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21st Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference

2026 Conference Agenda

The 21st Annual Asbestos Awareness and Prevention Conference — “Asbestos: Awareness, Prevention, and the Law.”

September 25–26, 2026 • AC Hotel Arlington, Washington, D.C. Area

Fri, Sep 25 · Under the StarsSat, Sep 26 · Academic ConferenceSat, Sep 26 · Awards Dinner
Event One

“Under the Stars” — Featuring Jordan Zevon

Friday, September 25, 2026 • 6:00 – 8:30 PM
An evening of music, community, and inspiration to open the conference weekend, featuring ADAO National Spokesperson and singer-songwriter Jordan Zevon.
Event Two

Mesothelioma Awareness Day Academic Conference

Saturday, September 26, 2026 • 9:00 AM – 4:50 PM
A full day of expert presentations and discussion across four sessions, plus a keynote address.
9:00 – 9:10 AM
Welcome and Opening Remarks
Session I

Two Decades of Advocacy: Progress, Challenges, and the Path Forward

9:10 – 9:15 AM
Moderator Welcome
Ellen Costa
9:15 – 9:20 AM
Opening Perspective: Two Decades of Advocacy—Progress, Challenges, and the Path Forward
Raja Flores, MD
9:20 – 9:30 AM
Warrior Perspective: Two Decades of Advocacy, Courage, and Community
Penny Jo Major
9:30 – 9:40 AM
From TSCA Reform to Today: How Advocacy Changed the National Asbestos Conversation
Linda Reinstein
9:40 – 9:50 AM
Lessons from the Front Lines: What Two Decades of Advocacy Have Taught Us
Richard Lemen, PhD, MSPH
9:50 – 10:00 AM
The Next Decade: Advancing Prevention, Public Health, and Justice
Arthur Frank, MD, PhD
10:00 – 10:10 AM
Legacy Asbestos: Preventing Tomorrow’s Exposures by Addressing Yesterday’s Hazards
Brent Kynoch
10:10 – 10:20 AM
Moderator-Led Discussion and Audience Q&A
Ellen Costa
10:20 – 10:35 AM
Networking Break
Session II

Asbestos Prevention and Health Impacts: Risks, Diagnosis, and Advances in Treatment

10:35 – 10:40 AM
Moderator Welcome
Arthur Frank, MD, PhD
10:40 – 10:45 AM
Twenty-Five Years After 9/11: The Evolving Landscape of Asbestos-Related Disease
Jacqueline M. Moline, MD, MSc
10:45 – 10:55 AM
Warrior Perspective: Living with an Asbestos-Caused Disease
Libby Brow
10:55 – 11:05 AM
Earlier Detection Matters: Advances, Biomarkers, and the Future of Mesothelioma Diagnosis
Steven Markowitz, MD, DrPH
11:05 – 11:15 AM
Malignant Mesothelioma Risk in Women: Overlooked and Underrecognized
Christine Oliver, MD, MPH, MSc
11:15 – 11:25 AM
Mesothelioma in 2026: Advances in Surgery and Multidisciplinary Care
Andrea Wolf, MD, MPH
11:25 – 11:35 AM
Beyond Treatment: Advancing Patient Care, Survivorship, and Quality of Life
Liz Darlison
11:35 – 11:45 AM
Moderator-Led Discussion and Audience Q&A
Arthur Frank, MD, PhD
Keynote Address
11:45 AM – 12:15 PM
Keynote Address
Dan Whu, MD, MPH
12:15 – 12:25 PM
Keynote Speaker Q&A
12:25 – 1:25 PM
Lunch
Session III

From Awareness to Action: Policy, Advocacy, and Strategic Communications

1:25 – 1:30 PM
Moderator Welcome
Christine Oliver, MD, MPH, MSc
1:30 – 1:35 PM
Opening Perspective: From Awareness to Action
Celeste Monforton, DrPH, MPH
1:35 – 1:45 PM
Warrior Perspective: Turning Awareness into Action
Warrior Speaker (TBA)
1:45 – 1:55 PM
The Power of Images: Documenting the Legacy of Asbestos and the Cost of Inaction
Tony Rich
1:55 – 2:05 PM
Why Legacy Asbestos Matters: Americans Are Still Being Exposed
Tom Laubenthal
2:05 – 2:15 PM
Winning the Battle for Truth: Digital Advocacy in an Age of Misinformation and Polarization
Chris Carberg & Linda Reinstein
2:15 – 2:25 PM
Turning Advocacy into Action: Strategies for Advancing Asbestos Policy and Legislative Change
Greg Russell
2:25 – 2:35 PM
Moderator-Led Discussion and Audience Q&A
Christine Oliver, MD, MPH, MSc
2:35 – 2:50 PM
Networking Break
Session IV

Asbestos and the Law: Litigation, Regulation, and Legislative Action

2:50 – 2:55 PM
Moderator Welcome
Brent Kynoch
2:55 – 3:00 PM
Opening Perspective: Corporate Accountability and the Continuing Fight for Justice
Barry Castleman, ScD
3:00 – 3:10 PM
Warrior Perspective: Why Prevention, Accountability, and Justice Matter
Warrior Speaker (TBA)
3:10 – 3:20 PM
EPA’s Asbestos Program Under TSCA: Litigation, Enforcement, and the Path Forward
Robert “Bob” Sussman, JD
3:20 – 3:30 PM
Legacy Asbestos, Ongoing Exposure Risk, and Legal Challenges
Harminder Bains
3:30 – 3:40 PM
The New Battleground: Standing to Protect Public Health in Environmental Litigation
3:40 – 3:50 PM
The White House East Wing FOIA Litigation: Transparency as a Public Health Tool
Linda Reinstein
3:50 – 4:00 PM
The ARBAN Act: Closing the Loopholes and Finishing the Ban
4:00 – 4:20 PM
Legal Perspectives on Asbestos Litigation: Recent Cases and Their Public Health Impact (Panel Discussion)
Perry Browder, Jessica Dean, Andrew Patterson & Greg Sandifer
4:20 – 4:30 PM
Moderator Roundtable: The Future of Asbestos Law and Public Health
Linda Reinstein
4:30 – 4:50 PM
Group Photo & Conference Closing
Event Three

Mesothelioma Awareness Day Awards & Recognition Dinner & Candle Lighting

Saturday, September 26, 2026 • 6:30 PM
A celebration of courage and community — honoring advocates, remembering those we’ve lost, and recognizing the partners advancing a world free of asbestos-caused disease.
6:30 PM
Dinner & Welcome
7:15 PM
Keynote Speaker
Julie Gundlach
7:30 PM
Candle Lighting Song
Jill Cagle
7:35 PM
Candle Lighting Ceremony
Kim Cecchini
7:40 PM
Awards & Recognition Ceremony
Sponsor Recognition
Closing Remarks

Agenda is subject to change. Speakers and session times will be updated as details are confirmed.