking Lunch

 

1:20–2:40 p.m. ET

The Male Perspective

Speaker:
Robert Ferris, MD, PhD – UNC

Panelists:
Howard Kaufman, MD, FACS – Massachusetts General Hospital
Daniel Powell, PhD – The University of Pennsylvania
Adrian Rawcliffe – Etiome
Ryan Sullivan, MD – Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital

2:40–3:50 p.m. ET

How to Negotiate 

Speaker: 
Jie D'Elia, PhD – SystImmune, Inc.

Panelists:
Lisa Butterfield, PhD – Independent Consultant
Kimberly Shafer-Weaver, PhD, MBA – Merck
Elizabeth Travis, PhD, FASTRO, FRRS – Independent Consultant

3:50–4:10 p.m. ET

Closing Remarks and Survey

 

Virtual Schedule

Sep. 10–11, 2026

Thursday, Sept. 10

8–8:15 a.m. CT

Opening Remarks

 
8:15–9:35 a.m. CT

Securing a Seat at the Table: How Emerging Leaders Attract and Activate Sponsorship

Speaker:
Ashley Koegel, MD – Bristol Myers Squibb

Panelists:
Tullia Bruno, PhD – University of Pittsburgh
Tracy Dooley, MD – Avestria Ventures
Charlie Garnett-Benson, PhD – Bristol Myers Squibb
9:35–10:35 a.m. CT Authentic Leadership: Developing Your Personal Brand and Communication Skills

Speaker:
Elizabeth Travis, PhD, FASTRO, FRRS – Independent Consultant

Panelists:
Tracy Dooley, MD – Avestria Ventures
Jennifer Guerriero, PhD – Brigham and Women's Hospital
Bridget Keenan, MD, PhD – University of California, San Francisco
10:35–11:55 a.m. CT

Navigating Workplace Politics

Panelists:
Jennifer Grandis, MD – University of California, San Francisco
Bridget Keenan, MD, PhD – University of California, San Francisco
Rosanna Ricafort, MD – Bristol Myers Squibb
Kimberly Shafer-Weaver, PhD, MBA – Merck
Elizabeth Travis, PhD, FASTRO, FRRS – Independent Consultant
11:55 a.m.–12:25 p.m. CT

Break

 
12:25 –1:10 p.m. CT

Breakout Session

Faculty:
Tullia Bruno, PhD – University of Pittsburgh
Lisa Butterfield, PhD – Independent Consultant
Jie D'Elia, PhD – SystImmune, Inc.
Tracy Dooley, MD – Avestria Ventures
Teri Foy, PhD – Formerly Bristol Myers Squibb
Charlie Garnett-Benson, PhD – Bristol Myers Squibb
Sangeeta Goswami, MD, PhD – The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Jennifer Guerriero, PhD – Brigham and Women's Hospital
Kristen Hege, MD – Board Member, Kelonia, KSQ and EvolveImmune
Bridget Keenan, MD, PhD – University of California, San Francisco
Ashley Koegel, MD – Bristol Myers Squibb
Yana Najjar, MD – UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Ruth Salmon, MS – Bristol Myers Squibb
Kimberly Shafer-Weaver, PhD, MBA – Merck
Li Sun, PhD – Shennon Bio
Elizabeth Travis, PhD, FASTRO, FRRS – Independent Consultant
Sarah Warren, PhD – Gilead Sciences
1:10–2:30 p.m. CT

Work Life Integration

Speaker:
Jennifer Guerriero, PhD – Brigham and Women's Hospital

Panelists:
Yana Najjar, MD – UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Ruth Salmon, MS – Bristol Myers Squibb
Li Sun, PhD – Shennon Bio
2:30 –3:35 p.m. CT

Women and Work: Alternate Career Paths

Panelists:
Tracy Dooley, MD – Avestria Ventures
Li Sun, PhD – Shennon Bio
Sarah Warren, PhD – Gilead Sciences
3:35–4:25 p.m. CT

Dr. Muriel Joan Drew Hege Keynote Address

Speaker:
Jennifer Grandis, MD – University of California, San Francisco

Friday, Sept. 11

9–10:10 a.m. CT

How to Develop Your Team

Speaker: 
Charlie Garnett-Benson, PhD – Bristol Myers Squibb

Panelists:
Rosanna Ricafort, MD – Bristol Myers Squibb
Sarah Warren, PhD – Gilead Sciences

 
10:10–10:55 a.m. CT

Breakout Session

 Faculty:
Tullia Bruno, PhD – University of Pittsburgh
Lisa Butterfield, PhD – Independent Consultant
Jie D'Elia, PhD – SystImmune, Inc.
Tracy Dooley, MD – Avestria Ventures
Teri Foy, PhD – Formerly Bristol Myers Squibb
Charlie Garnett-Benson, PhD – Bristol Myers Squibb
Sangeeta Goswami, MD, PhD – The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center
Jennifer Guerriero, PhD – Brigham and Women's Hospital
Kristen Hege, MD – Board Member, Mersana, Adaptimmune, Kelonia, KSQ and EvolveImmune
Bridget Keenan, MD, PhD – University of California, San Francisco
Ashley Koegel, MD – Bristol Myers Squibb
Yana Najjar, MD – UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
Ruth Salmon, MS – Bristol Myers Squibb
Kimberly Shafer-Weaver, PhD, MBA – Merck
Li Sun, PhD – Shennon Bio
Elizabeth Travis, PhD, FASTRO, FRRS – Independent Consultant
Sarah Warren, PhD – Gilead Sciences
10:55 a.m.–12:05 p.m. CT

The Art of Saying No

Speaker:
Tullia Bruno, PhD – University of Pittsburgh

Panelists:
Jie D'Elia, PhD – SystImmune, Inc.
Bridget Keenan, MD, PhD – University of California, San Francisco
Yana Najjar, MD – UPMC Hillman Cancer Center
12:05–12:35 p.m. CT

Break

 
12:35–1:55 p.m. CT

The Male Perspective

Speaker:
Robert Ferris, MD, PhD – UNC

Panelists:
Howard Kaufman, MD, FACS – Massachusetts General Hospital
Daniel Powell, PhD – The University of Pennsylvania
Adrian Rawcliffe – Etiome
Ryan Sullivan, MD – Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital
1:55–3:05 p.m. CT

How to Negotiate 

Speaker: 
Jie D'Elia, PhD – SystImmune, Inc.

Panelists:
Lisa Butterfield, PhD – Independent Consultant
Kimberly Shafer-Weaver, PhD, MBA - Merck
Elizabeth Travis, PhD, FASTRO, FRRS – Independent Consultant
3:05–3:20 p.m. CT

Closing Remarks and Survey