I have become very involved in the cancer community, sharing my medical odyssey as viewed through a sociological lens.
Upcoming Appearances
September 11, 2024. Co-facilitator, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Pen My Path Virtual Writing Workshop Series, Introductory Session. Additional sessions on September 18, 25, October 2, 9.
September 28, 2024. “Laughter is the Best Medicine.” Two breakout sessions at the Midwest Lung Cancer Summit Conference, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
October 19, 2024. “Listening to Cancer: Surviving Treatment, Sustaining Self, and Managing Identity.” Keynote Address to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Annual Blood Cancer Conference, St Paul, Minnesota.
November 2, 2024. “Improv for Caregivers.” Two breakout sessions at Caregiver Con, organized by Jack’s Caregiver Coalition, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
November 7, 2024. “My Acute Myeloid Leukemia Odyssey.” Talk to Craig Eckfeldt’s Hematology Class, University of Minnesota.
December 3, 2024. “Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, and Managing Emotions: My AML Story: Talk to Elaine Darst’s Continuum of Care Nursing Class, University of Minnesota.
Panels, Presentations & Appearances
August 15, 2024. “Be the Match Survivorship Chat: Identity Changes with Cancer.” Group Facilitator.
August 8, 2024. “My Patient Story” Presentation to the Fairview Hospital Board Meeting.
July 16, 2024. Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, and Talking Cancer. Talk to Twin Cities Lung Cancer Support Group.
April 3, 2024. “My LLS Activity.” Informal talk to Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Mission Opportunity Planning Committee.
April 2, 2024. “My Cancer Story.” Talk to Edina Clinic Lung Cancer Support Group, Edina Minnesota.
April 1. 2024. “Be the Match Survivorship Chat: Coping Strategies.” Group Facilitator.
March 28, 2024. “Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, and Managing Emotions: My AML Story.” Talk to Liz Coleman’s Physio Integrity III nursing class at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
March 13, 2024, Co-facilitator, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Pen My Path Writing Workshop Series, Introductory Session. Additional sessions on March 20, March 27, and April 10.
February 8, 2024. “Guided Discussion on my article ‘Language Matters: What Supporters Say is Not Always What People with Cancer Hear.'” Twin Cities All Blood Cancer Group Meeting at Gilda’s Club-Minnesota.
December 5, 2023. “Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, and Managing Emotions: My AML Story.” Talk to Elaine Darst’s Continuum of Care nursing class at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
October 16, 2023. “Educational Session on Transplantation for University of Minnesota Medical Students,” Panelist.
September 21, 2023. “Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, and Managing Emotions: My AML Story.” Talk to Methodist Hospital Oncology Nurses Symposium #3.
September 7, 2023. “My Transplant Experience … or How Ralph and I Became Inseparable Buddies.” Talk to residents of The Lodge at White Bear, White Bear Lake, MN
August 21, 2023. “Facing Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Notes from a Survivor.” Talk to Leslie Darmofal’s Quality Improvement nursing class at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
July 20, 2023. “My Transplant Experience … or How Ralph and I Became Inseparable Buddies.” Talk and discussion with the Government Affairs Team of Be the Match at their national headquarters, Minneapolis, MN.
July 10, 2023. “Be the Match Survivorship Chat: Exploring your Identity Post-Transplant.” Group Facilitator.
June 14, 2023. “Fireside Chat: Let’s Chat about Acute Myeloid Leukemia.” Virtual event sponsored by Be the Match and the University of Minnesota Office of Community Outreach and Engagement at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNsYze0JwIk&list=PLlFryc8bp1l6k8tDiy4W7NtJ8t2lK0XUT&index=17
June 9, 2023. Community Advisory Board Meeting. WISE (“Writing for Insight, Strength, and Ease”) Project Teleconference.
June 8, 2023. “Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, and Managing Emotions: My AML Story.” Talk to Methodist Hospital Oncology Nurses #2.
May 4. 2023. “Language Matters.” Talk to Minnesota/Western Wisconsin Support Group for Waldenstrom’s Macroglobulinemia on my article about language use in the cancer community.
April 21, 23. “Healing Through Writing: An Odyssey Through Acute Myeloid Leukemia.” Podcast released on AML Awareness Day by the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society at https://thebloodline.org/TBL/141e137/.
April 17, 2023. “A Patient Perspective on Cancer Treatment.” Informal Discussion with Liz Coleman’s Professional Nursing class at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
April 11, 2023. “My Transplant Experience … or How Ralph and I Became Inseparable Buddies.” Talk at Be the Match Headquarters, Minneapolis, MN.
April 4, 2023. Co-facilitator, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Pen My Path Writing Workshop Series, Concluding Session.
March 30, 2023. “Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, and Managing Emotions: My AML Story.” Talk to Liz Coleman’s Physio Integrity III nursing class at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
March 25, 2023. “On Retirement, Contingency, and Improvisation.” Paper presentation at the annual Midwest Sociological Society meetings, Minneapolis, MN.
March 14, 2023. Co-facilitator, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Pen My Path Writing Workshop, Introductory Session.
February 27, 2023. “Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, and Managing Emotions: My AML Story.” Talk to Methodist Hospital Oncology Nurses Symposium #1.
December 6, 2022. “Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, and Managing Emotions: My AML Story.” Talk to Elaine Darst’s Continuum of Care nursing class at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities.
November 19, 2022. “On Surviving a Lethal Diagnosis and Giving Back.” Audio recording with Health Story Collaborative at http://www.healthstorycollaborative.org/blog/2022/11/21/on-surviving-a-lethal-diagnosis-and-giving-back
November 3, 2022. “Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, and Managing Emotions: My AML Story.” Talk to Liz Coleman’s Physio Integrity III nursing class at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
October 26-28, 2022. Patient advocate virtually attending the ECOG-ACRIN fall conference providing input on clinical trial design from the patient perspective.
October 13, 2022. “On Retirement, Contingency, and Improvisation.” Paper presentation at the annual Sociologists of Minnesota meetings, Mankato, Minnesota.
October 11, 2022. Writing through Cancer: A Cancer Writing Workshop Series. Gilda’s Club of the Twin Cities, also meets on 10/18, 10/25, and 11/1.
September 13, 2022. “Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, and Managing Emotions: My AML Story.” Talk to the Oncology Nursing Society, Metropolitan Minneapolis Chapter.
August 22, 2022. “Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, and Managing Emotions: My AML Story.” Talk to Leslie Darmofal’s Quality Improvement course in the Family Nurse Practitioner Program, Minnesota State University, Mankato
August 7, 2022. “On Retirement, Contingency, and Improvisation.” Panelist in a “Workshop on the How-to and What-if of Retirement.” American Sociological Society Meetings in Los Angeles, California.
May 12, 2022. Writing through Cancer: A Cancer Writing Workshop Series. Gilda’s Club of the Twin Cities, also meets on 5/19, 5/26, 6/2.
May 3-6, 2022. Patient advocate attending the ECOG-ACRIN spring conference providing input on clinical trial design from the patient perspective. Chicago, IL.
April 20, 2022. “Reflections on An Academic Career and Becoming a Volunteer in the Cancer Community.” Talk upon receiving the Distinguished Professor Award from the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Minnesota State University, Mankato.
April 9, 2022. “So What’s Your Story The Power of Writing through Cancer.” Panelist on the Blood and Marrow Transplant Survivors Panel. 16th Annual Cancer Survivorship Conference, University of Minnesota. Also Exhibitor’s Booth selling my memoir “How Steve Became Ralph: A Cancer/Stem Cell Odyssey (with Jokes).” Partial video of talk at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuIa7Z5AvAk&list=PLBtWt6-cBuLF5AWYwN16wWoIonclcBK4e&index=5. (Partial recording of approximately 8 minutes plus Q & A).
February 3, 2022. “Facing Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Notes from a Survivor.” Talk to Leslie Darmofal’s nursing students in Physiological Integrity III class at Minnesota State University, Mankato. .
January 18, 2022. “Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, and Managing Emotions: An AML Odyssey.” Virtual Talk to HealthTree Foundation patients and members at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WBVlQzsPCY.
December 9, 2021. “Continuing Community: Following Steve Buechler.” Interview with Jacques Lerouge for Taking Charge of Your Survivorship website at https://www.takingcharge.csh.umn.edu/survivorship/continuing-community-following-steve-buechler.
November 22, 2021. “Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, and Managing Emotions: My Cancer Story.” Virtual talk to Future Health Professionals, a student organization at Eden Prairie High School.
October 20-22, 2021. ECOG-ACRIN (Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group and the American College of Radiology Imaging Network) virtual fall conference to evaluate clinical trials for leukemia patients as a patient advocate. Followed by 4-week training for advocacy role with Research Advocacy Network.
October 18, 2021. Writing Through Cancer: A Virtual Writing Workshop Series. Gilda’s Club of the Twin Cities. Also met on 11/1, 11/15, and 11/29.
October 14, 2021. “How Cancer Prepared Me for a COVID-19 World.” Virtual talk to Sociologists of Minnesota annual meeting.
October 6, 2021. “My AML Story: Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, and Giving Back.” Virtual Talk to employees of Rubius Therapeutics as part of their corporate team’s kick-off fundraising effort for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (New England Region) Light the Night Event.
July 30, 2021. Community Advisory Board Meeting. WISE (“Writing for Insight, Strength, and Ease”) Project Teleconference.
July 19, 2021. Writing Through Cancer: A Virtual Writing Workshop Series. Gilda’s Club of the Twin Cities. Also met on 8/9. 8/30, and 9/20.
April 23, 2021. BMT Infonet.org Survivorship Symposium. Facilitator for three writing workshops.
April 21, 2021. “AML Awareness Day.” My photo is featured on the Leukemia & Lymphoma Website at www.lls.org as the face of AML survivorship with a link to my story at https://www.lls.org/someday-is-today/stories/steve-2.
April 17, 2021. 16th Annual Cancer Survivorship Conference. At this virtual conference sponsored by the Masonic Cancer Center of the University of Minnesota, Steve exhibited and sold copies of his memoir in a virtual exhibit booth.
March 24, 2021. “Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, Narrating Illness: An Autoethnography of Cancerland.” Health and Biomedical Sciences Summit Conference (virtual), Minnesota State University, Mankato.
March 21, 2021. “Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, and Emotional Labor: An Autoethnography of Cancerland.” Midwest Sociological Society Meetings (virtual).
February 17, 2021. “Why I Became a Legacy Donor.” Pre-recorded remarks at a Be the Match webinar on planned giving. Available at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtqL1nKqENI&feature=youtu.be.
February 11, 2021. “Facing Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Notes from a Survivor.” Talk to Leslie Darmofal’s nursing students in Physiological Integrity III class at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
January 19, 2021. “So What’s Your Story?” The Healing Power of Storytelling.” Educational class taught virtually at Gilda’s Club of the Twin Cities.
November 12, 2020. Community Advisory Board Meeting. WISE (“Writing for Insight, Strength, and Ease”) Project Teleconference.
October 28, 2020. “My Cancerland Odyssey.” Virtual presentation and interactive discussion with nursing students in Leslie Darmofal’s Physiological Integrity III class, Minnesota State University, Mankato.
September 26, 2020. “My ‘Be the Match’ Story” Pre-recorded remarks broadcast during Be the Match’s 2020 Virtual Gala Celebration, September 26, 2020. Available at youtu.be/qOZLE8yuMkY
July 21, 2020. “Managing Stress: Tips from a Cancer Survivor.” Interview with Thrivors Cancer Care Companion Newsletter, June edition, distributed through Amgen Oncology’s network.
July 15, 2020. “My Cancerland Odyssey … or How Nurses Became Some of My Favorite People.” Talk at Methodist Hospital Nursing Grand Rounds delivered to a small live audience and streamed via WebEx to hospital staff at https://vimeo.com/447126601/0116ccdb3d
June 5, 2020. My memoir “How Steve Became Ralph: A Cancer/Stem Cell Odyssey (with Jokes)” was added to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s list of suggested readings under the categories “inspiration” and “living with cancer” at https://www.lls.org/support-resources/suggested-reading/books-adult-patients-and-their-caregivers/inspiration and www.lls.org/support/suggested-reading/books-adult-patients-and-their-caregivers/living-cancer
(April 4, 2020). “Experiential Cancer Stories: Notes on What Patients Need to Hear From Someone Who’s “Been There and Done That.” Society for Behavioral Medicine Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA. Update: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this conference was cancelled but Steve’s paper is available upon request.
March 24, 2020. “AML Survivor Makes Planned Gifts to Organizations That Saved His Life.” Published interview in “Cures for Tomorrow,” Be the Match’s spring 2020 Planned Giving newsletter at https://bethematch.org/blog/patient-stories/aml-survivor-makes-planned-gift-to-the-trifecta-of-organizations-that-helped-save-his-life/
March 24, 2020. “So What’s Your Story?” The Healing Power of Storytelling.” Educational class taught at Gilda’s Club of the Twin Cities. The original clubhouse class was changed to a video class due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 19, 2020. Community Advisory Board Meeting. WISE (“Writing for Insight, Strength and Ease”) Project. Originally scheduled for an all-day meeting in Hackensack, NJ; changed to a teleconference due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
November 15, 2019. “My Transplant Experience … or How Ralph and I Became Inseparable Buddies.” Talk on ‘World Cord Blood Day’ at Be the Match National Headquarters, Minneapolis, MN.
November 12, 2019. “Facing Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Notes from a Survivor.” Talk to the Golden K Kiwanis Club of Roseville, MN.
October 24, 2019. “Facing Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Notes from a Survivor.” Talk to Leslie Darmofal’s nursing students in Physiological Integrity III class at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
October 10, 2019. “Surviving Leukemia, Sustaining Self, Narrating Illness: An Autoethnography of Cancerland.” Plenary Address to the annual meeting of the Sociologists of Minnesota at Minnesota State University, Mankato.
October 2, 2019. “Surviving Cancer and Sustaning Self: A Cancerland Odyssey.” Presentation to the President and Administrative Staff, Park Nicollet Methodist Hospital, St. Louis Park, MN.
September 21, 2019. “Facing Acute Myeloid Leukemia; Notes from a Survivor.” Talk to clients of Spectrum Financial Group, Crave Restaurant, Eden Prairie, MN.
September 9, 2019. Community Advisory Board Meeting. WISE (“Writing for Insight, Strength, and Ease”) Project Teleconference.
July 27, 2019. Exhibitor/Sales of “How Steve Became Ralph.” Marrow on the Move Fundraiser for the Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit of the U. of Minnesota; Lake Nokomis, Minneapolis, MN.
May 14, 2019. Community Advisory Board Meeting. WISE (“Writing for Insight, Strength and Ease”) Project Conference, Georgetown University, Washington D. C.
May 5, 2018. “Surviving Acute Myeloid Leukemia with a Stem Cell Transplant.” Panelist at University of Minnesota Masonic Cancer Center 13th Annual Cancer Survivorship Conference, Minneapolis, MN.
March 23, 2018. “Narrating Illness: A Cancer/Stem Cell Odyssey” Midwest Sociological Society meetings, Minneapolis, MN.
July 29, 2017. “My Transplant Experience on the BMT Unit.” Keynote Address at Marrow on the Move Fundraiser for the Blood and Marrow Transplant Unit of the U. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN.
July 18, 2017. “The Role of Mindfulness in Navigating Illness.” Address to Cigna sponsored Conference on Physician Leadership Development Program via Teleconference.