National Pancreas Foundation – Providing hope for those suffering from pancreatitis, pancreatic cancer, and FCS

Official Healthy People 2030 Champions web badge

Enough
Small Talk

LET’S PUT AN END TO PANCREAS DISEASE

DONATE NOW

Enough
Small Talk

LET’S PUT AN END TO PANCREAS DISEASE

DONATE NOW

NPF Centers of
Excellence

Find A Center Near You

Find A Center

NPF
Chapters

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Involved

How you can help

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Mission

The National Pancreas Foundation provides hope for those suffering from pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer through funding cutting edge research, advocating for new and better therapies, and providing support and education for patients, caregivers, and health care professionals.

Our approach

Upcoming Events

Courage For A Cure - Los Angeles 2026

Courage For A Cure - Los Angeles 2026

February 6

Taglyan Complex, Los Angeles, CA, 90038

The Hope Gala

The Hope Gala

February 28

Natural History Museum of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84108

Digestive Disease National Coalition Public Policy Forum - Washington D.C.

Digestive Disease National Coalition Public Policy Forum - Washington D.C.

March 1 - March 2

Washington Marriott Capitol Hill, Washington, DC, 20002

View all events

Patient Stories

Suzie’s Story – Our Kids’ Journey with Hereditary Pancreatitis

Suzie’s Story – Our Kids’ Journey with Hereditary Pancreatitis

Hi, my name is Suzanne Jurgensen, and I live in McCallsburg, Iowa, with my [...]

Alicia C’s Story

Alicia C’s Story

My name is Alicia Cook, and I'm a breast cancer survivor. Actually, by [...]

Alicia A’s Story

Alicia A’s Story

Alicia A. from West Virginia was diagnosed with Stage 3 pancreatic cancer [...]

Angie and Joseph’s Story

Angie and Joseph’s Story

Mom, Angie, 37, and son, Joseph, 17, have been affected by pancreas disease for [...]

Share Your Story

View all Stories

Our Impact

$5 Million

Awarded over 5 million
in grants

0

Endorses over 175
Centers of Excellence

0

Over 30 programs for
patients and physicians

What Is The Pancreas?

The pancreas is an organ and a gland. Glands are organs that produce and release substances into the body. The pancreas contains glands that release substances to help with digestion and control blood sugar. Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes are common pancreatic conditions. Other pancreas conditions include pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer.

Physician Programs

Initiatives

Black/African American Guide to Pancreas Disease

Many studies suggest that environmental and socioeconomic factors have contributed to the increased risk of pancreas disease among African Americans. The NPF’s Black/African American Initiative will address these issues with the hope of decreasing the incidence of pancreas disease in the Black/African American community.

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Camp Hope

The National Pancreas Foundation and Rebecca’s Wish created Camp Hope, so children and young people suffering from pancreatitis, or post-TPIAT, can experience all the joys of camp without limitations. Camp Hope is a place where they can meet to bond/build friendships in a fun and medically safe environment.

Learn More

Ways To Get Involved

Join a chapter

Volunteers fuel awareness of pancreatic diseases while helping promote events and expand patient, public, and professional education.

Help make a difference

Share your story

Sharing your personal or caregiver experience with pancreas disease helps create awareness while supporting and advocating for others.

Inspire others with your story

Fundraise

Help us fund vital pancreatic research programs by hosting an event such as golf, run, gala, sporting event or even a bake sale.
Every dollar counts!

Start your fundraising event

Legacy giving

Giving in memory can help fund groundbreaking pancreatic research programs while honoring the memory of your loved one.

Give in memory of a loved one

Birthday giving

Celebrate your birthday and help our fight against pancreas disease by creating a Facebook birthday campaign in 6 simple steps.

Create a birthday campaign

Get social with us

Help The NPF spread the word by following our social media, commenting, and sharing. Together we can expand awareness!

Help us spread the word

Find a Center of Excellence Near You

Finding a Center is easy. Enter your address or pin your location, choose the center type and radius. If there is a Center of Excellence it will show on the map.

Alternatively, click one of the following buttons to see a list of pancreatitis or pancreatic cancer centers by state.

Browse Pancreatitis Centers

Browse Pancreatic Cancer Centers

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Connect With Us

The National Pancreas Foundation

5 days ago

Despite advances in cancer care, pancreatic cancer still has one of the lowest 5-year survival rates, underscoring the urgent need for early detection and research.

https://pressroom.cancer.org/cancer-statistics-report-2026

#PancreaticCancer #CancerAwareness #EarlyDetectionMatters... #CancerResearch

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National Pancreas Foundation

6 days ago

Dr. Raymond Wadlow, an oncologist at Inova Schar Cancer Institute, provides an overview of the evolving role of blood-based biomarker testing in the early detection of pancreatic cancer, situating it within the current pancreatic cancer landscape. He discusses ongoing challenges in surveillance, particularly for individuals at increased risk, and highlights how blood-based biomarkers can complement existing screening approaches, along with a review of current guidelines for high-risk populations.
Speaker:
Raymond Wadlow, MD
Director, Inova Saville Pancreatic Cancer Screening and Early Detection Clinic; Co-Director, Gastrointestinal Oncology, Inova Schar Cancer Institute
Thank you to Immunovia for sponsoring this webinar.

Controversies in Pancreatic Cancer Surveillance Guidelines & Role of Blood-Based Biomarker Testing

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The National Pancreas Foundation

2 weeks ago

Whether you’re a healthcare professional, researcher, advocate, or someone passionate about advancing early detection, this conversation is one you won’t want to miss.

📅 Register today:
👉 https://bit.ly/BioMarkerWebinar26

#EarlyDetection #CancerAwareness ...#CancerResearch #PancreasHealth

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The National Pancreas Foundation

4 weeks ago

This new year isn’t about perfection. It’s about progress— starting right where you are.

Explore pancreas-friendly health resources to start the year off right: https://www.animatedpancreaspatient.com/en-pancreas

#PancreasHealth #NewYearProgress #HealthEducation

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National Pancreas Foundation

1 months ago

Fill Out Our Post-Webinar Survey: https://bit.ly/SDOHSolutions
NPF Resources
Black/AAI Initiative: https://bit.ly/NPF_AAI
AAI Playlist: https://bit.ly/NPFAAI_Playlist
Speakers:
• Moderator:
Cemal Yazici, MD, MS
Associate Professor of Medicine
Division of Gastroenterology & Hepatology
Department of Medicine, UIC Health
Tanya Louis, NP
Practice Nurse, Surgical Oncology
Northwell Health’s Cancer Institute
Teresa Pace, LCSW
Medical Social Consultant, Ambulatory and Community Social Work,
Office of Diversity & Community Health Equity
UIC Health
Namele Meza, LMFT
Behavioral Health Specialist
Valencia Bridgeport
Providence Facey Medical Foundation Dr. Yazici and Tanya Louis, NP
The role of a nurse navigator: 00:05:35
How nurse navigators can help patients understand the different members of their care team? (00:08:11)
How can navigators help patients clarify and organize their goals? (00:09:17)
What systemic challenges do minority patients face when navigating the healthcare system? (00:11:44)
How do SDOHs impact continuity of care for the patients? (00:14:07)
Describe the communication with patients and how do you build rapport? (00:16:20)
Can you share a success story where culturally competent navigation made a meaningful difference? (00:19:10)
How can a care team work together more effectively to address SDOH? (00:22:00)
Having had experience with cancer yourself, what changes would you like to see in the healthcare system to better support Black and other minority patients? (00:23:51)
Dr. Yazici - Namele (15 minutes) (00:25:43)
What is the role of a therapist in your day-to-day work?: (00:26:17)
How do you go about building trust with patients—especially those from communities that have faced medical bias or discrimination in the past? (00:29:34)
When you’re working with someone who may be dealing with barriers like limited access to care, transportation challenges, or housing or food insecurity, how does that shape the way you approach therapy? (00:35:44)
What culturally relevant or culturally affirming approaches do you use when supporting your minority patients through pancreas-related illness?(00:32:30)
How do you honor a patient’s cultural food traditions or family dynamics while still aligning with medical guidance? (00:34:56)
Sometimes we forget that stress and trauma can be tied to a broader social or environmental inequities—how do you see that showing up in GI and pancreatic health? (00:35:06)
What kinds of emotional or psychological challenges do cancer patients often experience, and how do you help them navigate those feelings? (00:37:55)
How do you collaborate with the rest of the care team to ensure patients receive holistic and culturally sensitive support—whether that includes faith communities or other parts of their support system? (00:40:40)
When it comes to support, what different formats do you find helpful—like one-on-one sessions, group therapy, or online support communities? (00:43:45)
Dr. Yazici - Teresa
The role of a social worker (00:46:14)
When you’re working with Black patients who have pancreatic conditions, are there social or environmental factors that are often overlooked? For example, things like access to care, cultural food practices, or social support networks. (1:00:40)
Let’s talk about food insecurity. How would you explain food insecurity, and what kinds of referrals or support can you provide for patients facing it? (00:49:50)
Could you share a story about a time you helped a patient or caregiver work through some of these challenges? (00:52:10)
We’ve talked about resources within the hospital, but when patients leave, what kinds of resources or community partnerships have you found most helpful for patients with complex social needs? How do you help connect them to services outside the hospital? (00:54:05)
Are there any questions you usually get from patients or families that people might not expect? (1:03:44)
How can social workers support mental health that might be different from how a therapist can help patients? (00:56:56)

Bridging the Gap: Finding Social Determinants of Health Solutions in Pancreatic Disease

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The National Pancreas Foundation

2 months ago

Healthcare costs are rising, and patients with chronic conditions can’t afford to wait. Your voice can help lawmakers understand what’s at stake for patients and families.

Visit http://www.house.gov and http://www.senate.gov to Contact your Senators and Representatives.

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National Pancreas Foundation

2 months ago

Please complete this survey after watching: https://bit.ly/monitoringdisease25

Monitoring for Disease Progression in Pediatric Pancreatitis

5130

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National Pancreas Foundation

2 months ago

Please complete the post-webinar survey! https://bit.ly/DiabetesEPIWebinar25
In this webinar, Dr. Melena Bellin of the University of Minnesota and Dr. Dhiraj Yadav of the University of Pittsburgh, explore the long-term complications that can arise after an acute pancreatitis (AP) episode, with a focus on exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) and diabetes. Drs. Bellin and Yadav discuss the causes and severity spectrum of AP, how and why EPI develops, key risk factors, and best practices for diagnosis, monitoring, and enzyme therapy management.
The session concludes with guidance on holistic, long-term management—including nutrition, screening protocols, and treatment considerations—to ensure clinicians are equipped to recognize complications early and support patients beyond hospital discharge.

Navigating Exocrine and Endocrine Challenges Post-Acute Pancreatitis

12350

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The National Pancreas Foundation

2 months ago

Webinar for Healthcare Professionals!

Explore the latest insights on post-acute pancreatitis today at 2:00–2:30 PM EST.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from leading experts in pancreas care!

🔗Register Here: https://bit.ly/APDiabetes
Presented in ...partnership with: @AbbVie

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NPF Centers of
Excellence

NPF
Chapters

Get
Involved

Mission

Upcoming Events

Patient Stories

Suzie’s Story – Our Kids’ Journey with Hereditary Pancreatitis

Alicia C’s Story

Alicia A’s Story

Angie and Joseph’s Story

Our Impact

What Is The Pancreas?

Physician Programs

Research
Grants

Fellows
Symposium

Medical Professionals Portal

Initiatives