The Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) came marching in to New Orleans, Louisiana, for Annual Conference 2026 on March 25-27, and many wanted to be in that number as HOPA once again surpassed its previous attendance record and established yet another new high for its signature event.
The 2026 edition of HOPA’s yearly gathering – uniting hematology/oncology pharmacists and others from across the field of cancer care for three days of education, industry, networking, and community – assembled 1,785 total registrants at the Ernest J. Morial Convention Center in New Orleans, a new record for HOPA Annual Conference. HOPA set its previous record just last spring at Annual Conference 2025 in Portland, Oregon, drawing 1,702 registrants to the yearly meeting. With this spring’s turnout, HOPA Annual Conference has now set new highs in three of the last four years.
Powered by the mantra “We March On,” Annual Conference 2026 helped fueled the march toward progress in cancer care by hosting 37 total education sessions, offering 35.5 continuing education (CE) credits and 8.25 BCOP credits over the event. Annual Conference’s 2026 programming also showcased 329 research posters – including 91 encore posters courtesy of members of HOPA’s Industry Relations Council (IRC) – 64 exhibit hall booths, and 5 non-profit tabletop exhibits featured in Annual Conference’s brand new dedicated non-profit space.
The 2026 gathering also shined a spotlight on a pair of particularly notable presentations: a moving and motivational John G. Kuhn Keynote Address on the impact of financial toxicity in cancer care delivered by Dr. Fumiko Chino, MD, FASCO, and the first-ever live recording of the HOPA Now Podcast, showcasing several HOPA members as storytellers.
Annual Conference 2026 also served as the debut of HOPA’s first-of-its-kind book. Every attendee received a copy of “Healing, Optimism, Pharmacy & Advocacy: Stories and Perspectives from Oncology Pharmacists,” a newly published collection of essays written by oncology pharmacists from HOPA and ISOPP, sharing their professional and personal journeys to finding a home in their careers. To read more about “Healing, Optimism, Pharmacy & Advocacy,” click here.
The book and the live podcast are just a few of the ways Annual Conference spotlighted HOPA members and their remarkable accomplishments in New Orleans. Nine distinguished oncology pharmacy professionals were recognized for their dedication and hard work at HOPA’s annual honorary Member Awards ceremony. Nine additional HOPA members were celebrated as Fellows of Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy (FHOPA), a prestigious, career-defining designation honoring those who’ve made sustained contributions to HOPA and the greater oncology pharmacy profession. The complete list of HOPA’s newly lauded Member Award winners and FHOPA Fellows, as well as past celebrated recipients, can be found here.
Annual Conference 2026 also celebrated the tenures of its past president Robert Mancini, PharmD, BCOP, FHOPA, as well as outgoing board members Jolynn Sessions, PharmD, BCOP, CCP, FHOPA, and Sol Atienza, PharmD, BCOP. HOPA cannot thank them enough for their work and dedication to HOPA, its mission, and the greater fight against cancer.
Mancini passes on the baton as HOPA President to Amy Seung, PharmD, BCOP, CHCP, FHOPA, who officially took the role of HOPA’s 23rd President with her Incoming President's Address during the event. Inspired by the hit pop song “Golden,” not just a timely reference but a meaningful reference for her family, Seung’s first presidential message implored HOPA members and the hem/onc pharmacy community to “stay golden” in their pursuit of the best cancer care for their patients, harnessing the courage to evolve and the power of community.
Seung also formally introduced HOPA’s newly elected board members to the fold: President-Elect Kamakshi Rao, PharmD, BCOP, CPC, FASHP, FHOPA; Board Members At-Large Chelsea Gustafson, PharmD, BCOP; and Ila M. Saunders, PharmD, BCOP, DipACLM, FHOPA. Mancini remains on the board, serving an additional year as Past President, while Rao shifts from Board Member At-Large to her new role as President-Elect. To fill the vacant seat, Jason Bergsbaken, PharmD, BCOP, MBA, will serve a new, one-year term as Board Member At-Large.
It was not all business, as Annual Conference 2026 featured celebrations worthy of its Big Easy host. In addition to its numerous networking opportunities, HOPA served up a taste of New Orleans and its iconic cuisine with beignets and chicory coffee, hid a secret speakeasy in the exhibit hall, and threw a closing night celebration showcasing local music, Cajun culture, and even the opportunity to take a photo with an actual alligator.
Annual Conference 2026’s copious offerings, both educational and entertaining, would not have been possible without the event’s 8 generous sponsors and 24 sponsored symposia sessions.
With its successful 2026 edition in the rear-view mirror, HOPA will continue on the march toward providing the best possible collaborative cancer care – and toward its 23rd gathering. Already in the planning stages, HOPA will meet you in St. Louis, Missouri for its next Annual Conference, March 31-April 2, 2027.
For more information about HOPA and HOPA Annual Conference, visit hoparx.org.
About HOPA
The Hematology/Oncology Pharmacy Association (HOPA) supports hematology/oncology pharmacy professionals and promotes the role of the pharmacist in collaborative cancer care. Founded in 2004, HOPA provides crucial education and networking for its dedicated and growing membership of pharmacists in a wide range of careers and at all experience levels. HOPA’s vision is to ensure that all individuals affected by cancer have a hematology/oncology pharmacist as an integral member of their care team.
